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APHIS Allows More Time for Comments on Overhaul of Plant Pest Import Regulations
February 10, 2017 |USDA

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is allowing more time for comments on its proposed overhaul of its regulations on importation and interstate movements of plant pests, it said (here). The agency’s proposed rule, issued Jan. 19 (see 1701180029), would codify and clarify existing permitting procedures, and create new lists of exempt plant pests and biological control organisms that APHIS determines present no risk to plants and plant products. The proposal would also set new packaging requirements for plant pests, biological control agents and soil, and revise APHIS’s regulations on importation of soil, stone and quarry products. Comments on the proposal are now due April 19.

Topics:Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
APHIS Allows More Comments on Rewrite of Regulations on Importation of GE Organisms
February 9, 2017 |USDA

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is extending the period for comments on changes to its regulations on importation, interstate movement and release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms, it said (here). The proposed rule, issued in January (see 1701180058), would modify current definitions of what is a GE organism, as well as the criteria used by APHIS to judge whether it regulates GE organisms based on the risk of introduction of plant pests or noxious weeds. Time-limited import permits would be eliminated, as would current notification procedures. Record-keeping requirements would be increased. Comments on the proposal are now due June 19.

Topics:Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
APHIS Again Extends Comment Period on Proposal to Allow Imports of Hass Avocados From Colombia
February 9, 2017 |USDA

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is again extending the comment period, now until March 20, on a proposed rule to allow imports of Hass avocados from Colombia into the continental U.S., it said (here). Under the proposed rule, issued in October (see 1610260019), APHIS would set conditions on importation including monitoring of places of production and packinghouses; pest-free places of production; grove sanitation, monitoring and pest control practices; lot identification; and inspection for quarantine pests in Colombia. Hass avocados from Colombia would also have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the Colombian government. APHIS already extended the comment period once in January (see 1701130031).

Topics:Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)