On May 13, 2010, APHIS updated its Japanese Beetle Program PPQ Manual for Airports. This manual provides guidelines to protect the agriculture of the Western United States from the Japanese Beetle. (Manual, updated 05/13/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/downloads/japanese_beetle.pdf)

On May 13, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Nursery Stock Restrictions Manual. This Manual summarizes the entry status of regulated plant materials capable of and intended for propagation. (Manual, updated 05/13/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/nursery_stock.pdf)

On May 13, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual. This Manual serves as an operational guide for selecting and conducting quarantine treatments. The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are administratively authorized for use by APHIS to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the United States. Listed treatments include chemical treatments such as fumigation with methyl bromide, and nonchemical treatments with heat, cold, or irradiation. (Manual, updated 05/13/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/treatment.shtml)

On May 17, 2010, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables. (Manual, updated 05/17/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)

On May 17, 2010, APHIS updated the Manual for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo. (Manual, updated 05/17/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recall:

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has issued a circular stating that beginning May 3, 2010, a declaration from the Government of France will be required for all bottled or bulk wine covered by a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) naming pinot noir as the single grape varietal and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France as the appellation of origin. An FAQ on this new requirement is available here. (Circular 2010-5, dated 05/03/10, available at http://www.ttb.treas.gov/industry_circulars/archives/2010/10-05.html)

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is correcting its final rule, which amended the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of commercial consignments of tomatoes from the Souss- Massa-Draa region of Morocco into the U.S., to correct the national plant protection organization of Morocco name to the National Office of Food Safety. (D/N APHIS-2008-0017, FR Pub 05/20/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-12027.pdf)

The U.S. and Morocco recently convened a meeting of the Sub-Committee on Labor Affairs created under the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. The Sub-Committee agreed to a series of cooperative labor activities to improve enforcement of labor laws and agreed to hold more regular meetings to review progress of the Labor Chapter commitments. (Press release, dated 005/18/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2010/may/ustr-dol-hold-inaugural-labor-sub-committee-meeting-mo)