The Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced the signing of a procedural agreement with Mexico's National Service of Health, Food Safety, and Agro-Alimentary Quality (SENASICA). The agreement focuses on matters of equivalence, audit procedures, the listing and delisting of eligible establishments for the export of meat, poultry and eggs. (FSIS release dated 04/27/10, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_042710_01/index.asp)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released to Congress a comprehensive report on agricultural transportation in the U.S. The report, Study of Rural Transportation Issues, and covers the four major modes of transportation commonly used by agriculture in the United States-truck, rail, barge, and ocean vessel. (News release, dated 04/27/10, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome)
On April 27, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report titled Climate Change Indicators in the United States. The report looks at 24 measurable indicators that show how climate change impacts human health and the environment. (News release, dated 04/27/10, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/3f28e17ccf1a508985257712005c8f4d!OpenDocument)
The Agricultural Marketing Service requests comments on its plans to review the minimum quality and handling standards for domestic and imported peanuts marketed in the U.S. to determine whether they should be continued without change, amended, or rescinded to minimize the impacts on small entities. Comments are due by June 28, 2010. (D/N AMS-FV-10-0030; FV10-996-610, FR Pub 04/28/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-9833.pdf)
During their recent meeting, USTR Kirk and EU Commissioner Dalli discussed issues of food safety for U.S. and European consumers, citing the importance of science-based decisions on how food is inspected and traded, particularly when it comes to new innovations in the production and processing of agricultural and food products. (Notice, posted 04/26/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/blog/2010/april/ambassador-kirk-and-eu-commissioner-dalli-meet-discuss-food-sa)
On April 26, 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 04/26/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)
The Treasury Department has published its current list of countries that require or may require participation in, or cooperation with, an international boycott. The countries included on this list are:
On April 26, 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 04/26/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted draft proposed rules that would designate certain children’s upper outerwear with drawstring violations and handheld hairdryers without immersion protection to be substantial product hazards under section 15 (j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act.
On April 26, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Animal Product Manual. This Manual provides the background, procedures, and regulatory actions to enforce the regulations governing the import and export of animals, animal products, and animal by-products. (Manual, updated 04/26/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/apm.shtml)