Baltimore Shipments
The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is encouraging importers of agricultural shipments bound for the Baltimore seaport to take the following steps while cargo operations at that port remain suspended after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
- Effective April 4, plants and plant products, including permits issued for the consignment of plants and plant products to the Baltimore seaport, will be allowed to arrive at all North Atlantic ports of entry (including Norfolk/Newport News, Va.) for APHIS/U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection and/or clearance. While most permitted plant materials are already authorized to enter through various ports staffed with CBP agriculture specialists and APHIS plant inspection stations, importers who need assistance should call APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine program at (301) 851-2046.
- Effective April 4, APHIS animal product and byproduct permits issued for the consignment of shipments to the Baltimore seaport will be allowed to arrive at all North Atlantic ports of entry for APHIS/CBP inspection and clearance. Impacted permits will not be amended at this time.
- Live animal imports regulated by APHIS and traveling to the U.S. under an import permit (to include germplasm and hatching eggs) must arrive at the port of entry specified on the import permit. If that is Baltimore, importers should APHIS at LAIPermits@usda.gov or (301) 851-3300, Option 2.
- For APHIS core message sets, filers should visit this website on the different entry types and when to file and should especially review the section on entry type 61 (in-bonds).
Canada
Effective April 1, APHIS is prohibiting entry of European cherry fruit fly host commodities from the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. These commodities include fresh black cherry, mahaleb cherry, sour cherry, and sweet cherry fruit as well as wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. fruits. Imports of these commodities from Canadian provinces other than Ontario or Quebec must have their origin verified by shipping documents (such as bill of lading) or other proof of origin acceptable to APHIS.
Effective April 4, APHIS has removed restrictions on imports of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products from zone PCZ-231 in Ontario after the highly-pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in this area was were completely resolved.
Mexico
APHIS reports that effective April 22 it will reclassify the Huasteca region of Mexico (comprising zones in the states of Veracruz, Puebla, and Hidalgo) from Level III to Level IV status for bovine tuberculosis. This action imposes specific testing and certification requirements on cattle imported from this region for purposes other than immediate slaughter.
Nicaragua
APHIS reports that effective March 14 and until further notice it is restricting the importation of animal commodities originating from or transiting Nicaragua based on the diagnosis of New World screwworm in cattle. APHIS states that imports of ruminants and swine from Nicaragua are prohibited but that it will permit imports of pet dogs, hedgehogs, tenrecs, elephants, rhinos, tapirs, and horses if specified requirements are met.
Avocados
APHIS is considering a request to allow imports of fresh Hass avocado fruit from Guatemala into the U.S. and has drafted a pest risk assessment that lists the potential pests likely to remain on this commodity upon importation if no mitigation is applied. Comments on this assessment, including information that might lead APHIS to revise its assessment before identifying pest mitigations and proceeding with the commodity import approval process, are due by May 28.
Herbs
APHIS is considering a request to allow imports of leaves and stems of rosemary and tarragon from Ethiopia into the continental U.S. and has drafted pest risk assessments that list the potential pests likely to remain on these commodities upon importation if no mitigation is applied. Comments on these assessments, including information that might lead APHIS to revise its assessments before identifying pest mitigations and proceeding with the commodity import approval process, are due by June 3.
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