Import Permits
The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has implemented a new flexibility that allows holders of Biotechnology Regulatory Services importation permits to reuse import labels. APHIS states that this flexibility eliminates the need for permit holders to request additional labels if they have used all the import labels they received with their permit. It will also help ensure that permit holders have a more consistent customer experience when obtaining permits from APHIS BRS and Plant Protection and Quarantine.
Export Funding
USDA has announced plans to make an additional $300 million available through the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program to help grow non-traditional export markets for U.S. farm and food products. Those interested must apply by Oct. 4 and USDA anticipates that allocations will be announced before the end of 2024.
Secretary Tom Vilsack announced in October 2023 that USDA would use $1.2 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation to establish RAPP to help U.S. exporters expand their customer base beyond established markets such as China, Mexico and Canada, which collectively account for nearly half of all current export sales. The first $300 million in RAPP funding was allocated to 66 U.S. organizations in May 2024 after more than $1 billion in proposals were received.
Pork from Costa Rica
APHIS is proposing to recognize Costa Rica as being free of classical swine fever, which would lift restrictions on imports of swine, pork, and pork products from that country. Comments on the risk evaluation upon which this proposal is based are due no later than Sept. 6.
Gooseberry Fruit from Peru
APHIS is considering a request to allow imports of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Peru 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 Oct. 7.
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