Guatemala
Effective Oct. 28 and until further notice, the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is restricting the importation of animal commodities originating from or transiting Guatemala based on a diagnosis of New World screwworm. Imports of live ruminants, swine, and their germplasm will be prohibited, while imports of dogs and horses will be allowed under certain circumstances.
Separately, APHIS has announced that fresh Hass avocados from Guatemala may be authorized for importation into the U.S. after Nov. 8. Such imports will be subject to designated phytosanitary measures to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plants pests or noxious weeds.
Orchids
APHIS is accepting comments through Jan. 6, 2025, on its proposal to authorize imports of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants in approved growing media from Germany and the Netherlands. Such imports would be subject to specified risk management measures.
Poultry
Effective Oct. 21, APHIS has imposed the following restrictions on importations from zones PCZ-236 and -237 in British Columbia based on determinations that highly-pathogenic avian influenza exists in domestic birds in these areas.
- Imports of unprocessed avian products and byproducts and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting these areas are prohibited.
- Imports of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, and hatching eggs originating from or transiting these areas are prohibited.
- Processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting these areas, imported as cargo, must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.
- Importation as cargo of fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products, void of the shell (i.e., liquid eggs, dried egg whites), originating from or transiting these areas is prohibited unless the products are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility. An import permit and/or certificate is not required for these shipments when consigned directly to an APHIS-approved establishment.
Apples
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative reports that the government of Indonesia has agreed to “restore an accelerated track” for the U.S. to export apples to Indonesia. USTR said it will “continue to work with Indonesia to monitor implementation of this fast-track channel closely.”
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