CBP to Impose Penalties on Vessels Arriving Without Asian Gypsy Moth Certification
Beginning on Jan. 1, CBP will issue penalties to any vessels that don’t provide two-year port of call data or that visited ports in areas with Asian gypsy moths during the high-risk period and are not pre-certified as free of the pests, said the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Canadian Food Inspection Agency in a joint letter. Vessels arriving from Far East Russia, Japan, Korea and China are already required to be inspected and obtain pre-departure certification from a recognized certification body, and provide the certification to the U.S. or Canadian. All vessels must also provide port of call data for the last two years at least 96 hours prior to arrival in North America. But currently only Canada imposes penalties for violating the requirements.
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Vessels that don’t meet the requirements or are found to have Asian gypsy moths present face “significant delays” in cargo loading, discharging, and clearance activities, “resulting in loss of revenue to the shipping line and associated parties,” APHIS and CFIA have said (see 14031124). Many vessels with Asian gypsy moths present are ordered into international waters to avoid introduction of the pests. The high-risk period for Asian gypsy moths runs from May through September, depending on the region.