AMS Amends Regs on Import and Export Reporting for Some Commodities

The Agricultural Marketing Service is updating import reporting requirements and proposing changes to export requirements for certain commodities to allow for electronic filing, it said. In an interim final rule that takes effect Dec. 8 (here), AMS is amending its regulations on reporting of pistachio imports to remove references to paper filing, and updating other parts of its regulations to remove outdated provisions, it said. In a separate proposed rule (here), AMS is proposing to require shippers of apple and grape exports to enter an Export Form Certificate number or a USDA-defined exemption code into the Automated Export System (AES). The proposal would also define “shipper,” shift the current file retention requirement from carriers to shippers, and require shippers to provide, upon request, copies of the certificates to AMS, the agency said. Comments on the proposed rule are due Jan. 4. Comments on the interim rule on import reporting are due Feb. 3.