AMS Finalizes ACE Reporting Requirements for Potatoes, Tomatoes, Onions and Pistachios

The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending its reporting regulations to require that importers of certain potatoes, tomatoes and onions electronically file inspection certificates issued by non-federal and federal-state inspection services, it said in a final rule. Currently, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the only non-federal or federal-state service authorized to inspect, so the change only affects CFIA certificates for now, AMS said. If an importer is unable to enter the CFIA inspection information electronically, the importer would be required to provide a copy of the certificate to AMS via email, mail or fax, the agency said. AMS is also amending the pistachio import regulations to provide for the electronic filing of aflatoxin test results and remove a requirement that importers of pistachios report the disposition of reworked or failed lots, it said. The final rule takes effect Sept. 2.