The U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow the resumption of imports of table stock potatoes from Prince Edward Island, but only into Puerto Rico for now, it said by email Feb. 8. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted in the announcement that Puerto Rico has low risk for potato wart due to its climate, and does not have a commercial potato industry. Canada suspended exports of table stock and processing potatoes from Prince Edward Island in November, after it became clear USDA would act to ban imports following the detection of potato wart in the province (see 2111230041).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue to accept electronic copies of phytosanitary certificates and forms until Sept. 30, the agency told the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in a letter dated Feb. 3 and subsequently released by the NCBFAA. APHIS has been accepting the electronic copies through CBP’s Document Image System as a measure to mitigate COVID-19 disruptions, and had been set to end the policy prior to an NCBFAA letter asking for an extension sent in mid-January (see 2201180050).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 3 that Special Import Quota #16 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 10, allowing importation of 10,197,690 kilograms (46,837 bales) of upland cotton, up from 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) in the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 10, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 8, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the October through December 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Jan. 27 that Special Import Quota #15 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 3, allowing importation of 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 3, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 1, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September through November 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow importation of three species of dwarf maple -- Acer buergerianum, A. palmatum, and A. pseudosieboldianum -- from South Korea into the United States, subject to certain phytostanitary requirements, it said in a notice released Jan. 28. Comments are due April 1.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Jan. 20 that Special Import Quota #14 for upland cotton will be established Jan. 27, allowing importation of 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 26, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by July 25, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September through November 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that it has reached a final decision that the Neuchatel and Ticino cantons of Switzerland are free of Newcastle disease. The change in disease status eliminates certain restrictions for importation of carcasses, meat, parts or products of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry, game birds or other birds from the two cantons. The determination takes effect Jan. 20.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America issued a letter on Jan. 14 urging the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to continue accepting copies of phytosanitary certificates to the agency's Document Image System. APHIS twice has extended its temporary policy of accepting copies -- most recently from Jan. 1 to March 31 (see 2112290032) -- which is in place to mitigate challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Shuffling thousands of pieces of paper through the supply chain in an otherwise electronic system never made sense in the best of times," the trade group said. "In the current chaos, the prospect is alarming."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Jan. 13 that Special Import Quota #13 for upland cotton will be established Jan. 20, allowing importation of 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 19, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by July 18, 2022. Special Import Quota #12 for upland cotton was announced Jan. 6. Established Jan. 13, the quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 12, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by July 11, 2022. The allowed amount in the #12 quota is 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) of upland cotton, up from 9,434,076 kilograms (43,330 bales) under quota #11. The quotas are equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September through November 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Dec. 30 that Special Import Quota #11 for upland cotton will be established Jan. 6, allowing importation of 9,434,076 kilograms (43,330 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 5, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by July 4, 2022. Special Import Quota #10 for upland cotton was announced Dec. 23. Established Dec. 30, the quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than March 29, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by June 27, 2022. The allowed amount in the #10 and #11 quotas is the same as the previous quota period. The quotas are equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the August through October 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.