USDA Proposes New Pest Risk Protection Rules

October 11

USDA is taking a look at its commodity pest risk analysis process to see if risks to plants and plant products that are imported and exported can be better protected.

The pest risk analysis process is designed to ensure that commodities imported or transiting the United States present a minimal risk to U.S. plant resources. The process also evaluates risk associated with the movement of plant pests into the United States and helps develop safeguards to mitigate the risks.

"We need to improve our pest risk analysis process due to the ever increasing volume of requests for import and export permits and the accompanying increases in the risk of plant pest introductions," says Richard L. Dunkle, deputy administrator for plant protection and quarantine at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Every year more than 5,000 permits are issued for importing plants and plant products, Many requests are for the initiation of trade in a new commodity or for commodities from a new source country or region. Risk analysis always has been the basis for import and export decisions.

The review of the commodity pest risk analysis process is in conjunction with an analysis of the system generated by a report from representatives from states, academia and industry of the APHIS plant protection and quarantine program.

Comments received on or before Dec. 7 will be considered. An original and three copies should be sent to Docket NO. 99-079-01, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Suite 3C03, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

More information is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html