NASDA Highlights Farm Bill Recommendations Support For Revamping Invasives Species Programs
News Date March 05, 2007
Global trade is an U.S. policy and under current policy will continue to increase. Mirroring the increases in trade and travel are increases in detecting foreign pests infesting or infecting U.S. crops, animals, parks, range and grass lands, forests and other ecosystems. While these introductions are an unintended consequence of global trade and travel, they are also, in essence, an undeclared import--one that creates an imbalance in trade that is currently being borne unfairly within the U.S. economy. The cost of the currently minimal effort to reduce the effects of this problem is not being borne by those who directly profit from the increased global trade. Lacking a program that adequately deals with the removal, eradication, or long-term mitigation of these pests, U.S. taxpayers will continue to suffer, either through environmental degradation and the loss of agricultural productivity (and competitiveness) from under funded activities needed to deal with these unintended, but costly, consequences of global trade. Due to the diverse nature of American Agriculture, the States are in the best position to implement programs consistent with federal goals.
Despite the adoption of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, a number of WTO member countries continue to impose SPS measures which lack a sound scientific basis. These questionable measures create barriers to market access abroad for U.S. agricultural products. Lack of enforcement of basic SPS measures in other countries coupled with inadequate border and port inspections will have devastating economic consequences for U.S. agricultural producers. Harmonization of SPS measures and Technical Barriers to Trade are also important goals.
Safeguarding Principles have been added to the responsibilities of Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service's (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). These responsibilities have become the organizing principles for VS, PPQ, and concurrent state programs. State and federal cooperation is imperative in obtaining the desired results. Many program responsibilities have changed or been modified since 9/11.
Key Recommended Actions:
-
Fully fund existing ED/RR and related programs and examine new funding mechanisms and programs to help reduce new exotic pest/disease incursions of national significance.
-
Create streamlined programs for early detection and subsequent emergency program funding for rapid response and the eradication of pests/diseases including noxious weeds and non-native insect pests, pathogens and diseases of plants and animals.
-
Expand domestic pest and disease detection and surveillance activities by providing block grants to states. Increase support to APHIS for offshore safeguarding efforts.
-
Reassign cargo inspection (pest exclusion) to APHIS, the agency responsible for managing exotic pests that has the expertise and communication system to carry out a focused and effective agricultural safeguarding effort at U.S. borders.
-
In seeking to expand market access and liberalize world trade in agriculture, conduct formal risk assessments and focus intensified inspections on the countries and traded items that present the most severe risk to importation of pests and diseases.
-
Ensure adequate staffing and resources as well as directed focus of port personnel can protect and prevent damage to domestic U.S agriculture as trade is liberalized.
-
Provide funding to obtain a peer review of the procedures and standards that govern programs used to safeguard plants and animals.
NASDA is presenting farm bill highlights each week in NASDA News as Congress gears up for consideration of the 2007 farm bill. NASDA's recommendations and a summary of highlights are posted on the NASDA website--click on the farm bill icon to access more information on NASDA's efforts. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff or Bob Ehart)