APHIS Briefs

News Date March 26, 2007

~~Mexican Border Temporarily Closed to U.S. Rice~~On March 13, Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture issued an alert requiring that U.S. rice imports be certified free of genetically engineered material as a condition of entry. Accordingly, on March 14, Mexican customs official stopped U.S. rice shipments. Mexican authorities later released the shipments, and as of March 19, Mexico is allowing the entry of U.S. rice shipments. Both APHIS and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service are working with Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health to address their questions and to ensure continued market access for U.S. rice.

~~Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) User Fee Update~~On March 14, the U.S.-Canada Senior Level User Fee Working Group met in Riverdale, Maryland, to discuss the status of the Interim Rule on Inspection and Collection of Fees. The group discussed issues related to animal products; harmonization, fraud reduction, and identification of origin options/alternatives; and future efforts to identify possible limited risk activities that could receive some type of differential treatment under the user fee regulations.

~~Secretary Johanns Signs Framework Agreement with FAO~~On March 14, USDA Secretary Mike Johanns signed a Framework Agreement with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to coordinate technical assistance between USDA and FAO. The agreement included a commitment to stop the spread of plant and animal diseases, including avian influenza. Under the agreement, a Crisis Management Center, operated by the FAO in close collaboration with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), was established in Rome to provide animal disease analysis and to deploy international resources to prevent and contain animal diseases. Three USDA specialists are currently assigned to the center. Secretary Johanns also provided an update on USDA's efforts to prepare for and protect the United States from highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. USDA has focused its efforts on four key areas: international efforts, wild bird monitoring, domestic poultry monitoring and avian influenza research.

~~Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) Meeting~~On March 15 to 16, the Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) officials attended a BSC meeting in Atlanta, Georgia along with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID). The BSC provides consultation to the CDC and CCID for developing plans to meet contemporary public health challenges through research, control strategies, improving emergency response capacities, and enhancing preparedness.

~~APHIS Sponsors Government Career Symposium~~On March 17, APHIS sponsored the second Government Career Symposium at the Student American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention in Raleigh, North Carolina. The purpose of the event was to educate veterinary students on public practice careers. The program included speakers from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

~~Decision to Deregulate GE Corn~~APHIS expects to announce a decision to grant nonregulated status to the MIR604 corn line, which is genetically engineered to resist corn rootworm. In response to Syngenta's petition, APHIS conducted an environmental assessment, solicited public comment, and has reached a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). Pending final approval by the Office of General Council, APHIS will announce in the Federal Register the availability of the FONSI, response to public comments, determination, and final environmental assessment.

~~Environmental Assessment for GE Tobacco~~APHIS anticipates publication in the Federal Register of an environmental assessment associated with a permit application for proposed field plantings of genetically engineered tobacco. The tobacco produces an antimicrobial antibody against a bacterium associated with tooth decay in humans. APHIS will solicit public review and comment for 30 days.