United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine 2 Phytosanitary Issues in the International

United States Department of AgricultureAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

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Phytosanitary Issues in the International Phytosanitary Issues in the International Movement of Plant ProductsMovement of Plant Products


Plant Protection and QuarantinePhytosanitary Issues Management

Export ServicesApril 18, 2007



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International Plant Protection Convention(IPPC)

• United Nations: international treaty for cooperation in plant protection

• International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM): prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products



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Obligations under IPPC

• Transparent regulations

• Based on science and international standards

• Measures are consistent with pest risk

• Least restrictive measures

• Measures applied without discrimination

• National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)

• Consignments must meet importing country’s phytosanitary requirements

Food Aid is not exempt



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APHIS/PPQ

• National Plant Protection Organization

• Mission: Safeguard agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds.



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Phytosanitary Issues Management(PIM)

Primary responsibility to manage, address, and help resolve technical phytosanitary trade and export issues.

IPPC International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM)

North American Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)

US Federal Plant Pest Act



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Phytosanitary Issues Management (PIM)

Trade Management

Negotiate phytosanitary market access issues

Export ServicesPolicy and procedures

Determine foreign requirementsResolve export issues

AccreditationSeed Health Program

Nursery StockTreatments

CottonISPM Wood Packaging



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PPQ US Export ProgramPPQ US Export Program

Responsibilities

• Resolve export related problems – not trade issues

• Analyze and interpret foreign phytosanitary

regulations

• Maintain database of foreign phytosanitary

regulations

• Establish program policies and procedures

• Provide phytosanitary certification



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Program is consistent with international standards

Failure to meet international standards:

Loss of integrity and credibility of US Export Program

More restrictive import requirements

Loss of foreign markets

Bring us before WTO



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Steps to Obtaining CertificationSteps to Obtaining Certification

Step 1. Import Requirements/ Application for Service

Step 3. Official sampling and inspection

Step 4. Treatments

Step 5. Issuance of phytosanitary certificate (PC)



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Step 1. Import Requirements

• APHIS/PPQ does not regulate exports

• Importing country’s requirements

Regulations

Import Permit/Official communication

• US exporter’s obligated to meet phytosanitary import requirements

Food aid is not exempt



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• Phytosanitary certificate (PC)

• Time limits: between inspection, exportation and issuance of PC

• Freedom from diseases, insects and weed seeds

• Packaging

• Treatments

• Import Permit

• Transiting requirements



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Step 1. Import Requirements EXCERPT databaseEXCERPT database



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• Must be phytosanitary in nature: plant health

• Can not be:

Quality

Food safety

Environmental

Genetically modified organisms

Grain and grain products: can not meet disease freedom



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Step 1. Import Requirements PPQ Policy

Eligibility:

1. Plant or plant product

2. Destination: international trade only

3. Degree of processing

4. Protected plant

5. Ability to sample and inspect



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Step 1. Application for Service

• PPQ Form 572 or Electronically - Phytosanitary Certification and

Issuance and Tracking (PCIT)

• US exporter with physical address in US

• Inspection location

• Origin: country/state/county

• Country of final destination

• Description of commodity-scientific name

• Distinguishing marks

• Port of entry



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Step 2 Official Sampling and Inspections

• Authorized personnel

• Request in timely manner

• Available for inspection

• Representative of consignment

• PC must be issued within 30 days of inspection



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FGIS Inspections

• FGIS inspects for insects only, unless notified otherwise

• Exporter responsible for advising FGIS of special import requirements

• Special requirements must be stated on FGIS 921-2

• Exporter responsible for obtaining FGIS Form 921-2 “Inspection Report-Insect in Grain”

• PC must be issued within 30 days of inspection



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Step 3 TreatmentsTypes of Pest mitigation

• Clean consignment/conveyance

• Cold treatment

• Hot water dips

• Heat treatment

• Chemical treatments* Fumigations: methyl bromide and phosphine



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Fumigations

1. Fumigator: authorized entity and facility

2. Approved treatment

3. PPQ must monitor

4. Bulk or containerized

5. Temperature

6. Gas permeable packaging



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Step 4 Issuance of PC

• Consignment meets entry requirements

• Consignment was officially inspected

• Issued to NPPO of country of final destination

• US exporter – must have physical address in US

• PC issued within 30 days of inspection

• Meets country’s time limits



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PPQ Export User fees

• Mandated by Congress to recover costs – no exceptions for user fees

• Value ≥ $1250 - $50.00

• Value < $1250 - $23.00



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When You Have a Problem

• Before ordering commodities determine if import

requirements can be met

• We are here to help – before you ship

• Contact PPQ as soon as you know you have a problem

• Resolve issues based on science NOT politics



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Questions?

Karen Bedigian

APHIS-PPQ

Senior Export Specialist

Riverdale, MD

PH: 301 734-5712

Email: [email protected]

Documents

United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine 2 Phytosanitary Issues in the International