Getting it right : importing and exporting agricultural products

18 Pages·1997·1.9 MB·English

by  United States. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
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Coverphotos: PPQ officerswork at
portsthroughoutthe Nation, inspecting
billions ofdollars' worth of imported
agricultural commodities.
PPQ inspectors examine commodities
presented for importation, such asthis
papaya, to be surethat pests like the
Mediterranean fruitfly have not infest-
ed the fruit. (These photographs and
all others in this brochureweretaken
byAPHIS photographer Laurie Smith.)
The U.S. DepartmentofAgriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its
programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability,
political beliefs, and marital orfamilial status. (Not all prohibited bases applyto all
programs.) Persons with disabilitieswho require alternative meansforcommuni-
cation of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
the USDA'sTARGET Centerat [phone] (voice and TDD).
To file acomplaint, writethe SecretaryofAgriculture, U.S. Department ofAgricul-
ture, Washington, DC 20250, orcall [phone] (voice) or [phone]
(TDD). USDA is an equal employmentopportunity employer.
Issued December 1995
Revised August 1997
As the world moves closerto the 21st century, nations have modified
their ideas of protectionism and embraced such international trade agree-
ments as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Countries have opened
their doors a little widerto the prospects of new trade, particularly in the
area of agriculture. With this increased interest in agricultural trade comes
a bigger, more visible role for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and some of its agencies.
Each day, USDA employees work at airports, maritime ports, farms,
offices, and fields to ensure that healthy seeds, plants, bulbs, timber, flow-
ers, vegetables, fruits, livestock, serums, and a multitude of other
agricultural commodities can be imported and exported without riskto agri-
cultural and natural resources. USDA works closely with foreign officials,
scientists, farmers, and growers not only to facilitate the flow ofthis bounti-
ful trade but also to forge new trade frontiers.
Importing Agricultural Products
Because agriculture in the United
States is so bountiful, agricultural
imports make up less than 10 percent
ofthe total value of all imported goods.
Despite this relatively low percentage
of imports, the availability offoreign
agricultural goods is still importantto
Americans. Withoutthis trade, Ameri-
cans would not be able to savorthe
sweetflavorof bananas from Ecuador
orenjoy seeing the gawky ostriches
from Africa in theirzoos. These exam-
ples arejust a couple ofthe multitude
of riches Americans would be denied if
foreign entrepreneurs never engaged
in trade with the United States.
Plants and Plant Products
Ofcentral importance to American Pests likethiisAsian gypsy moth hitchhike on
consumers isthe variety of plants and importedforeign commodities anddestroy
plant products from which to choose, U.S. agricultural and natural resources.
whether grocery shopping, gardening,
or conducting research in plant studies. ever, some foreign countries have agri-
In orderto fulfill the ever-changing cultural pests and diseases that do not
tastes and desires of Americans, the exist in this country and that could
United States imports plants and plant cause devastating damage were they
products from around the globe. How- to be introduced here.
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USDA's Animal and Plant Health importerwith U.S. phytosanitary
Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsi- requirements in advance sotheflowers
ble forensuring that healthy plants and can enterthis country expeditiously.
plant products are being imported into —
the United States. Within APHIS, the Permit Information Importers must
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) procure import permits for many, but
staff inspects plants and plant products not all, plants and plant products before
presented for importation forforeign the goods begin theirtriptothe United
pests and diseases before releasing States. Importers must also obtain
them into U.S. trade markets. Because phytosanitarycertificates forall plants
PPQtakes such greatcareto ensure and some plant productsfrom the
that agricultural imports are healthy, exporting country. These certificates
Americans can continue to enjoy a verifythatthe quarantine officials ofthe
diverse array of agricultural products exporting country have examined the
fortheirdinnertable, and local grocery commodities for pests and diseases
stores can stocktheirshelveswith priortothe commodities' departure
everything from Mexican artichokes from the country, so pests likethe
to Italian zucchini. Asian gypsy moth and diseases like
PPQ officers also advise importers chrysanthemum white rust are not
on phytosanitary, or plant health, introduced into U.S. agriculture. For
restrictions and provide information some plants and plant products, no
(including regulations, policies, and acceptable quarantine treatments have
procedures) on agricultural commodi- been proven to destroy pests and
tiestheywantto import. For instance, if diseases ofconcern; these commodi-
an importerwantsto bring in a ties are not allowed to be imported.
shipment ofcutflowers from the Importers may obtain information or
Netherlands, PPQ officers provide the import permits by contacting
USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Permit Unit
4700 River Road, Unit 136
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236
Telephone [phone]
Telefax [phone]
Fax vault [phone]
—
PPQ's "fax vault" an automated
—
document retrieval system enables
requesters with (1) eithera
TouchTone'"''^ telephone orafax
phone handset and (2) afax machine
orcomputerto receive copies of
permits, factsheets, and otherdata.
Much ofthe same information can
be downloaded from the Internet at
PPQinspectorscarefullyexamineflowers http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq
presentedforimport, lookingforpests and
doricsheiadssesl.ikeItnhsipsecatroerslegaallsloyetnrsauderdeuthnadter CITES-Listed Plants—Many plants
theprovisionsofCITES. whose populations are threatened in
the wild are protected bythe Conven-
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—
tion on International Trade in origin does not claim the plants, PPQ
Endangered Species ofWild Fauna works in conjunction with USDI's U.S.
and Flora (CITES). The purpose ofthis Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to
treaty is to regulate the commercial place them in one of manydesignated
trade of endangered and threatened rescue centers in this country, where
species ofwildlife, including plants, and they may be displayed forthe public
monitortrade involving threatened to enjoy.
species so thattheydo not become Importers should contactthe PPQ
endangered. Permit Unit or FWS' Office of Manage-
PPQ enforces the plant import provi- ment Authority ifthey have any ques-
sions of CITES and inspects plants and tions about importing CITES-listed
plant products presented for importa- plants.
tion at any of its 15 designated CITES
plant inspection stations located nation- Genetically Engineered Material
wide, or at other inspection ports Just as the United States is making
approved bythe U.S. Department of great strides in the fields of computer
the Interior (USD!). In 1993, approx- science and telecommunications, so
imately 11.5 million protected plants too are U.S. researchers making futur-
were presented for clearance at PPQ's istic advancements with genetically
inspection stations. PPQ inspectors ex- engineered plants and plant products
amine the CITES-listed plants to to improve the quality of U.S. agricul-
ensure thatthe plant specimens match ture. To accomplish this research,
the description ofthe accompanying many firms need to import plant materi-
CITES documents. If importers do not al that has already been genetically
havethe properdocuments, PPQ offi- altered. APHIS' Biotechnology and Sci-
cers seize the plants and offerthem entific Services (BSS) staffwithin PPQ
backto theircountry of origin atthe is a regulatory unitthat plays a signifi-
country's expense. Ifthe country of cant role in issuing permits forthe
PPQ scientistscomparealush, red, geneticallyengineeredtomatowithtwothat
have notbeen altered.
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movement and release ofgenetically Thosewho have accesstothe
engineered plants and micro- Internet's World Wide Web can find out
organisms. more about BSS activities by pointing
Before genetically engineered plants theirWeb browserto
and micro-organisms are allowed to be http://www.aphis.usda.gov/bbep/bp.
imported, BSS scientists perform com- Under"Biotechnology Evaluation"
plete analysesto ensure thatthe mate- there, users can examine relevant BSS
rial will not pose a significant riskto regulations and trackthe progress of
U.S. agriculture. permit applicationsthrough an interac-
If BSS determinesthatthe tive data base.
genetically engineered plants or
micro-organisms being imported pose Foreign Preclearance Programs—
no significantthreatto U.S. agriculture USDA is also working to build bridges
or natural resources, the staffwill issue with foreign countries to bring newand
an importation permit. To applyfora healthy plants and plant productstothe
permit or request more information, United States. APHIS' International
contact Services (IS) staff is avital link
USDA-APHIS-BSS between U.S. markets and foreign
Biotechnology Evaluation businessesthatwantto trade in plants
4700 River Road, Unit 147 and plant products. Whenjustified, IS
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236 officers workcloselywith foreign coun-
Telephone [phone] triesto set up preclearance programs
Telefax [phone] for importing plants and plant products
intothe United States. Preclearance
programs are essentially partnerships
ISofficersworkin Haiti andotherforeigncountriesaroundtheworld
preclearing agriculturalcommoditiesthataredestinedforU.S. markets.
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.
—
between foreign businesses and and racks, and germ plasm both
APHIS, whereby IS officerswork in semen and embryos. VS carefully mon-
foreign countries inspecting and clear- itors all ofthese commodities in case
ing goods priorto their being shipped they are infected with foreign animal
to the United States. These pre- diseases, like avian influenzaorfoot-
clearance programs facilitate the and-mouth disease, that could threaten
smooth trade of agricultural products to U.S. livestock populations. For exam-
U.S. markets and ensure thatthe prod- ple, countries that have outbreaks of
ucts are pest and disease free before foot-and-mouth disease are not
theytouch U.S. shores. allowed to exportfresh, chilled, or
One ofthe mostsuccessful ofthese frozen meats to the United States.
preclearance programs is in Holland, However, such meat products can be
where IS officers have been inspecting shipped into this country ifthey have
tulips, daffodils, and otherflower bulbs been commercially heat processed or
since 1951. In Chile, IS officials have cured according to APHIS standards.
been inspecting all fruits and vege- VS establishes similar requirements for
tables destined for U.S. consumers countries where otherforeign animal
since 1981 diseases exist. Certain live animals,
IS also has ateam of officers who including pet birds, imported from for-
assessthe pest and disease risk eign countries may have to be quaran-
foreign agricultural commodities pose tined in USDA animal import centers
to U.S. agriculture and natural located in Newburgh, NY, Miami, Key
resources. Ifthese officers determine West, Honolulu, or Los Angeles before
that an agricultural product has a high entering the United States.
volume potential and poses a pest risk
—
that can best be addressed in the Permit Information VS issues
country of origin, IS will tryto workwith permits forthe importation of animals,
thatcountryto establish a preclearance birds, and animal products. For permit
program orestablish an areafree from applications and information about
aspecific pest. import requirements and userfees,
contact
Animals and Animal Products USDA-APHIS-VS
American farmers, businesspeople, National Centerfor Import/Export
breeders, traders, equestrians, and 4700 River Road, Unit 40
animal-lovers alike all take agreat Riverdale, MD 20737-1231
interest in importing animals and Telephone [phone]
animal products from around the world. Telefax [phone]
With the different breeds of animals
and the varieties of animal products CITES-Llsted Animals and Animal
—
that exist in foreign lands, importation Products Transported to this country
ofthese creatures and commodities from thejungles, seas, and forests
has become a lucrative business. around the globe are a multitude of
APHIS' Veterinary Services (VS) animals and animal productsthat are
staff plays avital role in this trade. VS protected bythe CITES treaty. These
officials regulate the importation of live creatures and wildlife products, like
animals, poultry, pet birds, and animal furs, Barbary apes, and python-leather
products, such as meats, cheeses, handbags, arrive daily atAmerica's
casein, gelatins, certain animal hides ports, where they are inspected by
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FWS officers. FWSwildlife inspectors CVB's licensing and policy
determinewhetheror notthe importa- development staff issues permitsfor
tion is legal and either release the the importation ofveterinary biologies,
cargo ortake legal action againstthe such as vaccines, antiserums, diagnos-
importer. tictest kits, allergenicextracts, and
For more information about import- immune stimulants. These permits are
ing CITES-listed animals, call FWS at issued for research and development,
[phone]. FWS is responsible transitshipment, and distribution and
foroverseeing all aspects of CITES sale. To applyfora permit, contact
compliancewithin the United States. USDA-APHIS-VS
CenterforVeterinary Biologies
Veterinary Biologies—APHIS' Center 4700 River Road, Unit 148
forVeterinary Biologies (CVB) staff Riverdale, MD 20737-1237
within VS works closelywith importers Telephone [phone]
who aretrading animal products. Telefax [phone]
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