APS REGULATORY ALERTS

Subject: APHIS Seeks Comments on Amendment to Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual; EPA Seeks Comments on Pesticide Registration Applications; USDA Releases Report on Food Imported from Mexico; APHIS Issues a Final Rule on Karnal Bunt; EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Releases Annual Report
Date: February 24, 2005

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service seeks comments by April 11, 2005 on its proposal to amend the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual to allow leaves of the California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) to be treated with vacuum heat before being moved interstate from any area quarantined because of Phytophthora ramorum. More information is available at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-2322.htm

The EPA Office of Pesticide Programs seeks public comments by April 11, 2005 on the paperwork and regulatory burdens associated with the Extension of an Existing Information Collection Request, "Application for New and Amended Pesticide Registration," the data from which provides EPA uses to evaluate an application of a pesticide product as required under section 3 of FIFRA. Available public documents are to be posted in EPA docket OPP-2004-0419 at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/. More information is available at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-2511.htm

On February 11, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service released a report, titled "Mexico: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards; Modification to Phytosanitary Standards for Nuts and Processed Vegetables and Vegetable Products Imports." The report is posted at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200502/146118778.pdf.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issues a Final Rule which amends its regulations regarding the importation of wheat from regions affected with Karnal bunt. The rule takes effect on March 21, 2005. More information is available at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-3141.htm

The Annual Report of the EPA OPPTS Office of Pesticide Programs for 2004 was released on February 18. The report, "Taking Care of Business: Protecting Human Health and the Environment," is posted at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/annual/2004/04annualrpt.pdf.