US plant importers provided with DOA website to explain what's legal

THE import approval process for fruit and vegetables entering the US has been given a dedicated website to support the early stage in the development of risk assessments, said the US Department of Agriculture.

Its agency arm, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) considers requests for the import of plants, plant parts or plan products not allowed under import regulations through risk analysis. This analysis is then supported by public comment through notice in the Federal Register or a proposed rule.

The website explains the commodity import approval process including descriptions on how to determine import status of a commodity, submission of request from by a national plant protection organisation and completion of an environmental review.

APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) programme website also provides stakeholders with information about the commodity import approval process for plants and plant products, including fruits, vegetables, plants for planting, cut flowers, wood, and wood products.