CSMS Message: 95-000917

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : LEO WELLS

SUBJECT : OGA-APHIS REQUIREMENTS

DATE : 09/22/95

5264111
SEPEMBER 21, 1995

CATEGORY: RES

TO: ALL REGIONAL DIRECTORS (COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS), DISTRICT,
AREA AND PORT DIRECTORS OF CUSTOMS

FROM: DIRECTOR, TRADE COMPLIANCE DIVISION

RE: POSTPONEMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF APHIS RULE

PASS TO: ALL REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGERS, NATIONAL IMPORT
SPECIALISTS, IMPORT SPECIALISTS, ENTRY OFFICERS AND
INSPECTORS AND IMPORTER AND BROKER ASSOCIATIONS

A FINAL RULE INVOLVING 7 CFR PARTS 300 AND 319, PUBLISHED IN THE
FEDERAL REGISTER OF MAY 25, 1995, ENTITLED "IMPORTATION OF LOGS,
LUMBER, AND OTHER UNMANUFACTURED WOOD ARTICLES", CONCERNS NEW
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS) REQUIREMENTS
RELATING TO THE IMPORTATION OF LOGS, LUMBER, BARK CHIPS, CERTAIN
PACKING MATERIALS AND OTHER UNMANUFACTURED WOOD ARTICLES. PACKING
MATERIALS COVERED BY THESE NEW APHIS REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE WOOD
PALLETS AND OTHER SOLID WOOD PACKING MATERIALS ASSOCIATED WITH
IMPORTED CARGO FROM COUNTRIES OTHER THAN CANADA AND THOSE BORDER
STATES IN MEXICO WHICH ARE ADJACENT TO OUR COUNTRY.

APHIS MAINTAINS THAT THEY ISSUED THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE
THERE IS INCREASED INTEREST IN IMPORTING LARGE VOLUMES OF UNMANU-
FACTURED WOOD ARTICLES (INCLUDING WOOD PACKING MATERIALS) INTO
THE UNITED STATES AND PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ARE NEEDED TO
ELIMINATE ANY SIGNIFICANT PLANT PEST RISK ASSOCIATED WITH
IMPORTING SUCH ARTICLES.

ACTIONS:

1. EFFECTIVE DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION

ALTHOUGH THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS APHIS FINAL RULE IS SHOWN
AS AUGUST 23, 1995 IN THE REFERENCED FEDERAL REGISTER, APHIS
HAS REQUESTED THAT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE NEW REQUIREMENTS
WITH RESPECT TO WOOD PALLETS AND OTHER SOLID WOOD PACKING
MATERIALS BY CUSTOMS BE POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
CUSTOMS HAS AGREED TO THIS REQUEST. WE ARE NOW SEEKING FURTHER
CLARIFICATION FROM APHIS AS TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF IMPLEMEN-
TATION WITH RESPECT TO OTHER APHIS-REGULATED PRODUCTS, I.E.,
LOGS, LUMBER, BARK CHIPS, WOOD CHIPS AND OTHER UNMANUFACTURED
WOOD ARTICLES AS WELL AS THEIR PLANNED PROCEDURAL METHOD FOR
IMPORTERS TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE NEW REQUIREMENTS. WE ARE ALSO
WELL AWARE OF THE CURRENT ANXIETY OF IMPORTERS AND FOREIGN
EXPORTERS IN THIS REGARD.

2. INQUIRIES BY IMPORTING TRADE SECTOR AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS

QUESTIONS BY THE IMPORTING TRADE SECTOR CONCERNING THESE
REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO JIM FONS OR JANE LEVY, PORT
OPERATIONS OFFICE, APHIS HEADQUARTERS, AT (301) 734-8295.

QUESTIONS BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS REGARDING THE PACKING MATERIAL
REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO EITHER WILLIAM SCOPA OF
CARGO CONTROL (PHONE: 202-927-3112) OR LEO WELLS OF COMMERCIAL
ENFORCEMENT (PHONE: 202-927-0771), CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS.
INQUIRIES BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS ON THE OTHER CITED PRODUCTS
SHOULD ALSO BE DIRECTED TO MR. WELLS.

PHILIP METZGER