The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has this week adopted an interim rule requiring the inspection of Canadian-grown fresh produce imported into the US.
The rule, which was published in the Federal Register on 9 March, has been implemented as a result of the growing number of interceptions of prohibited fruits and vegetables along the US-Canadian border, from regions other than Canada.
According to APHIS, these prohibited products pose a high risk of introducing plant pests into the US, while the material holding the products could also serve as a hold for pests and diseases if left unchecked.
'These inspections are necessary to further prevent the introduction of plant and animal pests and diseases into the US via conventional pathways or through bioterrorism,' the USDA said.
As part of the ruling, user fee exemption for certain commercial vessels, trucks, railroad cars and aircraft, as well as international airline passengers entering the US from Canada, has been removed.
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