APHIS-PPQ to Launch Pilot Program to Accept Cold-treated Commodities in Southern Florida Ports

Starting October 1, 2013, the Ports of Miami, Florida and Fort Lauderdale, Florida will accept cold-treated grapes and blueberries from Peru and Uruguay as part of a 6-month pilot study. Containers that do not pass cold treatment will be prohibited from entering the ports and will not be offloaded from vessels. Failed containers will be allowed transit via sea to a Northeastern port for retreatment, or they will be re-exported to the country of origin.

 

We are now accepting applications for these commodities. Please contact Permit Services for more information:

 

Web:                http://www.aphis.usda.gov/permits/ppq_epermits.shtml

Telephone:       301-851-2046 or 877-770-5990 (Toll-Free Automated System)

Fax:                 301-734-4300

E-mail:             Permits@aphis.usda.gov

 

At the end of the 6-month pilot, APHIS-PPQ along with its partners and stakeholders will assess the pilot study and determine the future of cold-treated commodities entering Southern Florida.

 

This pilot study does not affect existing preclearance programs for grapes and blueberries from Peru and Uruguay. All PPQ precleared commodities with accompanying PPQ Form 203 will still be accepted at both ports.

 

For any other questions, please call or write:

 

Calvin Shuler, Director of Exclusion and Imports

APHIS-PPQ Field Operations

Telephone: 919-855-7326

E-mail: Calvin.Shuler@aphis.usda.gov