Regulations: never ceasing to amaze

Here are a couple of new regulations coming down the pike.....

Requirements for antimicrobial pesticides Comments due Jan. 9, 2009
Another level of rulemaking requirements planned by EPA

Implementation of Revised Lacey Act Provisions Comments due Dec. 8, 2008
This rule imposes new requirements on import declarations for certain plants and plant products. One fed up commenter, John DeMott of Redland Nursery already had this to say about the rule:

It never ceases to amaze me the freedoms we are losing by subscribing to the Socialistic regulations imposed by international Law. These regulations are devastating to free trade not only on a global level but more and more on the national, trade between states. Each State seems to be implementing more and more restrictions in the movement of Agriculture products.If APHIS (Regulatory, Licensing, and taxing) were on the stock market this is where I would put my 401. It has to be the biggest branch of the USDA. It seems to be poised for nothing but future growth, while the ARS (Science and Research) is continually scraping for funding.

Farm bill side by side and other ERS notes

Luis of the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group first tagged this new release from the ERS, a side by side comparison of the farm bill of 2008 and the farm bill of 2002. Find the ERS link here.

Another ERS study that I don't think I've linked to before is found here. The title of the report is called "Phytosanitary regulation of the entry of fresh fruits and vegetables into the United States." Lots of data here about who can export what to the U.S. From the overview:

Increased trade in fresh fruits and vegetables provides U.S. consumers with a variety of benefits including the possibility of improved nutrition by making these products available year-round. Imports of these products are regulated by USDA's Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) to reduce the risk of inadvertent entry of pests and diseases that could harm agriculture, public health, navigation, irrigation, natural resources, or the environment.

This data product identifies which countries, under APHIS phytosanitary rules, are eligible to export to the United States the fresh fruits and vegetables that are most important in the American diet. Current data represent country eligiblility as of June 2008. Previous (2007) data represent eligibility as of February 2007. Data on the absolute and relative importance of these countries in international production and trade, individually and in aggregate, are also included. This data product supports the objectives of the Program for Research on the Economics of Invasive Species (PREISM) under which ERS funds and conducts research to improve the economic basis of decisionmaking concerning invasive species issues, policies, and programs.