GAO to Congress: nation’s ports still need tighter pest controls

GAO to Congress: nation’s ports still need tighter pest controls    A congressional watchdog agency warned members of a House subcommittee that oversees forest preservation issues that more needs to be done to prevent wood-eating pests from entering through the country’s ports.
   Daniel Bertoni, acting director for natural resources and environment at the Government Accountability Office, testified on June 21 that the Department of Homeland Security “does not have assurance that staff are assigned to areas of greatest vulnerability.”
   In his testimony, Bertoni noted that agricultural specialists do not efficiently receive notifications and changes related to policy and inspections. He also criticized DHS for allowing its canine inspection program for agriculture pests “to deteriorate.”
   Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the formation of DHS, cargo inspections related to agricultural pests were transferred from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to DHS’s Customs and Border Protection. The USDA maintains the development of policies related to quarantine pests and other controls.
   Paul Eggert, associated deputy administrator for plant protection and quarantine at USDA, admitted to the House subcommittee that once pest infestations get started they’re extremely difficult to detect and eradicate. “This can lead to large areas becoming affected, and costlier and more complicated control and eradication programs,” he said.
   The USDA has developed programs to improve detection of pests at ports and abroad. In particular, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Offshore Pest Information Program looks for “any changes in production, processing, and shipping practices that could increase the risk of plant introductions into the United States,” Eggert said.
   Eggert added that the United States plans to fully implement enforcement of its wood-packaging treatment regulations by July 5. Shipments that fail to comply will returned to the origin country.
   “This looming enforcement deadline and the potential costs of having shipments re-exported have provided incentive to some importers and exporters to examine other packaging materials,” Eggert said.
   “I visited a few ports of entry on a recent trip to Japan and witnessed several shipments packed in plastic materials, as to avoid any possible problems related to wood packaging material standards,” he said.