USDA drops proposed rule for redelivery of cargo for inspection

USDA drops proposed rule for redelivery of cargo for inspection    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service dropped a proposed regulation that would have required cargo to be returned to the port of first arrival or, if convenient, another location when an inspection is required.
   “We are taking this action after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security, and determining that the incorporation of both Customs and APHIS port inspectors into that department has made the proposed change in the regulations unnecessary,” USDA said.
   USDA said the rule, proposed on June 20, 2002, was intended to simplify the inspection process by allowing agency inspectors to deal directly with owners, shippers, customs brokers, and their agents, rather than having to request that U.S. Customs and Border Protection act on the agency’s behalf and order the cargo returned to the port for inspection.