APHIS EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED CARGO INSPECTION RULE

APHIS EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED CARGO INSPECTION RULE    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service extended its comment period on a proposed rule to amend regulations pertaining to the inspection of cargo entering the United States.
   The proposed rule would allow APHIS inspectors to require cargo be returned to the port of first arrival, or another location as picked by the agency, for inspection. Currently, APHIS inspectors must ask the Customs Service to order the cargo returned to the port for inspection.
   “This amendment would simplify the system by allowing APHIS inspectors to deal directly with owners, shippers, brokers and their agents, thus increasing the efficiency of both APHIS and the Customs Service,” the agency said.
   Comments must be sent to APHIS by no later than Sept. 16 by either mail (Docket No. 02-022-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238) or by e-mail, regulations@aphis.usda.gov.