U.S., COLOMBIA REACH AGREEMENT ON U.S. COTTON EXPORTS

U.S., COLOMBIA REACH AGREEMENT ON U.S. COTTON EXPORTS    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Colombian Agriculture Institute have reached an agreement regarding the export of baled U.S. cotton to Colombia.
   APHIS approved a six-month trial of a protocol that removes mandatory
methyl bromide fumigation requirement for all baled U.S. cotton exported to Colombia. At end of the six months, the Colombian government and APHIS will determine whether the protocol will be made permanent.
   “The new protocol will significantly decrease the cost of exporting U.S. cotton to Colombia and will help reduce the amount of methyl bromide used by exporters,” APHIS said.
   Before the protocol, baled U.S. cotton to Colombia was required to undergo “vacuum fumigation” with methyl bromide because of boll weevil concerns.