Relaxed quarantine rules could boost lettuce sales to Japan
Relaxed quarantine rules could boost lettuce sales to Japan
Japan informed the U.S. Department of Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service in Tokyo May 16 that it was removing a number of pests from quarantine and inspection status, which should give U.S. lettuce shippers a sales boost.
"I think there could be an immediate impact," said Ken Gilliland of Western Growers Association. He explained that among the pests removed from the quarantine list is the Western Flower Thrip. "There are three pests that we are most concerned about, and apparently we are getting rid of one of them," he said.
Prior to this change, the finding of this pest by Japanese or USDA inspectors would trigger fumigation before the product could enter Japan's marketplace. In the declaration to APHIS/Tokyo, Japanese officials said they would soon issue a World Trade Organization notification proposing significant changes to the Plant Protection Law that includes removing certain pests from quarantine and inspection status.
The expectation of this proposed action is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries will no longer reject or fumigate U.S. lettuce upon detection of certain pests associated with U.S. vegetables. Historically, the ministry has rejected or required fumigation of U.S. lettuce shipments for pests that are not under official control in Japan.
Mr. Gilliland said that this practice by Japan is inconsistent with the International Plant Protection Convention and has limited U.S. lettuce exports to Japan for many years. Some pests still remain on the ministry's inspection list, but efforts will continue to bring Japan under the guidelines of the convention.
In 2005, the United States shipped about $3 million worth of lettuce to Japan.
"I think there could be an immediate impact," said Ken Gilliland of Western Growers Association. He explained that among the pests removed from the quarantine list is the Western Flower Thrip. "There are three pests that we are most concerned about, and apparently we are getting rid of one of them," he said.
Prior to this change, the finding of this pest by Japanese or USDA inspectors would trigger fumigation before the product could enter Japan's marketplace. In the declaration to APHIS/Tokyo, Japanese officials said they would soon issue a World Trade Organization notification proposing significant changes to the Plant Protection Law that includes removing certain pests from quarantine and inspection status.
The expectation of this proposed action is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries will no longer reject or fumigate U.S. lettuce upon detection of certain pests associated with U.S. vegetables. Historically, the ministry has rejected or required fumigation of U.S. lettuce shipments for pests that are not under official control in Japan.
Mr. Gilliland said that this practice by Japan is inconsistent with the International Plant Protection Convention and has limited U.S. lettuce exports to Japan for many years. Some pests still remain on the ministry's inspection list, but efforts will continue to bring Japan under the guidelines of the convention.
In 2005, the United States shipped about $3 million worth of lettuce to Japan.