Jo-Ann Bentz-Blanco, Ph.D. Assistant Director · Jo-Ann Bentz-Blanco, Ph.D. Assistant Director Preclearance and Offshore Programs (POP) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Animal

Preclearance Programs

Jo-Ann Bentz-Blanco, Ph.D.

Assistant Director

Preclearance and Offshore Programs (POP)

Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)

Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Riverdale, Maryland

March 2017

POP Management

Director: Jennifer Smythe

Assistant Directors:

o Jo-Ann Bentz-Blanco (Western Hemisphere)

o Brendon Reardon (Eastern Hemisphere)

o Eric Longen (Business)

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Over 100 people employed in

the U.S. and worldwide:

• Area Directors

• Pest Mitigation Specialists

• Agriculturists

• Locally Employed Staff

What is a Preclearance Program?

An operation supporting and

conducting phytosanitary inspection,

and/or treatment certification in the

country of origin of a specific

commodity to be exported to the

United States.

Specifically:

• It is an offshore program;PPQ inspects and clears shipments in the country of origin;

• Has an operational work plan (OWP);

• Is established through a cooperative service agreement;

• Is full cost recovery via a trust fund; and,

• Is intended to be equivalent to U.S. port of entry inspection.

Benefits of a Preclearance Program

• Industry preference

• Expedited entry of a regulated commodity that requires inspection

and/or mandatory treatment as these were met before export

• Lower risk of interceptions, rejection, or delays upon arrival

• Ensures quality produce

• Facilitates trade of high risk commodities, e.g., fruit fly hosts from

countries where fruit flies occur

• Technical oversight and access

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ROLE OF POP IN PRECLEARANCE PROGRAMS

POP Provides:

• Operational Management

• Technical Oversight

• Trust Fund Management

• Program Recommendations

POP IS NOT INVOLVED WITH MARKET ACCESS OR

TRADE NEGOTIATION

– These are functions of Phytosanitary Issues Management (PIM)

A Preclearance Program is a cooperation between:

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NPPO foreign country

USDA APHIS

IndustryCooperator

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APHIS authorizes irradiation

treatment applied in a commodity’s

country of origin prior to export to

the United States if treated under a

preclearance program.

Irradiation Preclearance Program Activities:

Approved fruits and vegetables are inspected for pests by a PPQ official in the

country of origin.

• Fruit inspection will always be conducted before treatment is authorized.

• A joint inspection between NPPO and PPQ inspector will be done on an

official fruit sample selected from a predetermined number of boxes

throughout the lot.

• Suspect fruits are cut and inspected for internal feeders.

• Action will be taken yielding a rejection for treatment if Target pest exceeds

the allowed number or non-target pest identification is not available.

• Irradiation treatment is then applied to commodities in insect-proof packaging at

an APHIS-certified treatment facility under PPQ supervision prior to

shipping.

• The treated commodities are safeguarded until they are exported to the United

States.

PPQ pre-cleared irradiated consignments must have the following

documentation:

• APHIS Import Permit

• Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) issued by the foreign government

• PPQ Form 203–Foreign Site Certificate of Inspection and/or Treatment

Irradiation Preclearance Programs

Mexico Irradiation Preclearance Program

Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Mexico

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

guava

2014 2015 2016

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

chile manzano mango

2014 2015 2016

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

sweet lime carambola pomegranate

2014 2015 2016

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

dragon fruit fig pitaya

2014 2015 2016

Son Son Facility

An Phu Irradiation Joint Stock Company (API Facility)

Vietnam Irradiation

Preclearance Program

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

dragon fruit longan rambutan litchi

2014 2015 2016

Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Vietnam

Thailand Irradiation

Preclearance Program

- Thai Irradiation Center (TIC)

- Synergy Health Irradiation Facility

Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Thailand

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500 2014 2015 2016

India Irradiation

Preclearance Program

- Nasik

- Vashi

- Bangalore

Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from India

2014

2015

2016

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

mango pomegranate

2014 2015 2016

Australia Irradiation Pilot Program

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

mango litchi

2015 2016

Irradiated fruit weight (metric ton) from Australia

Where to find information?https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-

information/sa_preclearance/ct_preclearance_activities

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Questions?