NAPPO Annual Meeting
On October 31-November 1 NAEGA Senior Advisor Arvid Hawk attended the North American Plant Protection Organization’s Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec. Arvid stepped in at the NAPPO meetings for NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin, who canceled his trip at the last moment due to pressing developments from the Korea Customs Service regarding Country of Origin requirements.
During the NAPPO Annual meetings, APPAMEX, the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and its Mexican counterpart SENASICA met and held discussions concerning the proposed use of risk-based sampling to resolve the ongoing detection of small amounts of soil in some shipments of soybeans. Use of a risk based sampling method would not require a change in Mexican law and so could be implemented rapidly. SENASICA authorities have agreed to run a pilot study, however no timeline was provided.
During the meeting, the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) also has produced and delivered a method of testing for sand/soil in soybeans. The method includes a tolerance of 5 peds not to exceed 0.1 % by weight. NAEGA, in partnership with APHIS, is currently reviewing the FGIS proposal particularly as it related to weight.
For more information on the Mexican soil issue, please visit the Members Only section of the NAEGA website at www.NAEGA.org. Please contact Gary or Ryan if you have any questions.