During the week of Feb. 26, Almond Board of California (ABC) hosted a group of European Port Authorities for a Pre-Export Checks (PEC) seminar. The authorities came from the European Commission, Spain and Romania. The focus of the seminar was to educate port authorities about the almond industry with a deeper look at the Pre-Export Checks program.
ABC hosted a group of European Port Authorities for a Pre-Export Checks seminar in February. The seminar included a field tour of a hulling and shelling facility, a handling facility, a USDA-certified laboratory and, of course, multiple opportunities to take in almond bloom.
Authorities started the week with presentations by ABC staff Beth Van Meter, Bryce Spycher and Tim Birmingham. The seminar continued in the north valley by taking the port authorities on a field tour of a hulling and shelling facility, a handling facility and a USDA-certified laboratory. The authorities were walked through the entire almond growing and handling process with emphasis on PEC-certified consignments.
About halfway through the week, the group visited the Almond Board office in Modesto and participated in a handler seminar. Each port authority was given the opportunity to present port operations at their respective ports. Handlers had an opportunity to ask questions of the various authorities and gain clarification for different situations that arise during the import process. Spain specifically stated that consignments with a PEC certificate will be inspected at less than 1%, while consignments without a PEC certificate will be inspected at 8%.
The last day of the PEC seminar consisted of meetings with Port of Oakland, Customs and Border Protection and FDA, and a tour of Port of Oakland. Delegates became acquainted with operations at Port of Oakland as well as the responsibilities of each of the respective government agencies.
Delegates left the seminar satisfied and with an increased confidence in the Pre-Export Checks program.
