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As part of national biosecurity programs, cargo imports, passenger baggage, and international mail are inspected at ports of entry to verify compliance with phytosanitary regulations and to intercept potentially damaging nonnative species to prevent their introduction. Detection of organisms during inspections may also provide crucial information about the species composition and relative arrival rates in invasion pathways that can inform the implementation of other biosecurity practices such as quarantines and surveillance. In most regions, insects are the main taxonomic group encountered during inspections. We gathered insect interception data from nine world regions collected from 1995 to 2019 to compare the composition of species arriving at ports in these regions. Collectively, 8,716 insect species were intercepted in these regions over the last 25 yr, with the combined international data set comprising 1,899,573 interception events, of which 863,972 were identified to species level. Rarefaction analysis indicated that interceptions comprise only a small fraction of species present in invasion pathways. Despite differences in inspection methodologies, as well as differences in the composition of import source regions and imported commodities, we found strong positive correlations in species interception frequencies between regions, particularly within the Hemiptera and Thysanoptera. There were also significant differences in species frequencies among insects intercepted in different regions. Nevertheless, integrating interception data among multiple regions would be valuable for estimating invasion risks for insect species with high likelihoods of introduction as well as for identifying rare but potentially damaging species.

Ips typographus is one of the most destructive bark beetles affecting conifer forests in Europe, where climatic disturbances and the movement of infested wood can rapidly shift populations from endemic levels to severe outbreaks. Early detection through border inspections and forest monitoring is essential to prevent new introductions and limit the spread of established populations. Here, we developed and validated a probe-based TaqMan qPCR assay, targeting the mitochondrial COI barcode region, for the rapid and species-specific detection of I. typographus from both insect material and environmental DNA recovered from frass and exit-hole wood chips. Validation followed EPPO PM7/98(5) guidelines, assessing analytical specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, reproducibility, and inter-laboratory transferability. High analytical specificity was demonstrated against a broad panel of non-target species, and reliable amplification was obtained across different tested matrices. The method showed strong analytical sensitivity, with limits of detection of 0.32 pg/µL for adult-derived DNA and 1.6 pg/µL for artificial frass. Repeatability, reproducibility, and inter-laboratory blind testing further confirmed the diagnostic reliability of the method. This validated qPCR assay provides a rapid and sensitive molecular tool for the early detection of I. typographus, supporting border inspection and phytosanitary diagnostic laboratories in forest biosecurity activities.

Border food inspection—the microbiological analysis of imported products at points of entry—is a critical safeguard for public health. To evaluate this framework's effectiveness, our study provides the first large-scale microbiological assessment of 2623 pre-packaged ice cream samples imported from Iran into Iraq's Kurdistan Region. We aimed to determine compliance with national standards and assess the prevalence of hygiene indicator bacteria and foodborne pathogens. Samples collected between January and August 2025 were evaluated for Aerobic Plate Count (APC), Total Coliform Count (TCC), Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Salmonella species, and Listeria monocytogenes . The vast majority of samples demonstrated high microbiological quality. While all samples were compliant for APC, three (0.11%) exceeded the acceptable limit for TCC. Crucially, all 2623 samples tested negative for the presence of E. coli , S. aureus , Salmonella spp., and L. monocytogenes . These findings indicate that imported ice cream sold in this region generally meets national safety standards and poses a low risk to public health, highlighting the effectiveness of current border inspection protocols.

This is the first record of a fish nidovirus isolated from a consignment of goldfish at the United Kingdom (UK) border. The full-length viral genome was 25,985 nt, sharing a 97.9% nucleotide identity with the Chinook salmon bafinivirus (CSBV) NIDO with two deletions of 537 and 480 nt on the ORF Ia protein. To assess the potential impact on UK fish species, Atlantic salmon, common carp and goldfish were exposed to the virus via an intraperitoneal (IP) injection and bath challenge. Moribundity was recorded in only 8% of IP-injected goldfish. A high viral load, ≈107 of the CSBV PpIa gene, was measured in the kidney of moribund goldfish. Mild histopathological changes were observed in the kidneys of challenged carps. Ultrastructural observations in renal tubule epithelial cells of goldfish showed cylindrical tubes (≈15 nm in diameter) and tubular structures budding spherical virions (≈200 nm in diameter) with external spike-like structures. Negative staining showed both circular and bacilliform virions. Seroconversion was measured in common carp and goldfish but not in Atlantic salmon. This study reinforces the potential risk of novel and emerging pathogens being introduced to recipient countries via the international ornamental fish trade and the importance of regular full health screens at the border inspection posts to reduce this risk.

Law, with a capital “L” at least, is not particularly fond of hiding itself. In order to be effective, law must be asserted in the world; it must be acknowledged; and, most importantly, it must be visually seen. Why, then, would law hide itself in space? And, perhaps more importantly, how would it do so? And why would such hidden places of law be of importance to us? This paper explores the dual project of seeing and concealing within the context of legal geography. It examines how law sees the physical landscape and how it is seen from a spatial perspective. It also asks who does the legal seeing, who and what are being seen by law, and then who and what are rendered invisible in these geolegal sites. In addition, it considers how law’s particular way of seeing landscape translates into the making of this space. Finally, and interrelated to all the above, it shows how both the visibility and, perhaps more importantly, the invisibility of law in space are strongly aligned with arrangements of power. The article presents two examples of visible invisibles: first, tree landscapes in Israel/Palestine and the properties of seeing the natural landscape through human and nonhuman inspection, and through aerial photos in particular; and second, border crossings and the properties of seeing in motion through the physical design of the border, and through sensor machines in particular.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that food import refusals may result in rejected products being diverted to other export markets. The increased global trade in seafood coupled with growing concerns over food safety has put developed countries under pressure to increase regulatory stringency over imports. Seafood is of particular interest in that it is a growth area of food trade and holds great potential for developing countries, which export the majority of the product. Furthermore, seafood is one of the products most frequently targeted by food safety violations. It receives the most import refusals in the US and the EU. No one has looked at the trade effects of import refusals, and more specifically seafood refusals from the EU. This article examines the following questions. Do food refusals alter patterns of trade? Do import refusals deflect food exports to other markets?

“Noncompliance of label requirements” was the main finding from visual inspection and documents verification, which included labeling errors, lack of Chinese label, small font size, nutrition-labeling- and claim-violating stipulations, no expiration date, added ingredient without safety assessments, and violation of “Standards for Specification, Scope, Application and Limitation of Food Additives” specified by the TFDA. An examination of these products revealed that the most frequent noncompliant issues identified were pesticides residue; food additives; veterinary drugs residue; heavy metals; mycotoxins; breakdown products of leaching of food utensils, containers, and packages; food microbiology; food components; and pharmaceutical adulterants in dietary supplements (Fig. 1). Categories Batch of examination Batch and rate (%) of noncompliancea Biscuit 10,115 30 (0.3) Fresh, chilled, or frozen fruits 8313 185 (2.2) Fresh, chilled, or frozen vegetables 5525 143 (2.6) Sauce 4594 56 (1.2) Other foods (prepared) 4526 54 (1.2) Fresh, chilled, or frozen beefs 4426 70 (1.6) Food utensils, containers, and packages 4284 21 (0.5) Tea 4011 77 (1.9) Vegetable and fruit (prepared) 3368 55 (1.6) Fish (frozen product) 2646 15 (0.6) Other fishery products (fresh/chilled) 2604 26 (1.0) Live, fresh, or chilled crustaceans 2497 92 (3.7) Rice 2397 23 (1.0) Herbal foods 1264 97 (7.7) Frozen crustaceans 1148 18 (1.6) Other fishery products (prepared) 785 21 (2.7) Edible oil 747 25 (3.3) Spices 546 89 (16.3) Dried vegetables 408 16 (3.9) Other edible offal of swine (fresh or chilled) 201 16 (8.0) Others 34,697 183 (0.5) Total 99,102 1312 Table 1 Noncompliant product categories and percentage of hygiene-qualities examination from 2011 to 1013.

This book provides border management policymakers and reformers with a broad survey of key developments in and principles for improving trade facilitation through better border management, including practical advice on particular issues. In contrast to the traditional border management reform agenda, with its focus on improving customs operations, this book addresses both customs reform and areas well beyond customs-a significant broadening of scope. The book thus presents a new, more comprehensive approach to trade facilitation through border management reform: an approach that embraces a much wider, 'whole of government' perspective. The objective of this book is to summarize and provide guidance on what constitutes good practices in border management-looking beyond customs clearance. The contributions to the volume make clear that there are no simple or universally applicable solutions. Instead, the aim is to provide a range of general guidelines that can be used to better understand the complex border management environment and the interdependencies and interrelationships that collectively need to be addressed to secure meaningful change and improvement.

Seafood products are among the most highly traded commodities. The US, the world's largest producer and importer, sources seafood products from over 130 countries. US seafood imports reached$14.2 billion in 2008, up from $ 8.1 billion only a decade earlier. The objective of this paper is to estimate the magnitudes of trade deflection (or reorientation) resulting from stricter food safety measures deployed by the FDA for the case of the US bilateral fishery and seafood trade. We match FDA product descriptions to international trade data using a unique dataset documenting FDA import refusals and detentions for the period 1996-2006 to quantify the economic impact of the FDA's border inspection and enforcement on trade with rest-of-world partners.

Concerns about food safety have increased over the past decade, in part because the rapidly increasing volume of food imports means that U.S. authorities have less direct oversight of a growing share of the foods that Americans consume. A study by Buzby, Unnevehr, and Roberts (2008) analyzed 70,369 FDA import violations, of which 65% were for adulteration, 33% were for misbranding, and 2% were for other violations, such as items forbidden or restricted in sale. This current article more closely analyzes the subset of adulteration violations that reflect the food and safety problems in imports that appear to pose food safety risks to human health. The authors examine the relationship between import refusals and the value of imports by product category, as well as the level of economic development of import sources. It also examines frequency counts of particular types of adulteration violations by product and economic development categories. Import failures related to adulteration violations can have immediate, significant, and sometimes extended repercussions for consumers, but also for foreign and domestic suppliers, governments, regulators, and related industries. Food safety has been characterized as a global public good, which requires coordination across borders and likely merits additional investment (Unnevehr 2007). The recurrence of particular violations over time shows where food imports have had persistent failures in meeting U.S. standards and provides a first step in understanding where additional resources might yield substantial payoffs for all market participants.