The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has announced a delay in the implementation of a set of record exemptions related to the Privacy Act. Originally set to be effective from January 10, 2025, these exemptions will now be postponed until April 11, 2025, following a regulatory freeze directive from the President. The records pertain to the Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance National Information Communication Activity System (SNICAS), which tracks activities to prevent illegal importation of commodities. The delay allows APHIS to further review the exemptions, which restrict public access to certain law enforcement records.
Simple Explanation
The USDA is taking more time to make certain records about stopping illegal imports secret until they make sure everything is okay with the rules, so they are waiting until April 2025 instead of January 2025 to do this. The President asked them to pause and review the changes to make sure they fit the regulations.