[Federal Register: July 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 39379-39380]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy07-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0102]
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the
Importation of Eggplant and Okra From Ghana Into all Areas of the
United States and the Importation of Peppers From Ghana Into the
Continental United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of
eggplant and okra from Ghana into all areas of the United States and
the importation of peppers from Ghana into the continental United
States. Based on that analysis, we believe that the application of one
or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to
mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or
noxious weeds via the importation of eggplant, okra, and peppers from
Ghana. We are making the pest risk analysis available for review and
comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments we receive on or before September
17, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the
Docket ID column, select Docket No. APHIS-2007-0102 to submit or view
public comments and to view supporting and related materials available
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2007-0102, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state
that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0102.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sharon Porsche, Import Specialist,
Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, Plant Health Programs, PPQ,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
8758.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the regulations in``Subpart--Fruits
and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-46, referred to below as
the regulations), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits or restricts
the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from
certain parts of the world to
[[Page 39380]]
prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread within the
United States.
In a final rule published in the Rules and Regulations section of
today's issue of the Federal Register (see ``Revision of Fruits and
Vegetables Import Regulations,'' Docket No. APHIS-2005-0106), we
establish a performance-based process for approving the importation of
commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be
safely imported subject to one or more of the designated phytosanitary
measures listed in Sec. 319.56-4(b) of the regulations. These measures
are:
The fruits or vegetables are subject to inspection upon
arrival in the United States and comply with all applicable provisions
of 319.56-3;
The fruits or vegetables are imported from a pest-free
area in the country of origin that meets the requirements of Sec.
319.56-5 for freedom from that pest and are accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate stating that the fruits or vegetables
originated in a pest-free area in the country of origin;
The fruits or vegetables are treated in accordance with 7
CFR part 305;
The fruits or vegetables are inspected in the country of
origin by an inspector or an official of the national plant protection
organization of the exporting country, and have been found free of one
or more specific quarantine pests identified by the risk analysis as
likely to follow the import pathway; and/or
The fruits or vegetables are a commercial consignment.
APHIS received a request from the Government of Ghana to allow the
importation of eggplant and okra from Ghana into all areas of the
United States and the importation of peppers from Ghana into the
continental United States. We have completed pest risk assessments to
identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway
of importation into the United States and, based on that pest risk
assessment, have prepared a risk management analysis to identify
phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the commodities to
mitigate the pest risk. We have concluded that eggplant and okra can be
safely imported into all areas of the United States and peppers can be
safely imported into the continental United States from Ghana using one
or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in Sec.
319.56-4(b). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 319.56-4(c), we are
announcing the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review
and comment. The pest risk analysis may be viewed on the
Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above
for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the
location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies
of the pest risk analysis by calling or writing to the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of
the pest risk analysis when requesting copies.
After reviewing the comments we receive, we will announce our
decision regarding the import status of eggplant, okra, and peppers
from Ghana in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of the
analysis and the Administrator's determination of risk remain unchanged
following our consideration of the comments, then we will begin issuing
permits for importation of eggplant and okra into all areas of the
United States and peppers from Ghana into the continental United States
subject to the requirements specified in the risk management analysis.
Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of July 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13911 Filed 7-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P