[Federal Register: July 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 39382-39383]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy07-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0101]
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the
Importation of Ribes Species Fruits From South Africa 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 into
the continental United States of Ribes species fruits (i.e., currants
and gooseberries) from South Africa. 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 Ribes
species fruits from South Africa. 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-2007-0101 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-
2007-0101, 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-2007-0101.
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 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 Sec. 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;
[[Page 39383]]
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 South Africa to
allow the importation of Ribes species fruits (i.e., currants and
gooseberries) from South Africa into the continental United States. We
have completed a pest risk assessment 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 commodity to mitigate the pest risk. We have
concluded that Ribes species fruits can be safely imported into the
continental United States from South Africa 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 Ribes species fruits from South
Africa 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 Ribes species fruits from South Africa 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. E7-13912 Filed 7-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P