80 FR 205 pgs. 64386-64387 - Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Pitahaya From Israel Into the Continental United States
Type: NOTICEVolume: 80Number: 205Pages: 64386 - 64387
Pages: 64386, 64387Docket number: [Docket No. APHIS-2015-0012]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2015-27097 Filed 10-22-15; 8:45 am]
Agency: Agriculture Department
Sub Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0012]
Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Pitahaya From Israel Into the Continental United States
AGENCY:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of fresh pitahaya fruit from Israel into the continental United States. Based on the findings of the pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public to review and comment through a previous notice, we have concluded 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 fresh pitahaya fruit from Israel.
DATES:
Effective October 23, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mrs. Nicole Russo, Assistant Director, Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2159.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under the regulations in "Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables" (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-73, referred to below as the regulations), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 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 or disseminated within the United States.
[top] Section 319.56-4 of the regulations contains 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 paragraph (b) of that section. Under that process, APHIS publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of a particular fruit or vegetable. Following the close of the 60-day comment period, APHIS may begin issuing permits for importation of the fruit or vegetable subject to the identified designated measures if: (1) No comments were
In accordance with that process, we published a notice1in the Federal Register on April 28, 2015 (80 FR 23497, Docket No. APHIS-2015-0012), in which we announced the availability, for review and comment, of a pest risk assessment (PRA) that evaluated the risks associated with the importation into the continental United States of fresh pitahaya fruit from Israel and a risk management document (RMD) prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the commodities to mitigate the pest risk.
Footnotes:
1 To view the notice, PRA, and RMD, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0012.
We solicited comments on the PRA and RMD for 60 days ending on June 29, 2015. We did not receive any comments by that date.
Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56-4(c)(2)(ii), we are announcing our decision to authorize the importation of fresh pitahaya fruit from Israel into the continental United States subject to the following phytosanitary measures:
• The pitahaya must be imported into the continental United States in commercial consignments only.
• Each consignment of pitahaya must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Israel.
• Each consignment of pitahaya is subject to inspection upon arrival at the port of entry to the United States.
These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements database (available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/favir ). In addition to these specific measures, fresh pitahaya fruit from Israel will be subject to the general requirements listed in § 319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and vegetables.
Authority:
7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of October 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27097 Filed 10-22-15; 8:45 am]
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