[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8997-8998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3445]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0096]


Notice of Decision To Issue Permits for the Importation of Fresh 
Strawberries From Jordan 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 of our decision to begin issuing 
permits for the importation into the continental United States of fresh 
strawberries from Jordan. Based on the findings of a pest risk 
analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment 
through a previous notice, 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 fresh strawberries from Jordan.

DATES: Effective Date: February 16, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Donna L. West, Senior Import 
Specialist, RPM, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, 
MD 20737; (301) 734-0627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-50, 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.
    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 (PRA), 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 PRA 
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 received on the PRA; (2) the comments on the PRA 
revealed that no changes to the PRA were necessary; or (3) changes to 
the PRA were made in response to public comments, but the changes did 
not affect the overall conclusions of the analysis and the 
Administrator's determination of risk.
    In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the 
Federal Register on October 12, 2010 (75 FR 62500-62501, Docket No. 
APHIS-2010-0096), in which we announced the availability, for review 
and comment, of a PRA that evaluates the risks associated with the 
importation into the continental United States of fresh strawberries 
(Fragaria spp.) from Jordan. We solicited comments on the notice for 60 
days ending on December 13, 2010. We received one comment by that date, 
from a State department of agriculture.
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    \1\ To view the notice, the PRA, and the comment we received, go 
to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2010-0096.
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    In the PRA, APHIS determined that six plant pests have a high risk 
potential of being introduced into the United States via the pathway of 
strawberries from Jordan. The PRA notes that two of these pests, 
Eutetranychus orientalis and Thrips major, could potentially avoid 
detection beneath the calyx of the strawberries due to their small 
size. The commenter referred to this potential risk and suggested that 
the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Jordan be required 
to notify APHIS in the event of pest detections or changes in pest 
management practices they recommend to growers and packinghouses.
    We acknowledge the risk that these plant pests could potentially 
evade detection and be introduced into the United States in the manner 
referred to by the commenter. However, while the pests themselves may 
potentially evade detection by their small size, their presence can be 
detected by visible signs of discoloration and damage to fruits and 
leaves. Moreover, APHIS has permitted the entry of commercial 
strawberries from several countries in Asia, Europe, and South America 
where one or both of these pests of concern occur. Over several 
decades, there have only been a few isolated interceptions of 
Eutetranychus orientalis and Thrips major in strawberry consignments.
    For these reasons, together with Jordan's use of integrated pest 
management practices in the production of commercial strawberries, 
APHIS has concluded that commercial strawberries

[[Page 8998]]

for export from Jordan are unlikely to contain the identified 
quarantine pests. Accordingly, we have determined that no changes to 
the PRA are necessary based on the comment.
    Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec.  319.56-
4(c)(2)(ii), we are announcing our decision to begin issuing permits 
for the importation into the continental United States of fresh 
strawberries from Jordan subject to the following phytosanitary 
measures:
    <bullet> Each consignment of strawberry fruit must be accompanied 
by a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) issued by Jordan's NPPO stating 
that the strawberries were grown in Jordan and bearing the following 
additional declaration: ``This consignment has been inspected and found 
free of Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Chrysodeixis chalcites, Eutetranychus 
orientalis, Monilinia fructigena, Spodoptera littoralis, and Thrips 
major.''
    <bullet> The strawberries are imported as commercial consignments 
only.
    <bullet> The strawberries are subject to inspection at the port of 
entry into the continental United States.

    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 10th day of January 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3445 Filed 2-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P