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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 15280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6479]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0018]

Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Fresh Persimmon From the Republic of South Africa

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 fresh persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki) 
from the Republic of South Africa. Based on this 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 fresh 
persimmon fruit from the Republic of South Africa. We are making the 
pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
20, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2011-0018 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2011-0018, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0018.
    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: Mr. Phillip B. Grove, Regulatory 
Coordinator, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 156, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-6280.

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 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. 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;
     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 assessment 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 the Republic of 
South Africa to allow the importation of fresh persimmon fruit 
(Diospyros kaki) from the Republic of South Africa into the continental 
United States. We have completed a pest risk assessment for this 
commodity to identify pests of quarantine significance that could 
follow the pathway of importation into the United States and, based on 
this list, have prepared a risk management document to identify 
phytosanitary measures that could be applied to fresh persimmon fruit 
from the Republic of South Africa to mitigate the pest risk. We have 
concluded that fresh persimmon fruit can be safely imported into the 
continental United States from the Republic of 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 a link to 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 you wish to review when requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of fresh persimmon fruit from the 
Republic of 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 the importation of fresh persimmon 
fruit from the Republic of South Africa into the continental United 
States subject to the requirements specified in the risk management 
document.

    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 15th day of March 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6479 Filed 3-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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