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[Federal Register: October 12, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 196)]
[Notices]               
[Page 62500-62501]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12oc10-30]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0096]

 
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Fresh Strawberries From Jordan

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 strawberries from Jordan. Based 
on this analysis, we believe that the application of one or more 
designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate

[[Page 62501]]

the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds 
via the importation of fresh strawberries from Jordan. 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 
December 13, 2010.

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-2010-0096 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-2010-0096, 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-2010-0096.
    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. 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 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 Kingdom of Jordan to allow the 
importation of fresh strawberries from Jordan 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 assessment, have prepared a risk management document to identify 
phytosanitary measures that could be applied to fresh strawberries from 
Jordan to mitigate the pest risk. We have concluded that fresh 
strawberries can be safely imported into the continental United States 
from Jordan 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 strawberries from Jordan 
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 strawberries from Jordan 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 5th day of October 2010.
Gregory Parham,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-25569 Filed 10-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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