United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Animal and 

Plant Health 

Inspection 

Service

August 2013

Analysis in Support of Certification that the 

Rule will not have a Significant Economic 

Impact on a Substantial Number of Small 

Entities

Proposed Rule

APHIS 2013-0057

RIN 0579-AD84

Expansion of Areas Considered Free of 

Mango Seed Weevil and Mango Pulp Weevil 

in the Philippines and Addition of Irradiation 

as a Treatment for Mango Pulp Weevil 

Policy & Program Development

Policy Analysis & Development
i

Summary

This proposed rule is in response to a request from the Philippines to recognize additional 

areas (regions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) as free of mango seed and mango pulp weevils, 

and the island of Palawan as free of mango seed weevil. Currently, fresh mango from the 

Philippines is enterable into the United States from the island of Guimaras, considered free of

these weevils, subject to treatment to mitigate the risk associated with fruit flies of the genus 

Bactrocera.

In addition, APHIS is proposing to amend the PPQ treatment manual by adding

irradiation at 165 Gy as an option to mitigate the risk associated with mango pulp weevil. This 

dosage also mitigates the risk associated with fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera. 

In 2010 and 2011, fresh mango exports to the United States from the Philippines 

averaged about 42,000 pounds per year. U.S. mango imports from all sources averaged more 

than 3.3 billion pounds per year between 2009 and 2012, with most coming from Mexico, Peru, 

Ecuador, Brazil, and Guatemala. Thus, imports from the Philippines comprise a negligible share 

of total fresh mango imports, less than 0.002 percent. Given the Philippines’ current very small 

share and the proximity of major Latin American sources, the additional quantity of fresh mango 

that may be imported from the Philippines because of this rule is unlikely to make an appreciable 

difference in the total quantity imported. 

U.S. mango production, about 6.6 million pounds per year, is equivalent to 0.2 percent of 

imports. Most if not all mango farms are small entities in Florida, California, Texas, and Hawaii,

where the fruit is primarily marketed locally. Any effect for these farms and for mango importers 

of additional fresh mango imports from the Philippines would be inconsequential, given the very

small change expected to total imports. 
ii

There would be no recordkeeping or other compliance costs associated with the proposed 

rule for U.S. entities, other than the import documentation normally required. The APHIS 

Administrator certifies that the proposed rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
iii

Table of Contents

Summary.............................................................................................................................. i

Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1

Potential Impact on Small Entities...................................................................................... 1

References........................................................................................................................... 4
1

Introduction 

This analysis provides the basis, as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, for 

certification by the APHIS Administrator that the proposed rule, if promulgated, will not have a 

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This proposed rule is in response to a request from the Philippines to recognize additional 

areas (regions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) as free of mango seed and mango pulp weevils, 

and the island of Palawan as free of mango seed weevil. Currently, fresh mango from the 

Philippines is enterable into the United States from the island of Guimaras, considered free of 

these weevils, subject to treatment to mitigate the risk associated with fruit flies of the genus 

Bactrocera.

In addition, APHIS is proposing to amend the PPQ manual by adding irradiation as a 

treatment for mango pulp weevil. This change is based on an APHIS 2012 study that ascertained 

165 Gy as the minimum absorbed dosage for the mango pulp weevil. This dosage also mitigates 

the risk associated with fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera. 

Potential Impact on Small Entities

Following the Small Business Administration (SBA) guidelines, the entities potentially

affected by the proposed rule are classified within the following industries: Other Non Citrus 

Farming (NAICS 111339); Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 424480); 

and Post Harvest Crop Activities (except cotton ginning) (NAICS 115114). Establishments 

classified within Other Non Citrus Farming are considered small by SBA standards if annual 

sales are not more than $750,000. APHIS does not have information on the size distribution of 

mango producers but according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture there were 23,641 farms in the 

Other Non Citrus Farming classification, and the market value of their crop sales averaged about 
2

$111,000, well below the small-entity standard. We infer that most if not all U.S. mango farms 

are also small entities. Establishments classified within Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant 

Wholesalers are considered small by SBA standards if they employ not more than 100 persons. 

According to the 2007 Survey of Business Owners, 97 percent of the establishments in this 

category employed fewer than 100 people. Establishments classified within Post Harvest Crop 

Activities (except cotton ginning) (NAICS 115114) are considered small by SBA standards if 

annual sales are not more than $25.5 million. The percentage of establishments that meet this 

standard is not known; neither the Census of Agriculture nor the Economic Census reports 

revenue for these establishments.

In 2010 and 2011, fresh mango exports to the United States from the Philippines 

averaged about 42,000 pounds per year. U.S. mango imports from all sources averaged more 

than 3.3 billion pounds per year between 2009 and 2012, with most coming from Mexico, Peru, 

Ecuador, Brazil, and Guatemala. Thus, imports from the Philippines comprise a negligible share 

of total fresh mango imports, less than 0.002 percent. Given the Philippines’ current very small 

share and the proximity of major Latin American sources, the additional quantity of fresh mango 

that may be imported from the Philippines because of this rule is unlikely to make an appreciable 

difference in the total quantity imported. 

U.S. mango production, about 6.6 million pounds per year, is equivalent to 0.2 percent of 

imports. Most if not all mango farms are small entities in Florida, California, Texas, and Hawaii, 

where the fruit is primarily marketed locally. Any effect for these farms and for mango importers 

of additional fresh mango imports from the Philippines would be inconsequential, given the very

small change expected to total imports. 
3

There would be no recordkeeping or other compliance costs associated with the proposed 

rule for U.S. entities, other than the import documentation normally required. The APHIS 

Administrator has determined that this action, if promulgated, will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
4

References

Census of Agriculture, 2007, 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/index.asp

Economic Census, 2007, http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/

U.S. Small Business Administration. U.S. Small Business Administration: Table of Small 

Business Size Standards Match to North American Industry Classification System 

http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_sstd_tablepdf.pdf