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[Federal Register: March 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 50)]
[Notices]               
[Page 13972]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr11-27]                         

[[Page 13972]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0013]

 
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Fresh Papaya Fruit From Malaysia 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 that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis for the purpose of evaluating the pest risks associated with 
the importation of fresh papaya (Carica papaya) fruit from Malaysia 
into the continental United States. Based on our analysis, we have 
concluded that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary 
measures will be sufficient to mitigate the pest risk. 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 
16, 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-2011-0013 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-2011-0013, 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-2011-0013.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on the risk 
analysis 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; (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 analysis 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 Malaysia to allow 
the importation of edible fresh fruit of papaya (Carica papaya) into 
the continental United States. Currently, fresh papaya fruit are not 
authorized for entry from Malaysia. APHIS completed a pest risk 
analysis for the purpose of evaluating the pest risks associated with 
the importation of fresh papaya fruit from Malaysia into the 
continental United States. The analysis consists of a pest list 
identifying pests of quarantine significance that are present in 
Malaysia and could follow the pathway of importation into the United 
States and a risk management document identifying phytosanitary 
measures that could be applied to the commodity to mitigate the pest 
risk.
    We have concluded that fresh papaya fruit can safely be imported 
into the continental United States from Malaysia 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 instructions for accessing 
Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the 
reading room). You may request paper copies of the analysis by calling 
or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Please refer to the subject of the analysis that you wish to review 
when requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of fresh papaya fruit from 
Malaysia 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 papaya fruit from Malaysia 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 9th day of March 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-5961 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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