This interim rule was effective May 2, 2000. We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all comments that we receive by July 7, 2000. You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The short life cycle of the Oriental fruit fly allows rapid development of serious outbreaks that can cause severe economic losses.
Heavy infestations can cause complete loss of crops.
The regulations also designate soil and a large number of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and berries as regulated articles. The last finding of Oriental fruit fly in this area was October 19, 1999. Since then, no evidence of Oriental fruit fly infestation has been found in this area. Therefore, we are removing Los Angeles County, CA, from the list of quarantined areas in Sec. Oriental fruit fly infestations are not known to exist anywhere else in the continental United States.