Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/02/07/2013-02775/importation-of-fresh-bananas-from-the-philippines-into-the-continental-united-states
Timestamp: 2017-03-27 14:46:02
Document Index: 144357381

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009319', '§\u2009319', '§\u2009319', '§\u2009319', 'art2', '§\u2009319', '§\u2009319']

:: Importation of Fresh Bananas From the Philippines into the Continental United States
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-02775
On April 16, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 22510-22514, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0028) a proposal [1] to amend the regulations to allow the importation of bananas from the Philippines into the continental United States. We proposed to allow the importation of bananas from the Philippines into the continental United States only if they were produced in accordance with a systems approach. The proposed systems approach included requirements for:
On May 30, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 31829-31830, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0028) a notice [2] of availability of an environmental assessment (EA) entitled “Importation of Bananas (Musa spp.) from the Philippines into the Continental United States” (April 2012). The EA assesses the potential environmental impacts associated with allowing the importation of fresh bananas from the Philippines into the continental United States.
Under paragraph (b) of § 319.56-3, all consignments of fruits and vegetables are subject to inspection at the port of entry. Inspectors will monitor for all pests listed in the PRA. In addition, bananas will be inspected at the port of entry to verify that they are at the proper stage of ripeness.
B. occipitalis, and B. philippinensis. These mitigations are based on those currently used in Central and South America for export of bananas to the United States. APHIS interception records going back to 1983 indicate that there have been no interceptions of fruit flies in commercially produced bananas from Central and South America. Two additional mitigations (fruit fly trapping and population control) were added specifically for the Philippine bananas program to address fruit fly risk. We have determined, for the reasons specified in the risk management document that accompanied the Start Printed Page 8958proposed rule, that these measures will effectively mitigate the risk of accidental or incidental introduction of the fruit flies or any pest of concern identified in the PRA.
We are making two editorial changes to § 319.56-58 in order to increase the clarity of the requirements. Proposed paragraph (d) stated that during the growing period, if a pesticide bag falls off or is torn, the fruit in that bag may not be exported to the United States. We are adding the words “that had been” after “fruit” to clarify that the fruit that is no longer in the bag cannot be exported from the Philippines to the United States.
In our April 2012 proposed rule, we proposed to add the conditions governing the importation of bananas from the Philippines as § 319.56-57. In this final rule, those conditions are added as § 319.56-58.
The EA and finding of no significant impact may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site.[3] Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact are also available for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 799-7039 to facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Start Printed Page 8959
Start Amendment Part2. A new § 319.56-58 is added to read as follows:End Amendment Part
§ 319.56-58 Bananas from the Philippines.
(h) NPPO of the Philippines inspection. (1) Following any post-harvest processing, inspectors from the NPPO of the Philippines must certify that bananas were harvested at the hard green stage.Start Printed Page 8960
To view the proposed rule and the comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​APHIS-2011-0028.
The notice and EA are also available at the Web address in footnote 1.
The EA and finding of no significant impact are available at the Web address in footnote 1.