Notice2021-25361
Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Mango Fruit From Colombia Into the United States
Primary source
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Published
November 22, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation into the United States of fresh mango fruit from Colombia. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh mango fruit from Colombia.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66271-66273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25361]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0061]
Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Mango
Fruit From Colombia Into the United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the
importation into the United States of fresh mango fruit from Colombia.
Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available
to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have
determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary
measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or
disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh
mango fruit from Colombia.
DATES: Imports may be authorized beginning November 22, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Senior
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance,
Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit
133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2352;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#52313e3327363b337c3437203527213d3c12272136337c353d24"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="47242b2632232e26692122352032342829073234232669202831">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the regulations in ``Subpart L-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR
319.56-1 through 319.56-12, 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 of the regulations contains a performance-based
process for approving the importation of commodities that, based on the
findings of a pest risk analysis (PRA), can be safely imported subject
to one or more of the designated phytosanitary measures listed in
paragraph (b) of that section. Under the process, APHIS proposes to
authorize the importation of a fruit or vegetable into the United
States if, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, we determine
that the measures can mitigate the plant pest risk associated with the
importation of that fruit or vegetable. APHIS then publishes a notice
in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the pest risk
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of
that fruit or vegetable.
In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the
Federal Register on May 12, 2021 (86 FR 25998-25999, Docket No. APHIS-
2020-0061), in which we announced the availability, for review and
comment, of a PRA that evaluated the risks associated with the
importation into the United States of fresh mango fruit from Colombia.
The PRA consisted of a risk assessment identifying pests of quarantine
significance that could follow the pathway of importation of fresh
mango fruit from Colombia and a risk management document (RMD)
identifying phytosanitary measures to be applied to that commodity to
mitigate the pest risk.
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\1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comments
we received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Enter APHIS-2020-0061 in the
Search field.
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We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending July 12,
2021. We received two comments by that date, one from a Colombian
government ministry and the other from the national plant protection
organization (NPPO) of Colombia.
The commenter representing the government ministry expressed
unqualified support for the notice.
The commenter representing the NPPO asked that we change the
density of trapping for fruit flies. We had proposed 2 traps per
hectare; the commenter instead asked for 2 traps every 20 hectares with
a minimum of 2 traps per place production. The commenter also asked
that we require 50 percent of the traps to be of the McPhail type and
the other half to be of the Jackson type. As support for these
requested changes to the requirements, the commenter cited technical
[[Page 66272]]
guidelines issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency.\2\
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\2\ Trapping guidelines for area-wide fruit fly programmes.
Available at <a href="https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/TG-FFP_web.pdf">https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/TG-FFP_web.pdf</a>.
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We agree with the change to trap density requirements proposed by
the commenter; these revised requirements will be specified in the
operational workplan. As specified in the RMD, the NPPO is required to
maintain an APHIS-approved quality control program to monitor or audit
the trapping program, including records of trap placement, checking of
traps, and any fruit fly captures, with the specific requirements
regarding trap density specified in the operational workplan, which
must be approved by APHIS.
The same commenter also asked that we change the requirements for
treatment certification so that the Colombian NPPO, instead of APHIS
inspectors, inspects and preclears each consignment of mango fruit that
receives the APHIS-approved hot water treatment. As part of the
commenter's request, APHIS' role would consist of an initial visit to
approve the program and subsequent visits for any cases of program non-
compliance.
We are making no changes in response to the treatment requirement
certification as requested by the commenter. In accordance with
longstanding policy, APHIS requires oversight of offshore treatments by
APHIS officers, including hot water treatment of mango fruit from
Colombia, with details specified in the operational workplan.
Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec. 319.56-
4(c)(3)(iii), we are announcing our decision to authorize the
importation into the United States of fresh mango fruit from Colombia
subject to the following phytosanitary measures:
<bullet> The NPPO of Colombia must enter into an operational
workplan with APHIS that spells out the daily procedures the NPPO will
take to implement the below measures.
<bullet> Only commercial consignments of mango fruit may be
imported.
<bullet> All growers must be registered with the NPPO and follow
operational workplan requirements for suppression of fruit flies.
<bullet> The NPPO must monitor the system for inspection, packing,
wrapping, transportation, and loading of the commodity and ensure that
participating growers are following the program guidelines.
<bullet> Packinghouses must be registered and approved by the NPPO
and meet the requirements listed in the operational workplan.
<bullet> The NPPO is expected to maintain program records for at
least 1 year and provide them to APHIS upon request.
<bullet> The NPPO or its designate must conduct a fruit fly
trapping program for the detection of Anastrepha spp. and Medfly
(Ceratitis capitata) at each production site. Details of trap
placement, checking of traps, trap density, and remedial fruit fly
control measures will be included in the operational workplan. The NPPO
must maintain an APHIS-approved quality control program to monitor or
audit the trapping program and maintain records of trap placement,
checking of traps, and any fruit fly captures. The trapping records
must be maintained for at least 1 year and provided to APHIS upon
request.
<bullet> The mangos must be treated with an APHIS-approved
treatment for Anastrepha spp. fruit flies and Medfly (Ceratitis
capitata). Either:
[cir] Hot water treatment, T102-a, which is only available for use
in a preclearance program in accordance with 7 CFR part 305. Each
consignment of fruit treated with the APHIS-approved hot water
treatment must be precleared by APHIS inspectors in Colombia. The
treatment must be carried out under the supervision and direction of
APHIS and each consignment must be inspected jointly by APHIS and the
NPPO. Treatment must occur in a pest-exclusionary treatment facility;
or
[cir] Irradiation treatment, T105-a-1, which requires the fruit to
be irradiated with a minimum absorbed dose of 150 Gray for fruit flies
and follow the requirements of 7 CFR part 305. If the approved
irradiation treatment is applied outside the United States, each
consignment of fruit must be precleared by APHIS inspectors in
Colombia. Treatment must occur in a pest-exclusionary treatment
facility or, if irradiation is to be applied upon arrival in the United
States, each consignment of fruit must be inspected by the NPPO prior
to departure and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by
the NPPO. Mangos intended to be irradiated in the United States must be
shipped in APHIS-approved packaging that prevents escape of any
Anastrepha spp. or Medfly larvae or adults.
<bullet> All hot water or irradiation treatment facilities in
Colombia to be used for mangos are subject to APHIS approval. APHIS
reserves the right to require oversight visits in the event of pest
interceptions or other problems.
<bullet> Mango fruit must be safeguarded from exposure to
Anastrepha spp. or Medfly from the time of treatment to export. The
package containing mango fruit may not contain any other fruit,
including mango fruit not qualified for importation into the United
States.
<bullet> Each consignment must be inspected jointly by inspectors
from APHIS and the NPPO and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate
issued by the NPPO.
<bullet> If more than one Ceratitis capitata or Anastrepha spp. or
one Neosilba glaberrima is detected in a consignment, the consignment
may not be exported to the United States.
<bullet> Each consignment is subject to inspection at the U.S.
ports of entry.
These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import
Requirements database (available at <a href="https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual">https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual</a>). In addition to these specific measures, fresh mango fruit from
Colombia will be subject to the general requirements listed in Sec.
319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and
vegetables.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.), the recordkeeping and burden requirements associated
with this action are covered under the Office of Management and Budget
control number 0579-0049, which is updated every 3 years during the
required renewal period. We estimate the total annual burden to be 986
hours.
E-Government Act Compliance
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to
compliance with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the internet
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act
compliance related to this notice, please contact Mr. Joseph Moxey,
APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.
Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.),
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136
and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.
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Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of November 2021.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25361 Filed 11-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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