Proposed Rule2023-07894
Cut Flowers Regulations; Removal of Chrysanthemum White Rust-Related Provisions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 17, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
We are proposing to amend the regulations governing the importation of cut flowers to remove requirements for the importation of specific types of cut flowers from the regulations, and to list them in the U.S. Department of Agriculture database called the Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements instead. Updates to these requirements would occur through a noticed-based process rather than rulemaking. We are also proposing to remove entirely any restrictions on the importation of cut flowers of the genera Chrysanthemum, Leucanthemella, and Nipponanthemum from countries in which chrysanthemum white rust (Puccinia horiana P. Henn., CWR) is known to exist. For this latter proposed action, we have prepared an analysis, which we are making available for public review and comment, that evaluates the efficacy of the current regulatory requirements in precluding the spread of CWR and the possible economic impacts associated with removing these requirements. These changes would allow us to use a notice-based, streamlined approach to update the import requirements for cut flowers, and it would remove CWR-specific restrictions on the importation of cut flowers.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 73 (Monday, April 17, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23365-23368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07894]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 73 / Monday, April 17, 2023 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 23365]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
7 CFR Part 319
[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0024]
RIN 0579-AE66
Cut Flowers Regulations; Removal of Chrysanthemum White Rust-
Related Provisions
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the regulations governing the
importation of cut flowers to remove requirements for the importation
of specific types of cut flowers from the regulations, and to list them
in the U.S. Department of Agriculture database called the Agricultural
Commodity Import Requirements instead. Updates to these requirements
would occur through a noticed-based process rather than rulemaking. We
are also proposing to remove entirely any restrictions on the
importation of cut flowers of the genera Chrysanthemum, Leucanthemella,
and Nipponanthemum from countries in which chrysanthemum white rust
(Puccinia horiana P. Henn., CWR) is known to exist. For this latter
proposed action, we have prepared an analysis, which we are making
available for public review and comment, that evaluates the efficacy of
the current regulatory requirements in precluding the spread of CWR and
the possible economic impacts associated with removing these
requirements. These changes would allow us to use a notice-based,
streamlined approach to update the import requirements for cut flowers,
and it would remove CWR-specific restrictions on the importation of cut
flowers.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June
16, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Enter APHIS-2019-0024 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab,
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
<bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0024, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or in our reading room, which is
located in room 1620 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) 799-7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Julie Orr, Regulatory Policy
Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-4022.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to take such actions as may be
necessary to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and
noxious weeds within the United States. The Secretary has delegated
this authority to the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
Pursuant to the regulations in 7 CFR part 319, APHIS prohibits or
restricts the importation of plants and plant products into the United
States to prevent the introduction of plant pests that are not already
established in the United States or plant pests that may be established
but are under official control.
The regulations in Subpart P--Cut Flowers, Sec. Sec. 319.74-1
through 319.74-4 (referred to below as the regulations), govern the
importation of cut flowers into the United States. Section 319.74-2 of
the regulations contains conditions governing the importation of cut
flowers. Paragraph (a) provides that all imported cut flowers are
subject to inspection at ports of entry into the United States, while
paragraph (b) describes, in general terms, actions that APHIS may
require if cut flowers are found during the inspection to be infested
with a plant pest.
Paragraphs (c) and (d) of Sec. 319.74-2 contain requirements
regarding specific types of cut flowers. Paragraph (c) provides that
any cut flower found upon inspection to be infested with agromyzids
(leaf-miners) must be fumigated with methyl bromide in accordance with
7 CFR part 305, which contains our phytosanitary treatment regulations.
Paragraph (d) lists the cut flowers of the genera Chrysanthemum,
Leucanthemella, and Nipponanthemum that are considered to be hosts of
chrysanthemum white rust (Puccinia horiana P. Henn., CWR) and countries
in which CWR is known to exist. It explains that in order for any of
these cut flowers to be imported into the United States, they must be
grown in a place of production that is registered with the national
plant protection organization (NPPO) of the respective country and that
is subject to inspection by an APHIS-approved inspector; must be
accompanied by a phytosanitary certification or equivalent
documentation issued by the NPPO of the exporting country or their
designee with an additional declaration that the place of production
and the consignment itself were inspected and found free of CWR; and
must have the identity of the registered production site marked on
their box as well as other shipping documents that accompany the cut
flowers.
In addition to the regulations, APHIS maintains the USDA
Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database found on the
internet at <a href="https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/">https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/</a>. The database contains
additional guidance regarding the importation of cut flowers. It also
contains requirements for the importation of various taxa of cut
flowers beyond the general requirements for the importation of all cut
flowers.
[[Page 23366]]
Proposed Notice-Based Process for Revising Requirements for the
Importation of Cut Flowers
We are proposing to revise Sec. 319.74-2 to remove requirements
regarding specific types of cut flowers from the regulations, to
establish the ACIR database as the single location where such
requirements are found, and to incorporate a notice-based process for
updating these requirements.
As revised, paragraph (c) of Sec. 319.74-2 would provide that, in
addition to any other general conditions for importation in the
section, APHIS may impose additional restrictions on the importation of
specific types of cut flowers in order to effectively mitigate the risk
of introducing quarantine pests into the United States. For the taxa of
cut flowers whose importation is subject to additional restrictions,
and the specific restrictions that apply to the importation of the cut
flowers, please consult the ACIR database.
As revised, paragraph (d) of Sec. 319.74-2 would provide the
process for adding, changing, or removing restrictions on the
importation of a particular type of cut flowers. Paragraph (d)(1) would
provide that, if APHIS determines that the requirements for the
importation of a specific type of cut flower are no longer necessary to
reasonably mitigate the pest risk posed by the cut flower, we would
publish a notice in the Federal Register proposing to revise the
requirements for the importation of the cut flower. The notice would
also make the new pest risk documentation on which these proposed
requirements are based available for public comment. The notice would
allow for at least 60 days of public comment.
We would then issue a second notice after the close of the public
comment period. This notice would inform the public of our decision
whether to remove or relax requirements for the importation of the cut
flower, and it would respond to any comments received on the initial
notice.
These provisions are modeled on the notice-based process for
relaxing restrictions on the importation of plants for planting, which
is found in 7 CFR 319.37-20, and the notice-based process for relaxing
restrictions on the importation of fruits and vegetables, which is
found in 7 CFR 319.56-4. APHIS has found that such notice-based
processes allow us to respond to changes in the pest risk associated
with the importation of plants for planting and fruits and vegetables
in a timelier manner than rulemaking, while still providing the public
with an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the risk documentation on
which our proposed changes are based.
Proposed paragraph (d)(2) would provide the process for adding
restrictions to the importation of a specific type of cut flower. If
APHIS determines that the requirements for the importation of a
specific type of cut flower are no longer sufficient to reasonably
mitigate the pest risk posed by the cut flower, we would prohibit or
further restrict importation of the cut flower. We would subsequently
publish a notice in the Federal Register advising the public of our
finding. The notice would specify the amended importation requirements,
provide an effective date for the change, and invite public comment on
the subject. This process is modeled on the process found in Sec.
319.56-4, which we have used, in conjunction with Federal Orders, in
order to impose additional restrictions on the importation of fruits
and vegetables based on newly identified pest risks.
In Sec. 319.74-2, we are proposing to redesignate current
paragraphs (e) and (f) as paragraphs (f) and (g), respectively. We
would add a new paragraph (e) to provide that types of cut flowers
whose importation was subject to specific restrictions by specific
regulation as of the effective date of any final rule following this
proposed rule would continue to be subject to those restrictions,
except as changed in accordance with the process specified in proposed
paragraph (d) of Sec. 319.74-2. It would further provide that these
restrictions are found in the ACIR database.
Finally, we are proposing to add two definitions to Sec. 319.74-1,
which contains definitions of terms used in the regulations, in order
to clarify the meaning of two terms (quarantine pest and USDA ACIR
database) that would be used in Sec. 319.74-2.
We would define quarantine pest as a pest of potential economic
importance to the area endangered by it and not yet present there, or
present but not widely distributed there and being officially
controlled. This is the definition used by the International Plant
Protection Convention (IPPC) in International Standards for
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 5, ``Glossary of Phytosanitary
Terms.'' \1\ The United States is a member of the IPPC and a signatory
to ISPM No. 5. This is also the definition used in our regulations
governing the importation of fruit and vegetables.
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\1\ <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/mc891e/mc891e.pdf">https://www.fao.org/3/mc891e/mc891e.pdf</a>.
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The definition for USDA ACIR database would provide that it is a
database that contains restrictions on the importation of specific
types of cut flowers, as provided in Sec. 319.74-2, and other
information about the importation of cut flowers as provided in the
regulations. The definition would also provide the location on the
internet where the database may be found, as well as the means of
obtaining a written copy of the downloadable information.
For assistance obtaining a hard copy of commodity import
requirements for an article(s), individuals may call (301) 851-2046, or
(877) 770-5990 (toll-free automated system); email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a3b3933283e3b2e3b383b293f74393537373f342e291a2f293e3b743d352c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbdad8d2c9dfdacfdad9dac8de95d8d4d6d6ded5cfc8fbcec8dfda95dcd4cd">[email protected]</span></a>; or state a request in writing to United
States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service; Attention: PPQ-PEIP-IRM-ISMU; 4700 River Road, Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737.
Removal of CWR-Related Restrictions on the Importation of Cut Flowers
If this rule is finalized, we would move the restrictions on cut
flowers that are currently found in paragraph (c) of Sec. 319.74-2
(those pertaining to cut flowers found upon inspection to be infested
with agromyzids) from the regulations to the ACIR database, thus
retaining the restrictions. We would not, however, retain restrictions
on the importation of cut flowers of the genera Chrysanthemum,
Leucanthemella, and Nipponanthemum that are hosts of CWR from countries
in which CWR is known to exist. We are proposing to relieve such
restrictions based on an economic evaluation analysis, titled
``Economic Evaluation of the Regulatory Policy for Chrysanthemum White
Rust (CWR) (Puccinia horiana Henn.) in the United States,'' which we
are making available for public comment along with this proposed rule.
The economic evaluation (EE) determines that it is no longer
technically or economically justified to consider CWR to be of
quarantine significance.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for
the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been
reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 603, we have performed an initial
regulatory flexibility analysis, which is summarized below, regarding
the economic effects of this proposed rule on small entities. Copies of
the full analysis are available by contacting the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or on the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> website (see
ADDRESSES
[[Page 23367]]
above for instructions for accessing <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>).
CWR is considered a pest of quarantine significance in the United
States. The aforementioned EE, however, has determined that it is no
longer technically or economically justifiable to consider CWR of
quarantine significance and thus should be removed from the list of
quarantined pests. Plants infected with CWR are considered unmarketable
and result in lost sales. The proposed rule, if promulgated, would
remove CWR-specific restrictions on cut flower imports and transition
the cut flower regulations to a notice-based process for communicating
changes in import requirements based on pest risk. Stakeholders would
have the opportunity to comment on the notices. The proposed rule
directly affects the importation of cut flowers that are considered
susceptible to CWR, namely chrysanthemum pompoms. The notice-based
process established by the rule would be of general applicability to
importation of all taxa of cut flowers.
We estimate that the time savings afforded by this rule may range
from 6 months to 2\1/2\ years per notice, relative to the status quo.
This is based on comparable estimates in a prior rulemaking (83 FR
46627-46639, Docket No. APHIS-2010-0082) that established a similar
notice-based process for the importation of all fruits and vegetables,
as well as their interstate movement from Hawaii and the territories.
Before that final rule, the rulemaking process for importation or
interstate movement from Hawaii and the U.S. territories of fruits and
vegetables for which the notice-based process was not applicable took
anywhere from 18 months to upward of 3 years. We estimated that the
rule would reduce the administrative process needed for approval of
these fruits and vegetables to 6 to 12 months. The rulemaking process
for cut flowers is currently like that of fruits and vegetables, and
the notice-based process that we are proposing would be substantively
similar in terms of administrative process needed for approval of the
notices. Accordingly, the time savings is expected to be similar for
cut flowers.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies specifically
consider the economic effects their rules have on small entities as
established by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and based on the
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) size standards
for economic entities. According to the SBA, entities involved in
Floriculture Production with $1 million or less in annual receipts are
classified as small entities.\2\ \3\ National Agriculture Statistics
Service data in 2020 indicates there were about 5,930 producers in the
industry with around $4.8 billion in sales. Of the producers in the
floriculture category, a little more than 1,000 operations had sales of
$500,000 or more.\4\ Thus, at least 81 percent of all floriculture
operations can be classified as small entities. The percentage of small
entities is likely higher given entities with annual revenue of between
$500,000 and $750,000.
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\2\ Table of Size Standards based on NAICS 2014 [Floriculture
Production: NAICS code 111422]. Washington, DC: U.S. Small Business
Administration, effective August 19, 2019. <a href="https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2019-08/SBA%20Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20Aug%2019%2C%202019_Rev.pdf">https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2019-08/SBA%20Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20Aug%2019%2C%202019_Rev.pdf</a>.
\3\ NAICS Code 111422: Floriculture Production is defined as
establishments primarily engaged in growing and/or producing
floriculture products (e.g., cut flowers and roses, cut cultivated
greens, potted flowering and foliage plants, and flower seeds) under
cover and in open fields.
\4\ USDA-NASS, Floriculture Crops 2020 Summary. Washington, DC:
National Agricultural Statistics Service, ISSN: 1949-0917, May 2021,
<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/0p0966899/s4656b62g/g445d913v/floran21.pdf">https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/0p0966899/s4656b62g/g445d913v/floran21.pdf</a>.
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The proposed rule would only directly pertain to cut flowers that
serve as hosts for the CWR fungus. Of the approximately 285 operations
engaged in cut flower production, which is a subcategory of the
floriculture industry, there are only about 14 chrysanthemum (pompoms)
operations. The wholesale value of the cut flower category was about
$295 million in 2020, while that of chrysanthemums (pompoms) was around
$2.8 million (1 percent of the total cut flower wholesale value). This
implies most chrysanthemum producers are small entities.\5\
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\5\ $2.8 million divided by 14 entities yields an average value
of sales of $200,000.
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In terms of wholesalers, based on the NAICS code, there are
approximately 3,407 business entities classified as Flower, Nursery
Stock, and Florists' Supplies Merchant Wholesalers. This category is
comprised of establishments that are primarily engaged in the merchant
wholesale distribution of flowers, florists' supplies, and/or nursery
stock (except plant seeds and plant bulbs). The small-entity standard
for these operations is not sales revenue, but whether they have 100 or
more employees. According to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data, 62 entities
in this industry category had 100 or more employees and are considered
small by SBA standards.\6\
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\6\ United States Census Bureau 2019 County Business Patterns
Survey: <a href="https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?t=Employment&n=424930">https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?t=Employment&n=424930</a>.
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The proposed rule would remove CWR-specific import restrictions
only for cut flowers that are susceptible to CWR, specifically
chrysanthemums. While the proposed rule may enable foreign producers to
send a greater quantity of chrysanthemums to the United States, it is
doubtful that the quantity would be large enough to affect
chrysanthemum prices or alter demand, as imports are already allowed
(albeit with a phytosanitary certificate and/or equivalent
documentation). Colombia already dominates this import category, with
about 98 percent of chrysanthemum imports.
It is not known how sensitive U.S chrysanthemum prices are to
changes in the quantity imported. There is little information with
which to quantify the impact of a potential increase in cut
chrysanthemum imports on prices, but we assume demand would remain
relatively unchanged and the proposed rule should not adversely impact
producers, wholesalers, or retailers.
Based on the information we have, there is no reason to conclude
that adoption of this proposed rule would result in any significant
economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. However, we
do not currently have all of the data necessary for a comprehensive
analysis of the effects of this proposed rule on small entities.
Therefore, we are inviting comments on potential effects. In
particular, we are interested in determining the number and kind of
small entities that may incur benefits or costs from the implementation
of this proposed rule.
Executive Order 12988
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the reporting and recordkeeping
requirements included in this proposed rule are approved by the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control number 0579-0049.
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
[[Page 23368]]
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 proposed rule, please contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS'
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 319
Coffee, Cotton, Fruits, Imports, Logs, Nursery stock, Plant
diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Rice, Vegetables.
Accordingly, we propose to amend 7 CFR part 319 as follows:
PART 319--FOREIGN QUARANTINE NOTICES
0
1. The authority citation for part 319 continues to read as follows:
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.
0
2. Amend Sec. 319.74-1 by adding, in alphabetical order, definitions
for Quarantine pest and USDA Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements
database to read as follows:
Sec. 319.74-1 Definitions.
* * * * *
Quarantine pest. A pest of potential economic importance to the
area endangered by it and not yet present there, or present but not
widely distributed there and being officially controlled.
* * * * *
USDA Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements database. The
database that contains restrictions on the importation of specific
types of cut flowers, as provided in Sec. 319.74-2, and other
information about the importation of cut flowers as provided in this
subpart. The database is available on the internet at <a href="https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/">https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/</a>. Hard copies of commodity import requirements
may be obtained by calling (301) 851-2046 or (877) 770-5990 (toll-free
automated system), by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#97f6f4fee5f3f6e3f6f5f6e4f2b9f4f8fafaf2f9e3e4d7e2e4f3f6b9f0f8e1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb9a9892899f9a8f9a999a889ed5989496969e958f88bb8e889f9ad59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>, or by
submitting a request to the United States Department of Agriculture's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Attention: PPQ-PEIP-IRM-
ISMU, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231. Written
requests for the database information should be marked as such.
0
3. Amend Sec. 319.74-2 by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (c) and (d);
0
b. Redesignating paragraphs (e) and (f) as paragraphs (f) and (g), and
adding a new paragraph (e);
0
c. In newly redesignated paragraph (f), in the first sentence, by
removing the words ``under this part'' and adding, in their place, the
words ``in accordance with this part''; and
0
d. Revising the OMB citation at the end of the section.
The revisions and addition read as follows:
Sec. 319.74-2 Conditions governing the entry of cut flowers.
* * * * *
(c) Location of additional requirements for the importation of
specific cut flowers. In addition to any other general conditions for
importation in this section, APHIS may impose additional restrictions
on the importation of specific types of cut flowers in order to
effectively mitigate the risk of introducing quarantine pests into the
United States. For the taxa of cut flowers whose importation is subject
to additional restrictions, and the specific restrictions that apply to
the importation of those cut flowers, consult the USDA Agricultural
Commodity Import Requirements database.
(d) Process for adding, changing, or removing restrictions.
Restrictions on the importation of specific types of cut flowers will
be changed through the following processes:
(1) Process for removing or relaxing restrictions. (i) If APHIS
determines that the requirements for the importation of a specific type
of cut flower are no longer necessary to reasonably mitigate the pest
risk posed by the cut flower, APHIS will publish a notice in the
Federal Register proposing to revise the requirements for the
importation of the cut flower. The notice will also make the new pest
risk documentation on which these proposed requirements are based
available for public comment. The notice will allow for at least 60
days of public comment.
(ii) APHIS will issue a second notice after the close of the public
comment period on the notice described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this
section. This notice will inform the public of APHIS' decision whether
to remove or relax requirements for the importation of the cut flower,
and it will respond to any comments received on the initial notice.
(2) Process for adding restrictions. If APHIS determines that the
requirements for the importation of a specific type of cut flower are
no longer sufficient to reasonably mitigate the pest risk posed by the
cut flower, APHIS will prohibit or further restrict importation of the
cut flower. APHIS will subsequently publish a notice in the Federal
Register advising the public of its finding. The notice will specify
the amended importation requirements, provide an effective date for the
change, and will invite public comment on the subject.
(e) Previously imposed restrictions on the importation of specific
types of cut flowers. Types of cut flowers whose importation was
subject to specific restrictions as of [Effective date of final rule],
will continue to be subject to those restrictions, except as changed in
accordance with the process specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
The restrictions are found in the USDA Agricultural Commodity Import
Requirements database.
* * * * *
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 0579-0049)
Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of April 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-07894 Filed 4-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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