Notice2024-06601
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Fresh Hass Avocado From Guatemala Into the United States
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
March 27, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of fresh Hass avocado (Persea americana var. Hass) fruit from Guatemala into the United States. Based on the analysis, 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 Hass avocado fruit from Guatemala into the United States. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 60 (Wednesday, March 27, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21233-21234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06601]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0014]
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the
Importation of Fresh Hass Avocado From Guatemala Into the United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of
fresh Hass avocado (Persea americana var. Hass) fruit from Guatemala
into the United States. Based on the analysis, 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 Hass avocado
fruit from Guatemala into the United States. 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
28, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
[[Page 21234]]
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Enter APHIS-2024-0014 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-2024-0014, 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. Esther Serrano, Regulatory Policy
Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (954) 699-4504.
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) 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 or disseminated within the United States.
Section 319.56-4 contains a performance-based process for approving
the importation of fruits and vegetables that, based on the findings of
a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of
the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of
that section.
APHIS received a request from the national plant protection
organization of Guatemala to allow the importation of Hass avocado
(Persea americana var. Hass) from Guatemala into the United States. As
part of our evaluation of Guatemala's request, we have prepared a pest
risk assessment to identify the pests of quarantine significance that
could follow the pathway of the importation of fresh Hass avocado
(Persea americana var. Hass) into the United States from Guatemala.
Based on the pest risk assessment, a risk management document (RMD) was
prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to
the fresh Hass avocado (Persea americana var. Hass) to mitigate the
pest risk.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 319.56-4(c), we are announcing
the availability of our pest risk assessment and RMD for public review
and comment. Those documents, as well as a description of the economic
considerations associated with the importation of fresh Hass avocado
(Persea americana var. Hass) fruit from Guatemala, may be viewed on the
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> website or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for
a link to <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> and information on the location and hours of
the reading room). You may request paper copies of the pest risk
assessment and RMD by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the
analysis you wish to review when requesting copies.
After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our
decision regarding the import status of fresh Hass avocado (Persea
americana var. Hass) from Guatemala in a subsequent notice. If the
overall conclusions of our analysis and the Administrator's
determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of
the comments, then we will authorize the importation of fresh Hass
avocado (Persea americana var. Hass) from Guatemala into the United
States subject to the requirements specified in the RMD.
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.
Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of March 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-06601 Filed 3-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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