Notice2025-00952
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Fresh Rhizomes of Wasabi from Indonesia Into the United States
Primary source
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Published
January 16, 2025
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 rhizomes of wasabi, Eutrema japonicum (Miq.) Koidz. (Brassicaceae), for consumption from Indonesia 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 rhizomes of wasabi from Indonesia 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 90 Issue 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4714-4715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00952]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0068]
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the
Importation of Fresh Rhizomes of Wasabi from Indonesia 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 rhizomes of wasabi, Eutrema japonicum (Miq.) Koidz.
(Brassicaceae), for consumption from Indonesia 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 rhizomes of wasabi from
Indonesia 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 March
17, 2025.
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-2024-0068 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-2024-0068, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 2C-10.16, 4700 River Road Unit 25, 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: Mr. Hesham Abuelnaga, Senior
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance,
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301)
851-2010; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cd85a8bea5aca0e38ce38cafb8a8a1a3acaaac8d989e898ce3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eaa28f99828b87c4abc4ab889f8f86848b8d8baabfb9aeabc48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>.
[[Page 4715]]
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 Indonesia to allow the importation of fresh rhizomes
(underground stems) of wasabi, Eutrema japonicum (Miq.) Koidz.
(Brassicaceae), for consumption from Indonesia into the United States.
As part of our evaluation of Indonesia'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 rhizomes of
wasabi for consumption from Indonesia into the United States. Based on
the pest risk assessment, a risk management document (RMD) was prepared
to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to fresh
rhizomes of wasabi 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 rhizomes of
wasabi for consumption from Indonesia into the United States, 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 rhizomes of wasabi for
consumption from Indonesia into the United States 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 rhizomes of wasabi for consumption from Indonesia 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 10th day of January 2025.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-00952 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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