Notice2025-09657
Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Fruit From Indonesia Into the United States
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Published
May 29, 2025
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption from Indonesia into the United States. Based on 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 pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption from Indonesia into the United States.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 102 (Thursday, May 29, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 102 (Thursday, May 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22679-22681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09657]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0024]
Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Fruit From Indonesia 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 of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption
from Indonesia into the United States. Based on 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
[[Page 22680]]
fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption from Indonesia
into the United States.
DATES: Imports may be authorized beginning May 29, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Gina Stiltner, Senior Regulatory
Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS,
1400 Independence SW, Washington, DC 20250; (518) 760-2468;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3f4daddd29dff9de0c7dadfc7ddd6c1f3e6e0f7f29dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d394babdb2fd9ffd80a7babfa7bdb6a19386809792fdb4bca5">[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 U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) 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 commodities that, based on the findings of a pest
risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the
designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that
section. Under that process, APHIS proposes to authorize the
importation of a fruit or vegetable into the United States if, based on
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 a particular
fruit or vegetable. Following the close of the 60-day comment period,
APHIS will issue a subsequent Federal Register notice announcing
whether or not we will authorize the importation of the fruit or
vegetable subject to the phytosanitary measures specified in the
notice.
In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the
Federal Register on December 30, 2024 (89 FR 106416-106417, Docket No.
APHIS-2020-0024), in which we announced the availability, for review
and comment, of a pest risk analysis that evaluated the risks
associated with the importation of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas
comosus) \2\ for consumption from Indonesia into the United States. The
pest risk analysis consisted of a pest risk assessment identifying
pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of the
importation of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption
from Indonesia into the United States 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, the supporting documents, and comments
received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Enter APHIS-2020-0024 in the
Search field.
\2\ In our pest risk analysis, APHIS considered the importation
pathway to include whole pineapple fruit with or without crown.
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We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days, ending on February
28, 2025. We received four comments by that date. They were from the
national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Indonesia, two
representatives of plant health agencies in Indonesia, and an industry
organization in Indonesia.
Three of the commenters requested that the variety limitation for
market access be removed. One commenter stated that if the pineapples
are harvested while at least 70 percent mature, varietal restrictions
are unwarranted. This commenter cited export protocols for pineapples
from Indonesia to China and New Zealand that do not have varietal
restrictions. Two commenters asked that the restrictions be removed to
allow importation of a Queen variety of pineapple, which is grown in
Indonesia and currently exported to five countries. These commenters
stated that the fruit fly pests have not been reported to them by the
receiving countries. One commenter requested that the restrictions be
relieved for MD2, a pineapple that the commenter stated shares
morphological characteristics with the Smooth Cayenne variety that made
it similarly inhospitable as a host for Bactrocera spp. This latter
commenter provided an unpublished study in support of their request.\3\
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\3\ To view the study, attached to the comment, go to
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Enter APHIS-2020-0024 in the Search field.
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Under APHIS' regulations in 7 CFR part 319.5, if a change to our
import requirements for plants and plant products is requested, the
NPPO of the country from which the commodities would be exported must
submit information to APHIS regarding the requested change. This
information must include, among other things, the scientific name,
synonyms, and taxonomic classification of the commodity.
In accordance with these regulations, the NPPO of Indonesia
submitted a request to authorize the importation into the United States
of fresh pineapple from Indonesia. Our pest risk assessment therefore
evaluated the plant pest risk associated with the importation into the
United States of fresh pineapple from Indonesia, broadly construed.
However, our RMD proposed different conditions for importation of
Smooth Cayenne varieties and hybrids than for other varieties. This
was, as the RMD noted, based on long-standing scientific literature
documenting that the Smooth Cayenne variety does not support eggs or
larvae of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, even when the
variety is grown in areas of high oriental fruit fly populations.
There is a possibility that harvesting pineapples before full
ripeness may be a sufficient mitigation for fruit fly risk, thus
obviating the need for varietal restrictions. However, we were unable
to locate peer-reviewed data supporting the assertion that harvesting
pineapples up to 70 percent ripeness obviates the need for any other
risk management measure targeting fruit flies.
The absence of pest detections on Queen variety pineapples exported
from Indonesia to other countries does not, in and of itself, indicate
that Smooth Cayenne variety and Queen variety pineapples from Indonesia
are of equivalent plant pest risk. That said, we did endeavor to find
evidence that the Queen variety that the commenters mentioned is also
at least 50 percent Smooth Cayenne, but no such evidence was available.
Accordingly, based on the absence of peer-reviewed evidence in
support of the above requests, we are not able to grant them at this
time and within the context of this notice. We do, however, welcome
such data and, if provided, may take appropriate action to revise
market access for fresh pineapples from Indonesia.
With regard to the MD2 variety, APHIS has evaluated the relevant
data and determined that the MD2 variety satisfies the requirement that
pineapples be at least 50 percent Smooth Cayenne by lineage. This
notice will therefore allow the importation without treatment of MD2
variety pineapple fruit in addition to any variety of pineapple that is
shown to have at least 50 percent Smooth Cayenne parentage. We have
issued an updated RMD (dated April 29, 2025) with the justification
section updated to reflect this determination. To obtain a copy of the
updated RMD, you can contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Commenters also requested APHIS revise its ``Medium'' risk
classification in the pest list for Bactrocera dorsalis, based on
Indonesia's trade records,
[[Page 22681]]
which they stated have indicated no complaints for that pest. The
commenters attributed the trouble-free pineapple export record to pest
management practices in Indonesia.
We did not consider standard agricultural practices, such as field
mitigations that would control B. dorsalis, or, in fact, the
application of any other mitigations, in developing the pest risk
assessment, unless we could conclusively associate them with commercial
production of pineapples in Indonesia. We did identify culling and
washing as standard commercial practices used within Indonesia for
commercially produced pineapple.
We acknowledge that the likelihood of B. dorsalis entering with the
commodity may be Low as it mainly infests damaged or overripe fruit.
APHIS rated the pest risk potential as Medium in the pest risk
assessment, however, due to the High likelihood of establishment in the
United States and the unacceptable risk posed by an introduction of B.
dorsalis on U.S. agriculture. Additionally, and as mentioned in the
RMD, B. dorsalis is far less likely to attack and develop in pineapples
of the Smooth Cayenne variety, or those with Smooth Cayenne parentage.
Further, commercial practices, such as culling of damaged fruit, will
further reduce the likelihood that B. dorsalis will enter the United
States on fresh pineapple fruit from Indonesia. Thus, APHIS determined
that a revision to the risk classification for B. dorsalis was not
warranted.
Some commenters indicated that commercial irradiation and vapor
heat treatment facilities for quarantine treatment of plants are not
present in Indonesia, so the commodities would need to be treated in
the United States. One commenter requested that APHIS consider
recognizing and certifying irradiation facilities in Indonesia.
As stated in the RMD, APHIS notes that irradiation, carried out in
accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR part 305, which contains our
regulations governing phytosanitary treatments, is approved as a
treatment for any imported regulated article. In this regard, 305.9
stipulates the required certifications, agreements, workplans,
preclearance notifications, and payment for inspection and monitoring
of irradiation facilities located in foreign countries. Likewise, vapor
heat treatment may be conducted in facilities in foreign countries, if
the facility has been approved by APHIS in accordance with 305.8 and
treatment is conducted in accordance with that section. APHIS can
assess whether these provisions have been met when Indonesia's NPPO
considers Indonesia to have facilities that would meet the requirements
of the regulations.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 319.56-4(c)(3)(iii), we are
announcing our decision to authorize the importation into the United
States of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) with or without the
crown for consumption from Indonesia subject to the phytosanitary
measures identified in the updated RMD that accompanied the initial
notice.
These conditions will be listed in the USDA, APHIS ACIR database
(<a href="https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/">https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/</a>). In addition to these specific
measures, each shipment must 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 included under the Office of Management and Budget
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 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5110011918027f01031011242235307f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="38796870716b16686a79784d4b5c59165f574e">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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 May 2025.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-09657 Filed 5-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 29, 2025.
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