Notice of Proposed Revision to Requirements for the Importation of Pineapples From Taiwan Into the United States

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk assessment (PRA) and a risk management document (RMD) relative to the importation into the United States of fresh pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) fruit from Taiwan. Currently, fresh pineapple fruit from Taiwan must be at least 50 percent Smooth Cayenne by lineage in order to be authorized importation into the United States, and may only be imported into Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, among other import conditions. However, the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Taiwan has asked APHIS for expanded authorization to import any variety of fresh pineapple fruit into any State or Territory of the United States. Based on the NPPO's request, APHIS has prepared a PRA that evaluates the plant pest and noxious weed risk associated with the importation of fresh pineapple fruit from Taiwan into the United States, and an RMD that proposes mitigations to address these risks. We are making the PRA and RMD available to the public for review and comment.