80 FR 54259 - Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Cranberries From Chile Into the Continental United States

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 174 (September 9, 2015)

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of fresh cranberries from Chile into the continental United States. Based on the findings of a pest risk assessment, which we made available for the public to review and comment through a previous notice, we have concluded 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 cranberries from Chile.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54259-54260]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22719]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0001]


Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh 
Cranberries From Chile Into the Continental 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 cranberries from Chile into the continental United 
States. Based on the findings of a pest risk assessment, which we made 
available for the public to review and comment through a previous 
notice, we have concluded 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 cranberries from Chile.

DATES: Effective September 9, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Senior 
Regulatory Policy Coordinator, Regulatory Policy and Coordination, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-
2352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-72, 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

[[Page 54260]]

introduced into or disseminated within the United States.
    Section 319.56-4 contains a performance-based process for approving 
the importation of certain fruits and vegetables 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.
    In accordance with that process, we published a notice\1\ in the 
Federal Register on March 12, 2015 (80 FR 12976-12977, Docket No. 
APHIS-2015-0001), in which we announced the availability, for review 
and comment, of a pest risk assessment (PRA) that identifies pests of 
quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation of 
cranberries from Chile into the continental United States. Based on the 
PRA, a risk management document (RMD) was prepared to identify 
phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the cranberries to 
mitigate the pest risk.
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    \1\ To view the notice, PRA, RMD, and comments we received, go 
to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0001.
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    We solicited comments on the PRA and RMD for 60 days, ending on May 
11, 2015. We received six comments by that date, from an organization 
of State plant regulatory agencies, importers, the Chilean Government, 
and private citizens. All comments we received supported the 
importation of cranberries from Chile into the continental United 
States.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c)(2)(ii), we are 
announcing our decision to authorize the importation of cranberries 
from Chile into the continental United States subject to the following 
phytosanitary measures:
     The cranberries must be imported as commercial 
consignments only;
     Each consignment of cranberries must be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection 
organization of Chile; and
     Each consignment of cranberries is subject to inspection 
upon arrival at the port of entry to the United States.
    These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import 
Requirements database (available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/favir). 
In addition to these specific measures, cranberries from Chile will be 
subject to the general requirements listed in Sec.  319.56-3 that are 
applicable to the importation of all fruits and vegetables.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 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 2nd day of September 2015.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-22719 Filed 9-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P