80_FR_64512 80 FR 64307 - Importation of Fresh Peppers From Ecuador Into the United States

80 FR 64307 - Importation of Fresh Peppers From Ecuador Into the United States

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 205 (October 23, 2015)

Page Range64307-64309
FR Document2015-27013

We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh peppers into the United States from Ecuador. As a condition of entry, the fruit will have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that includes requirements for fruit fly trapping, pre-harvest inspections, production sites, and packinghouse procedures designed to exclude quarantine pests. The fruit will also be required to be imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Ecuador stating that the consignment was produced and prepared for export in accordance with the requirements in the systems approach. This action allows for the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests into the United States.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 205 (Friday, October 23, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 205 (Friday, October 23, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64307-64309]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27013]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0086]
RIN 0579-AE07


Importation of Fresh Peppers From Ecuador Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow 
the importation of fresh peppers into the United States from Ecuador. 
As a condition of entry, the fruit will have to be produced in 
accordance with a systems approach that includes requirements for fruit 
fly trapping, pre-harvest inspections, production sites, and 
packinghouse procedures designed to exclude quarantine pests. The fruit 
will also be required to be imported in commercial consignments and 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant 
protection organization of Ecuador stating that the consignment was 
produced and prepared for export in accordance with the requirements in 
the systems approach. This action allows for the importation of fresh 
peppers from Ecuador while continuing to provide protection against the 
introduction of plant pests into the United States.

DATES: Effective November 23, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Senior 
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 
851-2352; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-73, referred to below as the regulations), the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture prohibits or restricts the importation of 
fruits and vegetables into the United

[[Page 64308]]

States from certain parts of the world to prevent plant pests from 
being introduced into and spread within the United States.
    On April 24, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
22930-22934, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0086) a proposal \1\ to amend the 
regulations to allow the common bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), 
locoto pepper (Capsicum baccatum L.), habanero pepper (Capsicum 
chinense Jacq.), tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.), and manzano 
pepper (Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav.) to be imported into the United 
States under a systems approach. (Hereafter we refer to these species 
as ``peppers.'') We also prepared a pest risk assessment (PRA) and a 
risk management document (RMD). The PRA evaluates the risks associated 
with the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador into the United 
States. The RMD relies upon the findings of the PRA to determine the 
phytosanitary measures necessary to ensure the safe importation into 
the United States of fresh peppers from Ecuador.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the proposed rule and supporting documents, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0086.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the proposed rule, we noted that the PRA rated six plant pests 
as having a high pest risk potential for following the pathway of 
peppers from Ecuador into the United States: The insects Anastrepha 
fraterculus, Ceratitis capitata, Spodoptera litura, Thrips palmi, and 
Tuta absoluta, and the fungus Puccinia pampeana. The PRA rated the 
insect Neoleucinodes elegantalis and the Andean potato mottle virus 
with a medium pest risk potential.
    We determined in the PRA that measures beyond standard port of 
arrival inspection will mitigate the risks posed by these plant pests 
and proposed a systems approach that includes requirements for fruit 
fly trapping, pre-harvest inspections, production sites, and 
packinghouse procedures designed to exclude quarantine pests. We also 
proposed that the fruit be imported in commercial consignments only and 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant 
protection organization of Ecuador stating that the consignment was 
produced and prepared for export in accordance with the systems 
approach.
    We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending 
June 23, 2015. We did not receive any comments.
    We have made one minor change to this final rule, i.e., we have 
added tomato leaf miner as another common name associated with the 
plant pest Tuta absoluta.
    Therefore, for the reasons given in the proposed rule, we are 
adopting the proposed rule as a final rule with the change noted.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget.
    In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, we have analyzed 
the potential economic effects of this action on small entities. The 
analysis is summarized below. Copies of the full analysis are available 
by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
or on the Regulations.gov Web site (see ADDRESSES above for 
instructions for accessing Regulations.gov).
    This rule amends the regulations to allow the importation of fresh 
peppers from Ecuador into the United States when a systems approach to 
pest risk mitigation is used to prevent the introduction of quarantine 
pests. The systems approach will integrate prescribed mitigation 
measures that cumulatively achieve the appropriate level of 
phytosanitary protection.
    The most recent production data available show that fresh pepper 
yields in Ecuador have expanded from approximately 12,522 pounds per 
hectare (pounds/ha) in 1996 to approximately 66,361 pounds/ha in 2006. 
The total quantity of fresh peppers that were exported from Ecuador in 
2006 and 2007 was 96.3 metric tons (MT) and 206.5 MT, respectively. Sea 
shipping containers that are 40 feet in length hold approximately 20 
U.S. MT. Considering the total volume exported from Ecuador during 
these years, APHIS estimates imports of no more than 10 containers (200 
MT) of fresh peppers from Ecuador into the United States annually. This 
quantity is equivalent to less than 0.02 percent of annual U.S. fresh 
pepper production. Similarly, the estimated quantity of fresh pepper 
imports from Ecuador (200 MT annually) is minimal compared to the total 
quantity of fresh peppers imported by the United States in recent years 
(800,000 MT annually).
    In the United States, the average value of bell pepper production 
per farm in 2012 was approximately $52,300, and the average value of 
chili pepper production per farm was approximately $20,700. Both levels 
are well below the small-entity standard of $750,000. Establishments 
classified within NAICS 111219, including pepper farms, are considered 
small by the Small Business Administration (SBA) if annual sales are 
not more than $750,000. Accordingly, pepper growers are predominantly 
small entities according to the SBA standard. Under these 
circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has determined that this action will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Executive Order 12988

    This final rule allows fresh pepper fruit to be imported into the 
United States from Ecuador. State and local laws and regulations 
regarding fresh pepper fruit imported under this rule will be preempted 
while the fruit is in foreign commerce. Fresh fruits are generally 
imported for immediate distribution and sale to the consuming public, 
and remain in foreign commerce until sold to the ultimate consumer. The 
question of when foreign commerce ceases in other cases must be 
addressed on a case-by-case basis. No retroactive effect will be given 
to this rule, and this rule will not require administrative proceedings 
before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements included in this final rule, which were 
filed under 0579-0437, have been submitted for approval to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB). When OMB notifies us of its decision, 
if approval is denied, we will publish a document in the Federal 
Register providing notice of what action we plan to take.

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 rule, please contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, 
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727.

Lists of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 319

    Coffee, Cotton, Fruits, Imports, Logs, Nursery stock, Plant 
diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Rice, Vegetables.

[[Page 64309]]

    Accordingly, we are amending 7 CFR part 319 as follows:

PART 319-FOREIGN QUARANTINE NOTICES

0
1. The authority citation for part 319 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 450 and 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 
136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

0
2. Section 319.56-74 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  319.56-74  Peppers from Ecuador.

    Fresh peppers (Capsicum annum L., Capsicum baccatum L., Capsicum 
chinense Jacq., Capsicum frutescens L., and Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & 
Pav.) from Ecuador may be imported into the United States only under 
the conditions described in this section. These conditions are designed 
to prevent the introduction of the following quarantine pests: Andean 
potato mottle virus; Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), South American 
fruit fly; Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Mediterranean fruit fly; 
Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guen[eacute]e), a fruit boring moth; 
Puccinia pampeana Speg., a pathogenic fungus that causes pepper and 
green pepper rust; Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), a leaf-eating moth; 
Thrips palmi Karny, an arthropod; and Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) Povolny, 
South American tomato moth, tomato leaf miner.
    (a) General requirements. The national plant protection 
organization (NPPO) of Ecuador must provide an operational workplan to 
APHIS that details activities that the NPPO of Ecuador will, subject to 
APHIS' approval of the workplan, carry out to meet the requirements of 
this section. The operational workplan must include and describe the 
specific requirements as set forth in this section.
    (b) Commercial consignments. Peppers from Ecuador may be imported 
in commercial consignments only.
    (c) Production site requirements. (1) Pepper production sites must 
consist of pest-exclusionary structures, which must have double self-
closing doors and have all other windows, openings, and vents covered 
with 1.6 mm (or less) screening.
    (2) All production sites that participate in the pepper export 
program must be registered with the NPPO of Ecuador.
    (3) The production sites must be inspected prior to each harvest by 
the NPPO of Ecuador or its approved designee in accordance with the 
operational workplan. If any quarantine pests are found to be generally 
infesting or infecting the production site, the NPPO of Ecuador will 
immediately prohibit that production site from exporting peppers to the 
United States and notify APHIS of this action. The prohibition will 
remain in effect until the NPPO of Ecuador and APHIS agree that the 
pest risk has been mitigated. If a designee conducts the program, the 
designation must be detailed in the operational workplan. The approved 
designee can be a contracted entity, a coalition of growers, or the 
growers themselves.
    (4) The registered production sites must conduct trapping for the 
fruit flies A. fraterculus and C. capitata at each production site in 
accordance with the operational workplan.
    (5) If a single A. fraterculus or C. capitata is detected inside a 
registered production site or in a consignment, the NPPO of Ecuador 
must immediately prohibit that production site from exporting peppers 
to the United States and notify APHIS of the action. The prohibition 
will remain in effect until the NPPO of Ecuador and APHIS agree that 
the risk has been mitigated.
    (6) The NPPO of Ecuador must maintain records of trap placement, 
checking of traps, and any quarantine pest captures in accordance with 
the operational workplan. Trapping records must be maintained for APHIS 
review for at least 1 year.
    (7) The NPPO of Ecuador must maintain a quality control program, 
approved by APHIS, to monitor or audit the trapping program in 
accordance with the operational workplan.
    (d) Packinghouse procedures. (1) All packinghouses that participate 
in the export program must be registered with the NPPO of Ecuador.
    (2) The peppers must be packed within 24 hours of harvest in a 
pest-exclusionary packinghouse. The peppers must be safeguarded by an 
insect-proof mesh screen or plastic tarpaulin while in transit to the 
packinghouse and while awaiting packing. The peppers must be packed in 
insect-proof cartons or containers, or covered with insect-proof mesh 
or plastic tarpaulin, for transit into the United States. These 
safeguards must remain intact until arrival in the United States or the 
consignment will be denied entry into the United States.
    (3) During the time the packinghouse is in use for exporting 
peppers to the United States, the packinghouse may only accept peppers 
from registered approved production sites.
    (e) Phytosanitary certificate. Each consignment of peppers must be 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of 
Ecuador bearing the additional declaration that the consignment was 
produced and prepared for export in accordance with the requirements of 
this section. The shipping box must be labeled with the identity of the 
production site.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 0579-0437)

    Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of October 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27013 Filed 10-22-15; 8:45 a.m.]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                64307

                                                Rules and Regulations                                                                                         Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                              Vol. 80, No. 205

                                                                                                                                                              Friday, October 23, 2015



                                                This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    additional time to test new systems                   DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                                                contains regulatory documents having general            before they are deployed. The Greater
                                                applicability and legal effect, most of which           Arkansas CFC LFCC requested                           Animal and Plant Health Inspection
                                                are keyed to and codified in the Code of                clarification on the process by which a               Service
                                                Federal Regulations, which is published under
                                                50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
                                                                                                        contract will be awarded to a vendor to
                                                                                                        serve as the Central Campaign                         7 CFR Part 319
                                                The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by              Administrator and the method by which                 [Docket No. APHIS–2014–0086]
                                                the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of              the system will be tested.
                                                new books are listed in the first FEDERAL                                                                     RIN 0579–AE07
                                                                                                           The revision involves the change of
                                                REGISTER issue of each week.
                                                                                                        the effective date of the new CFC                     Importation of Fresh Peppers From
                                                                                                        regulations published in the Federal                  Ecuador Into the United States
                                                OFFICE OF PERSONNEL                                     Register on April 17, 2014. The new
                                                MANAGEMENT                                              effective date for the CFC regulations                AGENCY:  Animal and Plant Health
                                                                                                        would ensure that the tools need to put               Inspection Service, USDA.
                                                5 CFR Part 950                                          these reforms in place—including the                  ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                        pivotal online charity application and
                                                RIN 3206–AM68                                                                                                 SUMMARY:    We are amending the fruits
                                                                                                        donor pledging systems—are thoroughly
                                                                                                        tested and fully operational before being             and vegetables regulations to allow the
                                                Solicitation of Federal Civilian and
                                                                                                        made available to charities and donors.               importation of fresh peppers into the
                                                Uniformed Service Personnel for
                                                                                                                                                              United States from Ecuador. As a
                                                Contributions to Private Voluntary                         On August 17, 2015 (80 FR 49173),
                                                                                                                                                              condition of entry, the fruit will have to
                                                Organizations                                           OPM published a proposed rule with
                                                                                                                                                              be produced in accordance with a
                                                         Office of Personnel                            requests for public comment in the
                                                AGENCY:                                                                                                       systems approach that includes
                                                Management.                                             Federal Register. The Agency received                 requirements for fruit fly trapping, pre-
                                                                                                        two comments, neither of which                        harvest inspections, production sites,
                                                ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective
                                                                                                        opposed the change of date. It is                     and packinghouse procedures designed
                                                date.
                                                                                                        therefore publishing the proposed rule                to exclude quarantine pests. The fruit
                                                SUMMARY:   The United States Office of                  as final without change.                              will also be required to be imported in
                                                Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing                                                                         commercial consignments and
                                                                                                        Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                a final rule to change the effective date                                                                     accompanied by a phytosanitary
                                                of previously published Combined                           I certify that this regulation will not            certificate issued by the national plant
                                                Federal Campaign regulations to January                 have a significant economic impact on                 protection organization of Ecuador
                                                1, 2017.                                                a substantial number of small entities.               stating that the consignment was
                                                DATES: The effective date of the                        Charitable organizations applying to the              produced and prepared for export in
                                                regulations published in the Federal                    CFC have an existing, independent                     accordance with the requirements in the
                                                Register on April 17, 2014 (79 FR                       obligation to comply with the eligibility             systems approach. This action allows
                                                21581) is delayed until January 1, 2017.                and public accountability standards                   for the importation of fresh peppers
                                                   Regarding funds contributed to the                   contained in current CFC regulations.                 from Ecuador while continuing to
                                                CFC during the 2016 campaign year,                      Streamlining these standards will be                  provide protection against the
                                                LFCCs and PCFOs will continue to                        less burdensome.                                      introduction of plant pests into the
                                                operate, disburse funds, and submit to                                                                        United States.
                                                compliance requirements in accordance                   Executive Orders 12866 and 13563,
                                                                                                                                                              DATES: Effective November 23, 2015.
                                                with regulations in 5 CFR part 950 as                   Regulatory Review
                                                amended at 71 FR 67284, Nov. 20, 2006.                                                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          This rule has been reviewed by the                  Claudia Ferguson, Senior Regulatory
                                                Mary Capule by telephone at (202) 606–                  Office of Management and Budget in                    Policy Specialist, Regulatory
                                                2564; by FAX at (202) 606–5056; or by                   accordance with Executive Orders                      Coordination and Compliance, PPQ,
                                                email at cfc@opm.gov.                                   12866 and 13563.                                      APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133,
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S.
                                                                                                                                                              Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–
                                                                                                        List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 950
                                                Office of Personnel Management (OPM)                                                                          2352; Claudia.Ferguson@
                                                issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking                    Administrative practice and                         aphis.usda.gov.
                                                on August 17, 2015 to amend 5 CFR part                  procedures, Charitable contributions,                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                950 to change the effective date of the                 Government employees, Military
                                                                                                        personnel, Nonprofit organizations and                Background
                                                new rule from January 1, 2016 to
                                                January 1, 2017. During the comment                     Reporting and recordkeeping                              Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart-
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                                                period, OPM received two comments,                      requirements.                                         Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–
                                                including one from a Federal agency                     U.S. Office of Personnel Management.                  1 through 319.56–73, referred to below
                                                and one from a Local Federal                                                                                  as the regulations), the Animal and
                                                                                                        Beth F. Cobert,
                                                Coordinating Committee (LFCC). These                                                                          Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
                                                comments are addressed below.                           Acting Director.                                      of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
                                                   The Department of Defense expressed                  [FR Doc. 2015–27009 Filed 10–22–15; 8:45 am]          prohibits or restricts the importation of
                                                its support for the amendment to allow                  BILLING CODE 6325–58–P                                fruits and vegetables into the United


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                                                64308             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 205 / Friday, October 23, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                States from certain parts of the world to               name associated with the plant pest                   111219, including pepper farms, are
                                                prevent plant pests from being                          Tuta absoluta.                                        considered small by the Small Business
                                                introduced into and spread within the                     Therefore, for the reasons given in the             Administration (SBA) if annual sales are
                                                United States.                                          proposed rule, we are adopting the                    not more than $750,000. Accordingly,
                                                   On April 24, 2015, we published in                   proposed rule as a final rule with the                pepper growers are predominantly small
                                                the Federal Register (80 FR 22930–                      change noted.                                         entities according to the SBA standard.
                                                22934, Docket No. APHIS–2014–0086) a                    Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory                  Under these circumstances, the
                                                proposal 1 to amend the regulations to                  Flexibility Act                                       Administrator of the Animal and Plant
                                                allow the common bell pepper                                                                                  Health Inspection Service has
                                                (Capsicum annuum L.), locoto pepper                        This final rule has been determined to             determined that this action will not
                                                (Capsicum baccatum L.), habanero                        be not significant for the purposes of                have a significant economic impact on
                                                                                                        Executive Order 12866 and, therefore,                 a substantial number of small entities.
                                                pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.),
                                                                                                        has not been reviewed by the Office of
                                                tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens                                                                           Executive Order 12988
                                                                                                        Management and Budget.
                                                L.), and manzano pepper (Capsicum                          In accordance with the Regulatory
                                                pubescens Ruiz & Pav.) to be imported                                                                            This final rule allows fresh pepper
                                                                                                        Flexibility Act, we have analyzed the                 fruit to be imported into the United
                                                into the United States under a systems                  potential economic effects of this action
                                                approach. (Hereafter we refer to these                                                                        States from Ecuador. State and local
                                                                                                        on small entities. The analysis is                    laws and regulations regarding fresh
                                                species as ‘‘peppers.’’) We also prepared               summarized below. Copies of the full
                                                a pest risk assessment (PRA) and a risk                                                                       pepper fruit imported under this rule
                                                                                                        analysis are available by contacting the              will be preempted while the fruit is in
                                                management document (RMD). The PRA                      person listed under FOR FURTHER
                                                evaluates the risks associated with the                                                                       foreign commerce. Fresh fruits are
                                                                                                        INFORMATION CONTACT or on the                         generally imported for immediate
                                                importation of fresh peppers from                       Regulations.gov Web site (see
                                                Ecuador into the United States. The                                                                           distribution and sale to the consuming
                                                                                                        ADDRESSES above for instructions for                  public, and remain in foreign commerce
                                                RMD relies upon the findings of the                     accessing Regulations.gov).
                                                PRA to determine the phytosanitary                                                                            until sold to the ultimate consumer. The
                                                                                                           This rule amends the regulations to                question of when foreign commerce
                                                measures necessary to ensure the safe                   allow the importation of fresh peppers
                                                importation into the United States of                                                                         ceases in other cases must be addressed
                                                                                                        from Ecuador into the United States                   on a case-by-case basis. No retroactive
                                                fresh peppers from Ecuador.                             when a systems approach to pest risk
                                                   In the proposed rule, we noted that                                                                        effect will be given to this rule, and this
                                                                                                        mitigation is used to prevent the                     rule will not require administrative
                                                the PRA rated six plant pests as having                 introduction of quarantine pests. The
                                                a high pest risk potential for following                                                                      proceedings before parties may file suit
                                                                                                        systems approach will integrate                       in court challenging this rule.
                                                the pathway of peppers from Ecuador                     prescribed mitigation measures that
                                                into the United States: The insects                     cumulatively achieve the appropriate                  Paperwork Reduction Act
                                                Anastrepha fraterculus, Ceratitis                       level of phytosanitary protection.                      In accordance with section 3507(d) of
                                                capitata, Spodoptera litura, Thrips                        The most recent production data                    the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                                palmi, and Tuta absoluta, and the                       available show that fresh pepper yields               (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the information
                                                fungus Puccinia pampeana. The PRA                       in Ecuador have expanded from                         collection or recordkeeping
                                                rated the insect Neoleucinodes                          approximately 12,522 pounds per                       requirements included in this final rule,
                                                elegantalis and the Andean potato                       hectare (pounds/ha) in 1996 to                        which were filed under 0579–0437,
                                                mottle virus with a medium pest risk                    approximately 66,361 pounds/ha in                     have been submitted for approval to the
                                                potential.                                              2006. The total quantity of fresh peppers             Office of Management and Budget
                                                   We determined in the PRA that                        that were exported from Ecuador in                    (OMB). When OMB notifies us of its
                                                measures beyond standard port of                        2006 and 2007 was 96.3 metric tons                    decision, if approval is denied, we will
                                                arrival inspection will mitigate the risks              (MT) and 206.5 MT, respectively. Sea                  publish a document in the Federal
                                                posed by these plant pests and proposed                 shipping containers that are 40 feet in               Register providing notice of what action
                                                a systems approach that includes                        length hold approximately 20 U.S. MT.                 we plan to take.
                                                requirements for fruit fly trapping, pre-               Considering the total volume exported
                                                harvest inspections, production sites,                  from Ecuador during these years, APHIS                E-Government Act Compliance
                                                and packinghouse procedures designed                    estimates imports of no more than 10                     The Animal and Plant Health
                                                to exclude quarantine pests. We also                    containers (200 MT) of fresh peppers                  Inspection Service is committed to
                                                proposed that the fruit be imported in                  from Ecuador into the United States                   compliance with the E-Government Act
                                                commercial consignments only and                        annually. This quantity is equivalent to              to promote the use of the Internet and
                                                accompanied by a phytosanitary                          less than 0.02 percent of annual U.S.                 other information technologies, to
                                                certificate issued by the national plant                fresh pepper production. Similarly, the               provide increased opportunities for
                                                protection organization of Ecuador                      estimated quantity of fresh pepper                    citizen access to Government
                                                stating that the consignment was                        imports from Ecuador (200 MT                          information and services, and for other
                                                produced and prepared for export in                     annually) is minimal compared to the                  purposes. For information pertinent to
                                                accordance with the systems approach.                   total quantity of fresh peppers imported              E-Government Act compliance related
                                                   We solicited comments concerning                     by the United States in recent years                  to this rule, please contact Ms. Kimberly
                                                our proposal for 60 days ending June 23,                (800,000 MT annually).                                Hardy, APHIS’ Information Collection
                                                2015. We did not receive any comments.                     In the United States, the average value            Coordinator, at (301) 851–2727.
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                                                   We have made one minor change to                     of bell pepper production per farm in
                                                                                                        2012 was approximately $52,300, and                   Lists of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 319
                                                this final rule, i.e., we have added
                                                tomato leaf miner as another common                     the average value of chili pepper                       Coffee, Cotton, Fruits, Imports, Logs,
                                                                                                        production per farm was approximately                 Nursery stock, Plant diseases and pests,
                                                  1 To view the proposed rule and supporting            $20,700. Both levels are well below the               Quarantine, Reporting and
                                                documents, go to http://www.regulations.gov/            small-entity standard of $750,000.                    recordkeeping requirements, Rice,
                                                #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0086.                       Establishments classified within NAICS                Vegetables.


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 205 / Friday, October 23, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                             64309

                                                  Accordingly, we are amending 7 CFR                    NPPO of Ecuador will immediately                      declaration that the consignment was
                                                part 319 as follows:                                    prohibit that production site from                    produced and prepared for export in
                                                                                                        exporting peppers to the United States                accordance with the requirements of
                                                PART 319–FOREIGN QUARANTINE                             and notify APHIS of this action. The                  this section. The shipping box must be
                                                NOTICES                                                 prohibition will remain in effect until               labeled with the identity of the
                                                                                                        the NPPO of Ecuador and APHIS agree                   production site.
                                                ■ 1. The authority citation for part 319                that the pest risk has been mitigated. If
                                                continues to read as follows:                                                                                 (Approved by the Office of Management and
                                                                                                        a designee conducts the program, the                  Budget under control number 0579–0437)
                                                  Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450 and 7701–7772,                designation must be detailed in the
                                                and 7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7                                                                        Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of
                                                                                                        operational workplan. The approved                    October 2015.
                                                CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.                              designee can be a contracted entity, a
                                                                                                                                                              Kevin Shea,
                                                ■ 2. Section 319.56–74 is added to read                 coalition of growers, or the growers
                                                as follows:                                                                                                   Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
                                                                                                        themselves.                                           Inspection Service.
                                                                                                           (4) The registered production sites
                                                § 319.56–74      Peppers from Ecuador.                                                                        [FR Doc. 2015–27013 Filed 10–22–15; 8:45 a.m.]
                                                                                                        must conduct trapping for the fruit flies
                                                  Fresh peppers (Capsicum annum L.,                     A. fraterculus and C. capitata at each                BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
                                                Capsicum baccatum L., Capsicum                          production site in accordance with the
                                                chinense Jacq., Capsicum frutescens L.,                 operational workplan.
                                                and Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav.)                        (5) If a single A. fraterculus or C.               DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                                                from Ecuador may be imported into the                   capitata is detected inside a registered
                                                United States only under the conditions                                                                       National Institute of Food and
                                                                                                        production site or in a consignment, the              Agriculture
                                                described in this section. These                        NPPO of Ecuador must immediately
                                                conditions are designed to prevent the                  prohibit that production site from
                                                introduction of the following quarantine                                                                      7 CFR Part 3430
                                                                                                        exporting peppers to the United States
                                                pests: Andean potato mottle virus;                      and notify APHIS of the action. The                   RIN 0524–AA65
                                                Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann),                     prohibition will remain in effect until
                                                South American fruit fly; Ceratitis                     the NPPO of Ecuador and APHIS agree                   Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-
                                                capitata (Wiedemann), Mediterranean                     that the risk has been mitigated.                     Formula Federal Assistance
                                                fruit fly; Neoleucinodes elegantalis                       (6) The NPPO of Ecuador must                       Programs—Specific Administrative
                                                (Guenée), a fruit boring moth; Puccinia                maintain records of trap placement,                   Provisions for the Food Insecurity
                                                pampeana Speg., a pathogenic fungus                     checking of traps, and any quarantine                 Nutrition Incentive Grants Program
                                                that causes pepper and green pepper                     pest captures in accordance with the                  AGENCY:  National Institute of Food and
                                                rust; Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), a                  operational workplan. Trapping records                Agriculture, USDA.
                                                leaf-eating moth; Thrips palmi Karny,                   must be maintained for APHIS review                   ACTION: Final rule.
                                                an arthropod; and Tuta absoluta                         for at least 1 year.
                                                (Meyrick) Povolny, South American                          (7) The NPPO of Ecuador must                       SUMMARY:    The National Institute of Food
                                                tomato moth, tomato leaf miner.                         maintain a quality control program,                   and Agriculture (NIFA) is publishing a
                                                   (a) General requirements. The                        approved by APHIS, to monitor or audit                final rule for the Food Insecurity
                                                national plant protection organization                  the trapping program in accordance                    Nutrition Incentive Grants Program.
                                                (NPPO) of Ecuador must provide an                       with the operational workplan.                        This final rule adds a subpart entitled
                                                operational workplan to APHIS that                         (d) Packinghouse procedures. (1) All               ‘‘Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive
                                                details activities that the NPPO of                     packinghouses that participate in the                 Grants Program’’ to the part entitled
                                                Ecuador will, subject to APHIS’                         export program must be registered with                ‘‘Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-
                                                approval of the workplan, carry out to                  the NPPO of Ecuador.                                  formula Federal Assistance Programs—
                                                meet the requirements of this section.                     (2) The peppers must be packed                     General Award Administrative
                                                The operational workplan must include                   within 24 hours of harvest in a pest-                 Provisions’’.
                                                and describe the specific requirements                  exclusionary packinghouse. The
                                                                                                                                                              DATES: This final rule becomes effective
                                                as set forth in this section.                           peppers must be safeguarded by an
                                                                                                                                                              on October 23, 2015.
                                                   (b) Commercial consignments.                         insect-proof mesh screen or plastic
                                                                                                        tarpaulin while in transit to the                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa
                                                Peppers from Ecuador may be imported
                                                in commercial consignments only.                        packinghouse and while awaiting                       Scott-Morring, Policy Branch Chief,
                                                   (c) Production site requirements. (1)                packing. The peppers must be packed in                Policy and Oversight Division, Phone:
                                                Pepper production sites must consist of                 insect-proof cartons or containers, or                202–401–4515, Email: lisa.scott-
                                                pest-exclusionary structures, which                     covered with insect-proof mesh or                     morring@nifa.usda.gov.
                                                must have double self-closing doors and                 plastic tarpaulin, for transit into the               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                have all other windows, openings, and                   United States. These safeguards must                  I. Background and Summary
                                                vents covered with 1.6 mm (or less)                     remain intact until arrival in the United
                                                screening.                                              States or the consignment will be                     Authority
                                                   (2) All production sites that                        denied entry into the United States.                    The Food Insecurity Nutrition
                                                participate in the pepper export                           (3) During the time the packinghouse               Incentive Program (FINI) is authorized
                                                program must be registered with the                     is in use for exporting peppers to the                under section 4405 of the Food,
                                                NPPO of Ecuador.                                        United States, the packinghouse may                   Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                   (3) The production sites must be                     only accept peppers from registered                   U.S.C. 7517), as added by section 4208
                                                inspected prior to each harvest by the                  approved production sites.                            of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L.
                                                NPPO of Ecuador or its approved                            (e) Phytosanitary certificate. Each                113–79).
                                                designee in accordance with the                         consignment of peppers must be
                                                operational workplan. If any quarantine                 accompanied by a phytosanitary                        Organization of 7 CFR Part 3430
                                                pests are found to be generally infesting               certificate issued by the NPPO of                        A primary function of NIFA is the
                                                or infecting the production site, the                   Ecuador bearing the additional                        fair, effective, and efficient


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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:32:40
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:32:40
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesEffective November 23, 2015.
ContactMs. Claudia Ferguson, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2352; [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 64307 
RIN Number0579-AE07
CFR AssociatedCoffee; Cotton; Fruits; Imports; Logs; Nursery Stock; Plant Diseases and Pests; Quarantine; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Rice and Vegetables

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