80 FR 64386 - Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Pitahaya From Israel Into the Continental United States

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

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

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of fresh pitahaya fruit from Israel into the continental United States. Based on the findings of the pest risk analysis, which we made available to 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 pitahaya fruit from Israel.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 205 (Friday, October 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64386-64387]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27097]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0012]


Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Pitahaya 
From Israel 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 pitahaya fruit from Israel into the continental 
United States. Based on the findings of the pest risk analysis, which 
we made available to 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 pitahaya fruit from Israel.

DATES: Effective October 23, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Nicole Russo, Assistant Director, 
Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2159.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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) 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 of the regulations 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 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 may begin issuing permits for importation of the 
fruit or vegetable subject to the identified designated measures if: 
(1) No comments were

[[Page 64387]]

received on the pest risk analysis; (2) the comments on the pest risk 
analysis revealed that no changes to the pest risk analysis were 
necessary; or (3) changes to the pest risk analysis were made in 
response to public comments, but the changes did not affect the overall 
conclusions of the analysis and the Administrator's determination of 
risk.
    In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the 
Federal Register on April 28, 2015 (80 FR 23497, Docket No. APHIS-2015-
0012), in which we announced the availability, for review and comment, 
of a pest risk assessment (PRA) that evaluated the risks associated 
with the importation into the continental United States of fresh 
pitahaya fruit from Israel and a risk management document (RMD) 
prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to 
the commodities to mitigate the pest risk.
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    \1\ To view the notice, PRA, and RMD, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0012.
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    We solicited comments on the PRA and RMD for 60 days ending on June 
29, 2015. We did not receive any comments by that date.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c)(2)(ii), we are 
announcing our decision to authorize the importation of fresh pitahaya 
fruit from Israel into the continental United States subject to the 
following phytosanitary measures:
     The pitahaya must be imported into the continental United 
States in commercial consignments only.
     Each consignment of pitahaya must be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection 
organization of Israel.
     Each consignment of pitahaya 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, fresh pitahaya fruit from 
Israel 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 19th day of October 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27097 Filed 10-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P