81 FR 20528 - Importation of Fresh Peppers From Ecuador Into the United States

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 68 (April 8, 2016)

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on October 23, 2015, and effective on November 23, 2015, we amended the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh peppers into the United States from Ecuador subject to a systems approach. However, the scope of the pest risk analysis supporting the rule was limited to the continental United States. Therefore, we are amending the regulations to limit the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador to the continental United States only.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 20528]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08190]


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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; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: In a final rule published in the Federal Register on October 
23, 2015, and effective on November 23, 2015, we amended the fruits and 
vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh peppers into 
the United States from Ecuador subject to a systems approach. However, 
the scope of the pest risk analysis supporting the rule was limited to 
the continental United States. Therefore, we are amending the 
regulations to limit the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador to 
the continental United States only.

DATES: Effective April 8, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, M.S., Senior 
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, 
Imports, Regulations and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, (301) 851-2352; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule \1\ that was published in 
the Federal Register on October 23, 2015 (80 FR 64307-64309, Docket No. 
APHIS-2014-0086), and effective on November 23, 2015, we amended the 
fruits and vegetables regulations by adding 7 CFR 319.56-74 to allow 
the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador into the United States 
under a systems approach. However, the pest risk analysis we prepared 
for the rule examined the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador to 
the continental United States only and did not examine the risks 
associated with the fruit entering Hawaii or the U.S. Territories. 
Therefore, in order for the regulations to be consistent with the scope 
of the pest risk analysis, we are amending Sec.  319.56-74 to limit the 
importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador to the continental United 
States.
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    \1\ To view the final rule and supporting documents, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0086.
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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.

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


Sec.  319.56-74  [Amended]

0
2. Section 319.56-74 is amended by adding the word ``continental'' 
before the words ``United States'' each time they occur.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of April 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-08190 Filed 4-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P