Notice of Decision to Issue Permits for the Importation of Arugula Leaves With Stems From Panama Into the Continental United States,

[Federal Register: January 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 3)]

[Notices]

[Page 839]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr04ja08-14]

Notices Federal Register

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[[Page 839]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0122]

Notice of Decision To Issue Permits for the Importation of Arugula Leaves With Stems From Panama Into the Continental United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our decision to begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental United States of arugula leaves with stems from Panama. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we believe 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 arugula leaves with stems from Panama.

DATES: Effective Date: January 4, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Roman, Import Specialist, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations Staff, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8758.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-47, 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 States from certain parts of the world to prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread 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 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 October 4, 2007 (72 FR 56719-56720, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0122), in which we announced the availability, for review and comment, of a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation into the continental United States of arugula leaves with stems from Panama. We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on December 3, 2007. We did not receive any comments by that date.

\1\ To view the notice and the pest risk analysis, go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0122 .

Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec. 319.56- 4(c)(2)(ii), we are announcing our decision to begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental United States of arugula leaves with stems from Panama subject to the requirement that each consignment of arugula be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by Panama's national plant protection organization to document that the consignment has been inspected and found practically free of pests.

This condition will be listed in the fruits and vegetables manual (available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf ). In addition to this specific measure, the

arugula will be subject to the general requirements listed in Sec. 319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and vegetables.

Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of December 2007. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. E7-25554 Filed 1-3-08; 8:45 am]

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