[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28047]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


  
  
  
  
  
                                                   VOL. 59, NO. 218

                                          Monday, November 14, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Parts 300 and 319

[Docket No. 93-028-4]

 

Grapefruit and Mangoes From Mexico; Addition of Treatment

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We are proposing to allow the use of high-temperature forced 
air treatments for grapefruit and mangoes imported from Mexico. The 
treatments would be included in the Plant Protection and Quarantine 
Treatment Manual, which is incorporated by reference into the Code of 
Federal Regulations. We are also proposing to make several 
nonsubstantive changes to clarify the fruits and vegetables 
regulations.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or 
before December 14, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
Chief, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, USDA, P.O. 
Drawer 810, Riverdale, MD 20738. Please state that your comments refer 
to Docket No. 93-028-4. Comments received may be inspected at USDA, 
room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested to 
call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment 
reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Frank Cooper, Senior Operations 
Officer, Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, USDA, room 635, 
Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, (301) 436-
8295, or Mr. Victor Harabin, Senior Operations Officer, Plant 
Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, USDA, room 631, Federal Building, 
6505 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, (301) 436-8645.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The ``Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual'' (PPQ 
Treatment Manual) of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is 
incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations at 7 CFR 
300.1. The PPQ Treatment Manual contains treatment schedules and 
information on procedures for applying treatments to allow the movement 
of articles under domestic and foreign plant quarantines and 
regulations.

History

    In a direct final rule published in the Federal Register on March 
1, 1994 (59 FR 9613-9614, Docket No. 93-028-2), we notified the public 
of our intent to add to the PPQ Treatment Manual high-temperature 
forced air treatments for grapefruit and mangoes from Mexico. The 
direct final rule was to become effective 60 days after publication in 
the Federal Register, unless we received written adverse comments or 
written notice of intent to submit adverse comments. In response to the 
direct final rule, we received one written adverse comment (discussed 
below) from a representative of the citrus industry. Therefore, in a 
document published in the Federal Register on April 21, 1994 (59 FR 
18943, Docket No. 93-028-3), we withdrew the direct final rule and 
stated our intent to publish a proposed rule for public comment.

Comment

    The commenter supported the use of high-temperature forced air 
treatments for grapefruit and mangoes from Mexico, but did not consider 
the size and weight specifications for grapefruit to be all-
encompassing. In the direct final rule, we stated that the high-
temperature forced air treatment could be used on grapefruit that was 
from 9 to 9.5 inches in circumference and that weighed from .5 to 1 
pound. According to this commenter, this size and weight specification 
for grapefruit would exclude several larger sizes of grapefruit that 
are shipped to market for commercial use. This was not our intent. We 
thought we had included all the standard sizes of grapefruit that are 
marketed currently. To correct this omission, this proposal provides 
for use of the high-temperature forced air treatment on larger 
grapefruit. The treatment is effective against fruit flies in the 
larger grapefruit. Larger grapefruit will just take longer to reach the 
required internal pulp temperature.

Treatments

    Currently, the PPQ Treatment Manual provides for either cold, 
methyl bromide, or vapor heat as treatments for grapefruit. The PPQ 
Treatment Manual provides for hot water treatment for all mangoes and 
vapor heat treatment for Manila mangoes only. We are proposing to allow 
high-temperature forced air treatments for both grapefruit and mangoes 
that are imported from Mexico.
    The high-temperature forced air treatments described below were 
developed by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture as effective alternative treatments against the Mexican 
fruit fly in grapefruit imported from Mexico and against the Mexican, 
West Indian, and black fruit flies in mangoes imported from Mexico. 
Both treatments are administered in sealed chambers. The air may be 
heated in the chambers or hot air may be introduced into the chambers.

Grapefruit

    The high-temperature forced air treatment may be used on grapefruit 
that measure 3.5 inches (9 centimeters) or more in diameter, weigh 9.25 
ounces (262 grams) or more, and have an initial pulp temperature of 77 
deg.F (25  deg.C) or higher. These steps must occur in order:
    (1) Place the grapefruit in a chamber and seal the chamber.
    (2) Heat air in chamber to 104  deg.F (40  deg.C) for 120 minutes.
    (3) Heat air in chamber to 122  deg.F (50  deg.C) for 90 minutes.
    (4) Heat air in chamber to 126  deg.F (52  deg.C) and maintain 
temperature until the grapefruit center reaches 118  deg.F (48  deg.C).
    The treatment schedule includes a warning that grapefruit larger 
than 3.7 inches (9.5 centimeters) in diameter and 14.2 ounces (402 
grams) in weight could suffer cosmetic damage as a result of this 
treatment because of longer times needed for the center of the 
grapefruit to reach the required temperature.

Mangoes

    The high-temperature forced air treatment may be used on mangoes 
that measure 3.15 inches (8 centimeters) to 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) 
in diameter (sizes 8 to 14) and weigh 1.5 pounds (746.5 grams) or less. 
These steps must occur in order:
    (1) Probe at least three of the largest mangoes at the seed's 
surface. Insert the probes into the thickest portion of the mangoes' 
pulp.
    (2) Place the mangoes in a chamber and seal the chamber.
    (3) Record temperatures at least once every 2 minutes until the 
treatment is concluded.
    (4) Heat air in chamber to 122 deg. F (50 deg. C).
    (5) Conclude the treatment once the temperature at the seed's 
surface (based upon the coolest part of the mango) reaches 118 deg. F 
(48 deg. C).
    The treatment schedule includes a note that treatment time will 
vary depending on the size of the mangoes and the number of boxes of 
mangoes treated.

Fruits and Vegetables Regulations

    We are also proposing three nonsubstantive editorial changes to 
simplify the fruits and vegetables regulations, contained in 7 CFR 
319.56 through 319.56-8. Section 319.56-2f provides that certain 
oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and Manila mangoes may be eligible for 
entry into the United States from Mexico if treated with vapor heat in 
accordance with that section. Section 319.56-2q provides that lots of 
grapefruits, oranges, and tangerines may be eligible for entry into the 
United States from Mexico if treated with methyl bromide in accordance 
with that section. Section 319.56-2x contains a list of fruits and 
vegetables that require treatment, in accordance with the PPQ Treatment 
Manual, as a condition of entry into the United States. We are 
proposing to add oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and Manila mangoes 
from Mexico to the list in Sec. 319.56-2x and to remove the regulations 
under Secs. 319.56-2f and 319.56-2q. The treatments prescribed under 
Secs. 319.56-2f and 319.56-2q are already included in the PPQ Treatment 
Manual. This change would simplify the regulations but would not revise 
current requirements concerning the entry of oranges, grapefruit, 
tangerines, and Manila mangoes from Mexico into the United States.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. 
For this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its 
review process required by Executive Order 12866.
    If adopted, the proposed rule would provide an additional treatment 
option, high-temperature forced air, for grapefruit and mangoes 
imported from Mexico. Because this new treatment would be optional, 
this rule should have no significant economic impact on entities using 
the currently prescribed cold, hot water, methyl bromide, or vapor heat 
treatments.
    Also, since high-temperature forced air treatment would provide for 
longer fruit shelf life than do hot water and vapor heat treatments, 
the most commonly used treatments, we anticipate that some private 
treatment enterprises would convert their facilities to employ this new 
optional treatment. We believe, though, that any costs of facility 
conversion would be offset through the production of fruit that has a 
longer shelf life. Therefore, we anticipate no significant change in 
the price or production of grapefruit and mangoes as a result of this 
rule.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Executive Order 12778

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State 
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule 
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this 
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before 
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule contains no information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements under the Paper Reduction Act of 1980 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 300

    Incorporation by reference, Plant diseases and pests, Quarantine.

7 CFR Part 319

    Bees, Coffee, Cotton, Fruits, Honey, Imports, Incorporation by 
reference, Nursery stock, Plant diseases and pests, Quarantine, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rice, Vegetables.

    Accordingly, title 7, chapter III, of the Code of Federal 
Regulations would be amended as follows:

PART 300--INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

    1. The authority citation for part 300 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150ee, 154, 161, 162, 167; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, 
and 371.2(c).

    2. In Sec. 300.1, paragraph (a) would be revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 300.1  Materials Incorporated by reference.

    (a) The Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual, which 
includes all revisions through ________, has been approved for 
incorporation by reference in 7 CFR chapter III by the Director of the 
Office of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51.
* * * * *

PART 319--FOREIGN QUARANTINE NOTICES

    3. The authority citation for part 319 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 151-167, 450; 21 U.S.C. 
136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(c).


Sec. 319.56-2f  [Removed and Reserved]

    4. Section 319.56-2f would be removed and reserved.


Sec. 319.56-2q  [Removed and Reserved]

    5. Section 319.56-2q would be removed and reserved.
    6. In Sec. 319.56-2x, paragraph (a), the table would be amended for 
the Mexico entry by adding four new commodities, in alphabetical order, 
to read as follows:


Sec. 319.56-2x  Administrative instructions; conditions governing the 
entry of certain fruits and vegetables for which treatment is required.

    (a) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Country/locality     Common name      Botanical name     Plant part(s) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                              * * * * * * *                             
Mexico                                                                  
                                                                        
                              * * * * * * *                             
                   Grapefruit.......  Citrus paradisi.  Fruit           
                   Mango............  Mangerifa indica  Fruit           
                   Orange...........  Citrus sinensis.  Fruit           
                   Tangerine........  Citrus            Fruit.          
                                       reticulata.                      
                                                                        
                              * * * * * * *                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of November, 1994.
Lonnie J. King,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-28047 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P