[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 160 (Friday, August 16, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 42565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20920]


      
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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 160 / Friday, August 16, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 42565]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Parts 300 and 319

[Docket No. 95-098-2]


Importation of Fruits and Vegetables

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our 
proposed rule that would amend the regulations regarding the 
importation of fruits and vegetables by allowing a number of previously 
prohibited fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States 
from certain parts of the world. This extension will provide interested 
persons with additional time in which to prepare comments on the 
proposed rule.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to written comments on Docket 
No. 95-098-1 that are received on or before September 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
Docket No. 95-098-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 
suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comments refer to Docket No. 95-098-1. 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. Peter Grosser, Senior Operations 
Officer, Port Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 139, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8295.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 2, 1996, we published in the Federal 
Register (61 FR 34379-34385, Docket No. 95-098-1) a proposal to amend 
the regulations in 7 CFR parts 300 and 319 by allowing a number of 
previously prohibited fruits and vegetables to be imported into the 
United States from certain parts of the world. All of the fruits and 
vegetables, as a condition of entry, would be subject to inspection, 
disinfection, or both, at the port of first arrival as may be required 
by a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector. In addition, some of the 
fruits and vegetables would be required to undergo prescribed 
treatments for injurious plant pests as a condition of entry, or to 
meet other special conditions.
    Comments on all portions of Docket No. 95-098-1 except the proposed 
rule's information collection and recordkeeping requirements that are 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act were required to be received on 
or before August 1, 1996. By that date, we received two comments 
requesting an extension of the comment period for the rule portion of 
the proposed rule. These requests were made by a representative of 
industry and a representative of State government.
    In response to these requests, we are reopening and extending the 
comment period on Docket No. 95-098-1 so that comments on any portion 
of the proposed rule will be considered if we receive them by September 
3, 1996. We believe that this action will allow the representatives 
requesting extension of the comment period and all other interested 
persons adequate opportunity to prepare and submit comments.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 151-167, 450, 2803, and 
2809; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of August 1996.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20920 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am]
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