[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65649-65650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31712]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. 97-011-2]


Importation of Coffee

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are revising the regulations for importing coffee by 
removing unnecessary text, updating references to officials of the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and clarifying the 
requirements for moving samples of unroasted coffee through Hawaii and 
Puerto Rico to other destinations and the prohibitions on importing 
coffee berries or fruits. These nonsubstantive changes will make the 
regulations easier to read and understand, thereby facilitating 
compliance.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 30, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter M. Grosser, Senior Import 
Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-6799; or e-
mail: Peter.M.G[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations contained in 7 CFR 319.73 through 319.73-4, 
``Subpart-- Coffee'' (referred to below as the coffee regulations), 
restrict the importation of coffee from foreign countries and 
localities. The coffee regulations are intended to prevent the 
introduction of coffee berry borers Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) and a 
rust disease caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix (Berkeley and 
Broome) into Hawaii and Puerto Rico, where coffee is commercially 
grown.
    On May 9, 1997, we published in the Federal Register (62 FR 25561-
25562, Docket No. 97-011-1) a proposal to amend the coffee regulations 
by removing unnecessary text, updating references to officials of the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and making other 
nonsubstantive changes to clarify the requirements for moving samples 
of unroasted coffee through Hawaii and Puerto Rico to other 
destinations. In addition, we proposed to amend the coffee regulations 
to clarify that coffee fruits or berries are prohibited importation 
into all parts of the United States because they present a significant 
risk of introducing the Mediterranean fruit fly, which attacks a wide 
range of host material grown throughout the United States.
    We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending 
July 8, 1997. We received two comments by that date. One was from a 
State government official and the other was a representative of the 
coffee industry. Their concerns are addressed below.

Importation of Coffee Berries and Fruit for Research and Analytical 
Purposes

    One commenter stated that it was his understanding that restricted 
articles such as coffee berries and fruits may be imported into the 
United States under certain conditions for research and analytical 
purposes. He therefore suggested that the coffee regulations include a 
provision that provides an exemption for coffee berries and fruits 
being imported for research and analytical purposes.
    Seeds of all kinds when in pulp, including coffee berries or 
fruits, may be imported into the United States for research and 
analytical purposes by the United States Department of Agriculture 
under the conditions listed in Sec. 319.37-2(c). We agree that this 
provision should be made clear in the coffee regulations. Therefore, in 
order to avoid confusion, and to facilitate compliance with the coffee 
regulations, we are including a reference in the revised coffee 
regulations to the scientific and experimental importation provisions 
currently contained in Sec. 319.37-2(c).

Importation of Green Coffee and Coffee Nursery Stock into Hawaii

    We received a comment from an official of Hawaii's Department of 
Agriculture that recommends new requirements for the importation of 
green coffee beans and coffee nursery stock into that State. We intend 
to consider the comment further and consult with Hawaii's State 
Department of Agriculture about the recommendations. However, the 
recommendations are outside the scope of our original proposal. 
Therefore, any changes we make in response to those recommendations 
will have to be the subject of a subsequent rulemaking.
    We are also clarifying the proposed Sec. 319.73-4, ``Costs,'' to 
clearly indicate that costs for the listed services will be borne by 
the owner, importer, or agent of the owner or importer, including a 
broker.
    Therefore, for the reasons given in the proposed rule and in this 
document, we are adopting the proposed rule as a final rule, with the 
changes discussed in this document.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. The rule 
has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive 
Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget.
    This final rule updates and clarifies the regulations for importing 
coffee into the United States and for moving samples of unroasted 
coffee through Hawaii and Puerto Rico in transit to other destinations. 
This rule makes no substantive changes in import or transit 
requirements. Therefore, it should have no economic impact on any 
United States entities, whether large or small.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and 
regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no 
retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings 
before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

[[Page 65650]]

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule contains no information collection or recordkeeping 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.).

Regulatory Reform

    This action is part of the President's Regulatory Reform 
Initiative, which, among other things, directs agencies to remove 
obsolete and unnecessary regulations and to find less burdensome ways 
to achieve regulatory goals.

List of Subjects in 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, we are amending 7 CFR part 319 as follows:

PART 319--FOREIGN QUARANTINE NOTICES

    1. The authority citation for part 319 continues to read as 
follows:

    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).

    2. Subpart--Coffee, consisting of Secs. 319.73-1 through 319.73-4, 
is revised to read as follows:

Subpart--Coffee

Sec.
319.73-1  Definitions.
319.73-2  Products prohibited importation.
319.73-3  Conditions for transit movement of certain products 
through Puerto Rico or Hawaii.
319.73-4  Costs.

Subpart--Coffee


Sec. 319.73-1  Definitions.

    Administrator. The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, or any 
employee of the United States Department of Agriculture delegated to 
act in his or her stead.
    Inspector. Any individual authorized by the Administrator to 
enforce this subpart.
    Sample. Unroasted coffee not for commercial resale. Intended use 
includes, but is not limited to, evaluation, testing, or market 
analysis.
    United States. The States, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern 
Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United 
States.
    Unroasted coffee. The raw or unroasted seeds or beans of coffee.


Sec. 319.73-2  Products prohibited importation.

    (a) To prevent the spread of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus 
hampei (Ferrari) and the fungus Hemileia vastatrix (Berkely and 
Broome), which causes an injurious rust disease, the following articles 
are prohibited importation into Hawaii and Puerto Rico, except as 
provided in Sec. 319.73-3 of this subpart:
    (1) Unroasted coffee;
    (2) Coffee plants and leaves; and (3) Empty sacks previously used 
for unroasted coffee.
    (b) Due to the risk of Mediterranean fruit fly and other injurious 
insects, seeds of all kinds when in pulp, including coffee berries or 
fruits, are prohibited importation into all parts of the United States 
by Sec. 319.37-2(a) of this part, except as provided in Sec. 319.37-
2(c).


Sec. 319.73-3  Conditions for transit movement of certain products 
through Puerto Rico or Hawaii.

    (a) Mail. Samples of unroasted coffee that are transiting Hawaii or 
Puerto Rico en route to other destinations and that are packaged to 
prevent the escape of any plant pests may proceed without action by an 
inspector. Packaging that would prevent the escape of plant pests 
includes, but is not limited to, sealed cartons, airtight containers, 
or vacuum packaging. Samples of unroasted coffee received by mail but 
not packaged in this manner are subject to inspection and safeguard by 
an inspector. These samples must be returned to origin or forwarded to 
a destination outside Hawaii or Puerto Rico in a time specified by an 
inspector and in packaging that will prevent the escape of any plant 
pests. If this action is not possible, the samples must be destroyed.
    (b) Cargo. Samples of unroasted coffee that are transiting Hawaii 
or Puerto Rico as cargo and that remain on the carrier may proceed to a 
destination outside Hawaii or Puerto Rico without action by an 
inspector. Samples may be transshipped in Puerto Rico or Hawaii only 
after an inspector determines that they are packaged to prevent the 
escape of any plant pests. Samples that are not packaged in this manner 
must be rewrapped or packaged in a manner prescribed by an inspector to 
prevent the escape of plant pests before the transshipment will be 
allowed.
    (c) Other mail, cargo, and baggage shipments of articles covered by 
Sec. 319.73-2 arriving in Puerto Rico or Hawaii may not be unloaded or 
transshipped in Puerto Rico or Hawaii and are subject to inspection and 
other applicable requirements of the Plant Safeguard Regulations (part 
352 of this chapter).


319.73-4  Costs.

    All costs of inspection, packing materials, handling, cleaning, 
safeguarding, treating, or other disposal of products or articles under 
this subpart will be borne by the owner, importer, or agent of the 
owner or importer, including a broker. The services of an inspector 
during regularly assigned hours of duty and at the usual places of duty 
will be furnished without cost to the importer.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of November 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-31712 Filed 11-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P