[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 38885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18437]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. 99-004-1]


Declaration of Emergency Because of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly 
in Mexico

    A serious outbreak of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis 
capitata (Wiedemann), is occurring in Chiapas, Campeche, and Tabasco, 
Mexico.
    The Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) is one of the most destructive 
pests of over 200 species of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, especially 
citrus and stone fruits. Infestations can develop rapidly and spread 
easily, causing severe damage to entire citrus and other fruit and 
vegetable growing areas. At least 43 countries are known to regulate in 
some manner for the Medfly.
    In cooperation with the governments of Mexico and Guatemala, the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts activities 
in Mexico and Guatemala to maintain a sterile Medfly barrier in western 
Guatemala to prevent the spread of Medfly through Mexico and into the 
United States. This program is called the Moscamed Program.
    During the summer and fall of 1998, APHIS and cooperators in Mexico 
detected 253 infestations of Medfly in the States of Chiapas, Campeche, 
and Tabasco, Mexico. Over 160 infestations are currently active in the 
State of Chiapas. Mexico has initiated programs to eradicate the 
infestations, but does not have the resources to eradicate the Medfly 
and keep the Moscamed Program running without assistance from the 
United States.
    The establishment of Medfly in the continental United States could 
severely disrupt the fruit and vegetable industry due to crop damage 
and loss of export markets. An economic assessment completed in 1993 
estimates that if Medfly were established in the continental United 
States, losses attributed to the Medfly would cost $1.5 billion 
annually. Keeping Mexico free of Medfly will greatly reduce the risk 
that this pest will be introduced into the United States. Fruit fly 
experts predict that if the pest is allowed to continue to spread in 
Mexico, the Medfly will reach the U.S. border by the year 2005.
    Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 
September 25, 1981, 95 Stat. 953 (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there 
is an emergency that threatens the citrus and other fruit and vegetable 
industries of this country, and I authorize the transfer and use of 
such funds as may be necessary from appropriations or other funds 
available to the United States Department of Agriculture to conduct a 
program to detect, control, and prevent the spread of the Medfly in 
Mexico, in order to prevent its introduction into the United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This declaration of emergency shall become effective 
July 9, 1999.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 99-18437 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
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