[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 35619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15212]



[[Page 35619]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-022-1]


Availability of a Draft Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of 
Hass Avocado Fruit From Mexico

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public of the availability of a draft pest 
risk analysis that has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service relative to a proposed rule currently under 
consideration that would allow the importation of Hass avocados from 
Mexico into the entire United States and during all months of the year. 
We are making this draft pest risk analysis available to the public for 
review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery 
or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket 
No. 03-022-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 03-022-1. If you use e-mail, 
address your comment to [email protected]. Your comment must 
be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. 
Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 
03-022-1'' on the subject line.
    You may read any comments that we receive on the draft pest risk 
analysis in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 
of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ron A. Sequeira, Center for Plant 
Health Science and Technology, PPQ, APHIS, 1017 Main Campus Drive, 
Suite 2500, Raleigh, NC 27606-5202; (919) 513-2663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
considering amending the fruits and vegetables regulations in 7 CFR 
319.56-2ff to allow the importation of Hass avocados from Mexico into 
the entire United States and during all months of the year. Fresh Hass 
variety avocados from Michoacan, Mexico, may currently be imported for 
distribution into 31 States and the District of Columbia between 
October 15 and April 15 under a systems approach for mitigating pest 
risk. The draft pest risk analysis entitled, ``Importation of `Hass' 
Avocado Fruit (Persea americana) from Mexico'' (May 2003), considers 
the pest risks associated with the possible expansion of this program 
to allow importation of these avocados into all 50 States and the 
District of Columbia and throughout the year. We are making the draft 
pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.
    You may view the draft pest risk analysis on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/pra/, or in our reading room (information on 
the location and hours of the reading room is provided under the 
heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice). You may also 
request a copy of the document from the person listed under the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    This notice solicits public comments on the draft pest risk 
analysis. We will also be making the draft pest risk analysis available 
for public comment again during the comment period for any proposed 
rule related to the importation of Hass avocados from Mexico.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7711-7714, 7718, 7731, 7732, 7751-7754, 
and 7760; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC this 11th day of June 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15212 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P