[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39379-39380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13911]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0102]


Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Eggplant and Okra From Ghana Into all Areas of the 
United States and the Importation of Peppers From Ghana Into the 
Continental United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of 
eggplant and okra from Ghana into all areas of the United States and 
the importation of peppers from Ghana into the continental United 
States. Based on that analysis, we believe that the application of one 
or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to 
mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or 
noxious weeds via the importation of eggplant, okra, and peppers from 
Ghana. We are making the pest risk analysis available for review and 
comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments we receive on or before September 
17, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the 
Docket ID column, select Docket No. APHIS-2007-0102 to submit or view 
public comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing 
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through 
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2007-0102, 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. APHIS-2007-0102.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket 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.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sharon Porsche, Import Specialist, 
Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
8758.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the regulations in``Subpart--Fruits 
and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-46, referred to below as 
the regulations), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits or restricts 
the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from 
certain parts of the world to

[[Page 39380]]

prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread within the 
United States.
    In a final rule published in the Rules and Regulations section of 
today's issue of the Federal Register (see ``Revision of Fruits and 
Vegetables Import Regulations,'' Docket No. APHIS-2005-0106), we 
establish a performance-based process for approving the importation of 
commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be 
safely imported subject to one or more of the designated phytosanitary 
measures listed in Sec.  319.56-4(b) of the regulations. These measures 
are:
     The fruits or vegetables are subject to inspection upon 
arrival in the United States and comply with all applicable provisions 
of 319.56-3;
     The fruits or vegetables are imported from a pest-free 
area in the country of origin that meets the requirements of Sec.  
319.56-5 for freedom from that pest and are accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate stating that the fruits or vegetables 
originated in a pest-free area in the country of origin;
     The fruits or vegetables are treated in accordance with 7 
CFR part 305;
     The fruits or vegetables are inspected in the country of 
origin by an inspector or an official of the national plant protection 
organization of the exporting country, and have been found free of one 
or more specific quarantine pests identified by the risk analysis as 
likely to follow the import pathway; and/or
     The fruits or vegetables are a commercial consignment.
    APHIS received a request from the Government of Ghana to allow the 
importation of eggplant and okra from Ghana into all areas of the 
United States and the importation of peppers from Ghana into the 
continental United States. We have completed pest risk assessments to 
identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway 
of importation into the United States and, based on that pest risk 
assessment, have prepared a risk management analysis to identify 
phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the commodities to 
mitigate the pest risk. We have concluded that eggplant and okra can be 
safely imported into all areas of the United States and peppers can be 
safely imported into the continental United States from Ghana using one 
or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in Sec.  
319.56-4(b). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are 
announcing the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review 
and comment. The pest risk analysis may be viewed on the 
Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above 
for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the 
location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies 
of the pest risk analysis by calling or writing to the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of 
the pest risk analysis when requesting copies.
    After reviewing the comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of eggplant, okra, and peppers 
from Ghana in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of the 
analysis and the Administrator's determination of risk remain unchanged 
following our consideration of the comments, then we will begin issuing 
permits for importation of eggplant and okra into all areas of the 
United States and peppers from Ghana into the continental United States 
subject to the requirements specified in the risk management analysis.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of July 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13911 Filed 7-17-07; 8:45 am]
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