[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 202 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59241-59242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20675]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0101]


Notice of Decision To Issue Permits for the Importation of Ribes 
Species Fruits From South Africa 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 of our decision to begin issuing 
permits for the importation into the continental United States of Ribes 
species fruits (i.e., currants and gooseberries) from South Africa. 
Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available 
to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, 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 Ribes 
species fruits from South Africa.

DATES: Effective Date: October 19, 2007.

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 319.56-47, 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 prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread 
within the United States.
    Section 319.56-4 of the regulations contains 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 paragraph 
(b) of that section. Under that process, APHIS publishes a notice in 
the Federal Register announcing the availability of the pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of a 
particular fruit or vegetable. Following the close of the 60-day 
comment period, APHIS may begin issuing permits for importation of the 
fruit or vegetable subject to the identified designated measures if: 
(1) No comments were received on the pest risk analysis; (2) the 
comments on the pest risk analysis revealed that no changes to the pest 
risk analysis were necessary; or (3) changes to the pest risk analysis 
were made in response to public comments, but the changes did not 
affect the overall conclusions of the analysis and the Administrator's 
determination of risk.
    In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the 
Federal Register on July 18, 2007 (72 FR 39382-39383, Docket No. APHIS-
2007-0101), in which we announced the availability, for review and 
comment, of a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated 
with the importation into the continental United States of Ribes 
species fruits (i.e., currants and gooseberries) from South Africa. We 
solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on September 17, 
2007. We did not receive any comments.
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    \1\ To view the notice and the pest risk analysis, go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0101.
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    Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec.  319.56-
4(c)(2)(ii), we are announcing our decision to begin issuing permits 
for the importation into the continental United States of Ribes species 
fruits from South Africa subject to the following phytosanitary 
measures:
     Each consignment of Ribes species fruits must be 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by South Africa's 
national plant protection organization to document that the commodity 
has been inspected and found free of pests.
     The Ribes species fruits may be imported in commercial 
consignments only.
     The Ribes species fruits will be subject to standard port-
of-entry inspection upon arrival in the United States and must be free 
of quarantine pests.
    These conditions will be listed in the fruits and vegetables manual 
(available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf). In addition to those specific measures, the 
Ribes species fruits will subject to the general requirements listed in 
Sec.  319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and 
vegetables.


[[Page 59242]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of October 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-20675 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P