[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 202 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59239-59240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20677]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0100]


Notice of Decision To Issue Permits for the Importation of 
Husked, Silk-Free Baby Corn From Kenya 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 
husked, silk-free baby corn from Kenya. Based on the findings

[[Page 59240]]

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 husked, silk-free baby 
corn from Kenya.

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 39380-39381, Docket No. 
APHIS=2007=0100), 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 
husked, silk-free baby corn from Kenya. 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-2007-0100.
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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 husked, silk-
free baby corn from Kenya subject to the following phytosanitary 
measures:
     Each consignment of husked, silk-free baby corn must be 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by Kenya's national 
plant protection organization to document that the commodity has been 
inspected and found free of pests.
     The husked, silk-free baby corn may be imported in 
commercial consignments only.
     The husked, silk-free baby corn 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 
husked, silk-free baby corn will subject to the general requirements 
listed in Sec.  319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all 
fruits and vegetables.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of October 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-20677 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P