[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 202 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59240-59241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20678]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0099]


Notice of Decision To Issue Permits for the Importation of Peeled 
Baby Carrots 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 
peeled baby carrots from Kenya. 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 peeled baby carrots 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 39381-39382, Docket No. APHIS-
2007-0099),

[[Page 59241]]

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 peeled baby carrots 
from Kenya. We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on 
September 17, 2007. We received one comment by that date, from a 
private citizen. The commenter stated that food should be grown locally 
and not imported, and that the risks--which she did not specify--
associated with imports generally were too great. No changes to the 
pest risk analysis are necessary based on that comment.
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    \1\ To view the notice, the pest risk analysis, and the comment 
we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0099.
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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 peeled baby 
carrots from Kenya subject to the following phytosanitary measures:
     The peeled baby carrots must be inspected by Kenya's 
national plant protection organization (NPPO) and found free of pests, 
including Meloidogyne ethiopica.
     Kenya's NPPO must issue a phytosanitary certificate for 
each consignment to assure that the commodity has been inspected and 
found free of pests. An additional declaration is also required that 
reads, ``Peeled baby carrots in this consignment have been inspected 
and found free of Meloidogyne ethiopica.''
     The peeled baby carrots may be imported in commercial 
consignments only.
     The peeled baby carrots 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 
peeled baby carrots will be 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. E7-20678 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P