[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 38349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16405]



[[Page 38349]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0047]


Notice of Availability of Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation 
of Dragon Fruit From Thailand Into the Continental United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation into 
the continental United States of dragon fruit from Thailand. Based on 
this 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 dragon fruit from Thailand. We are making the pest 
risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0047-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0047, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-
0047 or in our reading room, which 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Regulatory 
Policy Coordinator, Regulations, Permits, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-0627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-50, 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 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.
    APHIS received a request from the Government of Thailand to allow 
the importation of fresh dragon fruit (multiple genera and species) 
into the continental United States. Currently, fresh dragon fruit is 
not authorized for entry from Thailand. We have completed a pest risk 
analysis for the purpose of evaluating the pest risks associated with 
the importation of fresh dragon fruit into the continental United 
States. The analysis consists of a pest list identifying pests of 
quarantine significance that are present in Thailand and could follow 
the pathway of importation into the United States and a risk management 
document identifying phytosanitary measures that could be applied to 
the commodity to mitigate the pest risk.
    We have concluded that fresh dragon fruit can be safely imported 
into the continental United States from Thailand using one or more of 
the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in Sec.  319.56-4(b). 
These measures are:
     The dragon fruit may be imported into the continental 
United States in commercial consignments only.
     The dragon fruit must be irradiated in accordance with 7 
CFR part 305 with a minimum absorbed dose of 400 Gy.
     If the irradiation treatment is applied outside the United 
States, each consignment of fruit must be jointly inspected by APHIS 
and the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Thailand and 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate attesting that the fruit 
received the required irradiation treatment.
     If the irradiation treatment is applied upon arrival in 
the United States, each consignment of fruit must be inspected by the 
NPPO of Thailand prior to departure and accompanied by a phytosanitary 
certificate.
     The commodity is subject to inspection at the U.S. port of 
entry.
    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 a link to 
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 you wish to review when requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of fresh dragon fruit from 
Thailand 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 authorize the 
importation of fresh dragon fruit from Thailand into the continental 
United States subject to the requirements specified in the risk 
management documents.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 
136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of June 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-16405 Filed 6-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P