[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66271-66273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25361]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0061]


Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Mango 
Fruit From Colombia Into the 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 authorize the 
importation into the United States of fresh mango fruit from Colombia. 
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 have 
determined 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 fresh 
mango fruit from Colombia.

DATES: Imports may be authorized beginning November 22, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Senior 
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, 
Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 
133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2352; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart L-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-12, 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 (PRA), can be safely imported subject 
to one or more of the designated phytosanitary measures listed in 
paragraph (b) of that section. Under the process, APHIS proposes to 
authorize the importation of a fruit or vegetable into the United 
States if, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, we determine 
that the measures can mitigate the plant pest risk associated with the 
importation of that fruit or vegetable. APHIS then publishes a notice 
in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of 
that fruit or vegetable.
    In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the 
Federal Register on May 12, 2021 (86 FR 25998-25999, Docket No. APHIS-
2020-0061), in which we announced the availability, for review and 
comment, of a PRA that evaluated the risks associated with the 
importation into the United States of fresh mango fruit from Colombia. 
The PRA consisted of a risk assessment identifying pests of quarantine 
significance that could follow the pathway of importation of fresh 
mango fruit from Colombia and a risk management document (RMD) 
identifying phytosanitary measures to be applied to that commodity to 
mitigate the pest risk.
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    \1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comments 
we received, go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2020-0061 in the 
Search field.
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    We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending July 12, 
2021. We received two comments by that date, one from a Colombian 
government ministry and the other from the national plant protection 
organization (NPPO) of Colombia.
    The commenter representing the government ministry expressed 
unqualified support for the notice.
    The commenter representing the NPPO asked that we change the 
density of trapping for fruit flies. We had proposed 2 traps per 
hectare; the commenter instead asked for 2 traps every 20 hectares with 
a minimum of 2 traps per place production. The commenter also asked 
that we require 50 percent of the traps to be of the McPhail type and 
the other half to be of the Jackson type. As support for these 
requested changes to the requirements, the commenter cited technical

[[Page 66272]]

guidelines issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency.\2\
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    \2\ Trapping guidelines for area-wide fruit fly programmes. 
Available at https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/TG-FFP_web.pdf.
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    We agree with the change to trap density requirements proposed by 
the commenter; these revised requirements will be specified in the 
operational workplan. As specified in the RMD, the NPPO is required to 
maintain an APHIS-approved quality control program to monitor or audit 
the trapping program, including records of trap placement, checking of 
traps, and any fruit fly captures, with the specific requirements 
regarding trap density specified in the operational workplan, which 
must be approved by APHIS.
    The same commenter also asked that we change the requirements for 
treatment certification so that the Colombian NPPO, instead of APHIS 
inspectors, inspects and preclears each consignment of mango fruit that 
receives the APHIS-approved hot water treatment. As part of the 
commenter's request, APHIS' role would consist of an initial visit to 
approve the program and subsequent visits for any cases of program non-
compliance.
    We are making no changes in response to the treatment requirement 
certification as requested by the commenter. In accordance with 
longstanding policy, APHIS requires oversight of offshore treatments by 
APHIS officers, including hot water treatment of mango fruit from 
Colombia, with details specified in the operational workplan.
    Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec.  319.56-
4(c)(3)(iii), we are announcing our decision to authorize the 
importation into the United States of fresh mango fruit from Colombia 
subject to the following phytosanitary measures:
     The NPPO of Colombia must enter into an operational 
workplan with APHIS that spells out the daily procedures the NPPO will 
take to implement the below measures.
     Only commercial consignments of mango fruit may be 
imported.
     All growers must be registered with the NPPO and follow 
operational workplan requirements for suppression of fruit flies.
     The NPPO must monitor the system for inspection, packing, 
wrapping, transportation, and loading of the commodity and ensure that 
participating growers are following the program guidelines.
     Packinghouses must be registered and approved by the NPPO 
and meet the requirements listed in the operational workplan.
     The NPPO is expected to maintain program records for at 
least 1 year and provide them to APHIS upon request.
     The NPPO or its designate must conduct a fruit fly 
trapping program for the detection of Anastrepha spp. and Medfly 
(Ceratitis capitata) at each production site. Details of trap 
placement, checking of traps, trap density, and remedial fruit fly 
control measures will be included in the operational workplan. The NPPO 
must maintain an APHIS-approved quality control program to monitor or 
audit the trapping program and maintain records of trap placement, 
checking of traps, and any fruit fly captures. The trapping records 
must be maintained for at least 1 year and provided to APHIS upon 
request.
     The mangos must be treated with an APHIS-approved 
treatment for Anastrepha spp. fruit flies and Medfly (Ceratitis 
capitata). Either:
    [cir] Hot water treatment, T102-a, which is only available for use 
in a preclearance program in accordance with 7 CFR part 305. Each 
consignment of fruit treated with the APHIS-approved hot water 
treatment must be precleared by APHIS inspectors in Colombia. The 
treatment must be carried out under the supervision and direction of 
APHIS and each consignment must be inspected jointly by APHIS and the 
NPPO. Treatment must occur in a pest-exclusionary treatment facility; 
or
    [cir] Irradiation treatment, T105-a-1, which requires the fruit to 
be irradiated with a minimum absorbed dose of 150 Gray for fruit flies 
and follow the requirements of 7 CFR part 305. If the approved 
irradiation treatment is applied outside the United States, each 
consignment of fruit must be precleared by APHIS inspectors in 
Colombia. Treatment must occur in a pest-exclusionary treatment 
facility or, if irradiation is to be applied upon arrival in the United 
States, each consignment of fruit must be inspected by the NPPO prior 
to departure and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by 
the NPPO. Mangos intended to be irradiated in the United States must be 
shipped in APHIS-approved packaging that prevents escape of any 
Anastrepha spp. or Medfly larvae or adults.
     All hot water or irradiation treatment facilities in 
Colombia to be used for mangos are subject to APHIS approval. APHIS 
reserves the right to require oversight visits in the event of pest 
interceptions or other problems.
     Mango fruit must be safeguarded from exposure to 
Anastrepha spp. or Medfly from the time of treatment to export. The 
package containing mango fruit may not contain any other fruit, 
including mango fruit not qualified for importation into the United 
States.
     Each consignment must be inspected jointly by inspectors 
from APHIS and the NPPO and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate 
issued by the NPPO.
     If more than one Ceratitis capitata or Anastrepha spp. or 
one Neosilba glaberrima is detected in a consignment, the consignment 
may not be exported to the United States.
     Each consignment is subject to inspection at the U.S. 
ports of entry.
    These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import 
Requirements database (available at https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual). In addition to these specific measures, fresh mango fruit from 
Colombia will be subject to the general requirements listed in Sec.  
319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and 
vegetables.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), the recordkeeping and burden requirements associated 
with this action are covered under the Office of Management and Budget 
control number 0579-0049, which is updated every 3 years during the 
required renewal period. We estimate the total annual burden to be 986 
hours.

E-Government Act Compliance

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to 
compliance with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the internet 
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities 
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for 
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act 
compliance related to this notice, please contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, 
APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action 
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 
and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.


[[Page 66273]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of November 2021.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25361 Filed 11-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P