[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 58477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20875]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0034]


Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Turmeric 
(Curcuma longa) Rhizome From Samoa Into the United States (Including 
Territories)

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 (including territories) of fresh 
turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa. 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 turmeric (Curcuma 
longa) rhizome from Samoa.

DATES: Imports may be authorized beginning September 27, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Marc Phillips, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 851-2114; email: [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 that process, APHIS proposes to 
authorize the importation of a fruit or vegetable into the United 
States if, based on findings of a PRA, 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 PRA that evaluates the 
risks associated with the importation of a particular fruit or 
vegetable. Following the close of the 60-day comment period, APHIS will 
issue a subsequent Federal Register notice announcing whether or not we 
will authorize the importation of the fruit or vegetable subject to the 
phytosanitary measures specified in the notice.
    In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the 
Federal Register on October 27, 2021 (86 FR 59360-59361, Docket No. 
APHIS-2021-0034), in which we announced the availability, for review 
and comment, of a PRA that evaluated the risks associated with the 
importation of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa into 
the United States (including territories). The PRA consisted of a risk 
assessment identifying pests of quarantine significance that could 
follow the pathway of importation of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) 
rhizome from Samoa into the United States (including territories) 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 and the supporting documents, go to 
www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2021-0034 in the Search field.
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    We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on December 
27, 2021. We received no comments by that date.
    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 (including territories) of fresh 
turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa subject to the 
phytosanitary measures identified in the RMD that accompanied the 
initial notice.
    These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import 
Requirements database (FAVIR) (https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual).\2\ In addition to these specific measures, each shipment must 
be subject to the general requirements listed in Sec.  319.56-3 that 
are applicable to the importation of all fruits and vegetables.
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    \2\ On September 30, 2022, the FAVIR database will be replaced 
by the APHIS Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) 
database. The database can be accessed at https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/.
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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 included under the Office of Management and Budget 
control number 0579-0049.

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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of September 2022.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-20875 Filed 9-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P