[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1517-1518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00267]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0081]


Importation of Fresh Rhizomes of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) for 
Consumption From Mexico Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with importation of fresh 
rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) for consumption from Mexico 
into the United States. Based on the analysis, 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 rhizomes of 
turmeric from Mexico. 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 March 
11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0081 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2023-0081, 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 www.regulations.gov

[[Page 1518]]

or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1620 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Marc Phillips, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; phone: (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) 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 or disseminated within the United States.
    Section 319.56-4 contains a performance-based process for approving 
the importation of fruits and vegetables that, based on the findings of 
a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of 
the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of 
that section.
    APHIS received a request from the national plant protection 
organization (NPPO) of Mexico to allow the importation of fresh 
rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) for consumption from Mexico 
into the United States. As part of our evaluation of Mexico's request, 
we have prepared a pest risk assessment to identify the pests of 
quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of the 
importation of fresh rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) for 
consumption from Mexico into the United States. Based on the pest risk 
assessment, a risk management document (RMD) was prepared to identify 
phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the fresh rhizomes of 
turmeric to mitigate the pest risk.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are announcing 
the availability of our pest risk assessment and RMD for public review 
and comment. Those documents, as well as a description of the economic 
considerations associated with the importation of fresh rhizomes of 
turmeric from Mexico, may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website 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 assessment and RMD by calling or 
writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Please refer to the subject of the analysis you wish to review when 
requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments that we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of fresh rhizomes of turmeric from 
Mexico in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of our 
analysis and the Administrator's determination of risk remain unchanged 
following our consideration of the comments, then we will authorize the 
importation of fresh rhizomes of turmeric from Mexico into the United 
States subject to the requirements specified in the RMD.
    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 4th day of January 2024.
Donna Lalli,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00267 Filed 1-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P