[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 2918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00744]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 17, 2024 / 
Notices  

[[Page 2918]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0010]


Notice of Availability of Pest Risk Analyses for the Importation 
of Fresh Thyme, Marjoram, and Oregano From Kenya Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared pest risk 
analyses that evaluate the risks associated with the importation of 
fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States. 
Based on the analyses, 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 thyme, marjoram, and oregano 
from Kenya into the United States. We are making the pest risk analyses 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
18, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0010 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-2023-0010, 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 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: Ms. Gina Stiltner, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (518) 760-2468; 
[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 of Kenya to allow the importation of fresh thyme (Thymus 
vulgaris), marjoram (Origanum majorana), and oregano (Origanum vulgare) 
for consumption from Kenya into the United States. As part of our 
evaluation of Kenya's request, we have prepared pest risk assessments 
to identify the pests of quarantine significance that could follow the 
pathway of the importation of fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from 
Kenya into the United States. Based on the pest risk assessments, risk 
management documents (RMDs) were prepared to identify phytosanitary 
measures that could be applied to fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano to 
mitigate the pest risk.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are announcing 
the availability of our pest risk assessments and RMDs for public 
review and comment. Those documents, as well as a description of the 
economic considerations associated with the importation of fresh thyme, 
marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States, 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 assessments and RMDs 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 we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of fresh thyme, marjoram, and 
oregano from Kenya into the United States in a subsequent notice. If 
the overall conclusions of our analyses and the Administrator's 
determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of 
the comments, then we will authorize the importation of fresh thyme, 
marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States subject to the 
requirements specified in the RMDs. Depending on the comments received, 
we may authorize the importation of all, some, or none of the 
commodities from Kenya specified in this notice.
    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 9th day of January 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00744 Filed 1-16-24; 8:45 am]
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