[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58328-58329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15842]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0067]


Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Leaves and Stems of Fresh Sage for Consumption From 
Ethiopia Into the Continental 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 the importation of 
leaves and stems of fresh sage from Ethiopia into the continental 
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 leaves and stems of fresh 
sage from Ethiopia. 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 
September 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0067 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-2023-0067, 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.

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 Ethiopia to allow the importation of leaves and stems 
of fresh sage (Salvia officinalis) from Ethiopia into the continental 
United States. As part of our evaluation of Ethiopia'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 leaves 
and stems of fresh sage into the continental United States from 
Ethiopia. Based on the pest risk assessment, a risk management document 
(RMD) was prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that could be 
applied to the leaves and stems of fresh sage 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 leaves and stems of 
fresh

[[Page 58329]]

sage from Ethiopia, 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 we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of leaves and stems of fresh sage 
from Ethiopia 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 leaves and stems of fresh sage from Ethiopia into the 
continental 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 11th day of July 2024.
Donna Lalli,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15842 Filed 7-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P