[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50023-50024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19958]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0053]
Importation of Fresh Oranges and Tangerines From Egypt 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 allow the
importation of oranges and tangerines from Egypt. Based on the findings
of a pest list and commodity import evaluation document, which we made
available to the public for review and comment through a previous
notice, we have concluded that the application of one or more
designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the
pest risk associated with the importation of oranges and tangerines
[[Page 50024]]
from Egypt. In addition, based on the findings of a treatment
evaluation document, we are advising the public that we are adding a
new treatment schedule in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment
Manual that can be used to neutralize peach fruit fly (Bactrocera
zonata) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) in oranges and
tangerines.
DATES: Effective Date: August 16, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Rom[aacute]n, Regulatory
Policy Specialist, APHIS, PPQ, 4700 River Road Unit 156, Riverdale, MD
20737; (301) 851-2242.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR
319.56-1 through 319.56-59), 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 the introduction and dissemination of plant pests.
Section 319.56-4 contains a performance-based process for approving
the importation of commodities that, based on the findings of a pest
risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the
designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that
section.
In accordance with that process, we published a notice in the
Federal Register on April 18, 2013 (78 FR 23208-23209, Docket No.
APHIS-2012-0053),\1\ in which we announced the availability, for review
and comment, of a list of pests associated with oranges and tangerines
from Egypt and a commodity import evaluation document (CIED) that
evaluates the risks associated with importation of fruit from Egypt
into the United States.
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\1\ To view the notice, pest list, commodity import evaluation
document, treatment evaluation document, and the comment we
received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
2012-0053.
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Because of the time that had passed since importation of oranges
from Egypt was suspended, APHIS prepared a pest list to identify pests
of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation
of oranges and tangerines from Egypt. Based on the pest list, we then
completed a CIED to identify phytosanitary measures that could be
applied to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating the
identified pests via the importation of oranges and tangerines from
Egypt. We concluded that fresh oranges and tangerines can safely be
imported into the United States from Egypt using one or more of the
five designated phytosanitary measures listed in Sec. 319.56-4(b).
These measures are:
The oranges and tangerines must be treated in accordance
with 7 CFR part 305 for C. capitata and B. zonata; and
The oranges and tangerines must be accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection
organization of Egypt stating that the consignment has begun or has
undergone treatment for C. capitata and B. zonata in accordance with 7
CFR part 305, with an additional declaration stating that the fruit in
the consignment was inspected and found free of B. zonata.
The phytosanitary treatments regulations contained in part 305 of 7
CFR chapter III set out standards for treatments required in parts 301,
318, and 319 of 7 CFR chapter III for fruits, vegetables, and other
articles.
In Sec. 305.2, paragraph (b) states that approved treatment
schedules are set out in the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Treatment Manual.\2\ Section 305.3 sets out a process for adding,
revising, or removing treatment schedules in the PPQ Treatment Manual.
In that section, paragraph (a) sets out the process for adding,
revising, or removing treatment schedules when there is no immediate
need to make a change.
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\2\ The Treatment Manual is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/index.shtml or by
contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant
Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson Drive,
Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21702.
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The PPQ Treatment Manual does not currently provide a treatment
schedule for B. zonata in oranges and tangerines. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 305.3(a)(1), the notice we published in the
Federal Register on April 18, 2013, announced the availability of a new
cold treatment schedule T107-l, described further in the treatment
evaluation document (TED), that we determined to be effective against
B. zonata in oranges and tangerines.
In addition to B. zonata, Ceratitis capitata (Medfly) is the other
pest of concern in oranges originating from Egypt. The new cold
treatment schedule T107-l is more stringent than the treatment schedule
approved for C. capitata in oranges and tangerines, T107-a, and
therefore we have determined that the new cold treatment schedule is
adequate to neutralize C. capitata as well as B. zonata.
We solicited comments on the notice, pest list, CIED, and TED for
60 days ending June 17, 2013. We received one comment by that date from
a private citizen. The commenter agreed that cold treatment is an
effective mitigation measure for peach fruit fly; however, the
commenter expressed concern that administering treatment at the port of
entry could be too late in the shipping process to avoid the spread of
peach fruit flies to other fruits, further stating that any larvae in
the fruit at the time of exportation could fully develop into an adult
and migrate to other fruits while en route to the United States. The
commenter recommended that all cold treatments be conducted prior to
exportation from Egypt to prevent the spread of fruit flies during
shipment.
We understand the commenter's concerns; however, the fruit is
shipped in refrigerated containers, which keeps the larvae from
developing further. In addition, proper containment methods described
in the general cold treatment requirements in Sec. 305.6 are also
required to prevent fruit flies from spreading during shipment.
Specifically, paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(6) of that section require
fruit that may be cold treated to be safeguarded to prevent cross-
contamination or mixing with other infested fruit. Furthermore, only
the same type of fruit in the same type of packaging may be treated
together in a container and a numbered seal must be placed on the doors
of the loaded container which can only be removed at the port of
destination by an official authorized by APHIS. These safeguards have
been used for many years during the treatment of a wide variety of
commodities for fruit flies, and we have found them to be effective.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 305.3, we are announcing the
Administrator's decision to add the treatment described in the TED as
it is an effective measure for neutralizing peach fruit fly and Medfly
in oranges and tangerines. Furthermore, oranges and tangerines from
Egypt may be imported into the United States subject to the
requirements specified in the CIED.
The new treatment will be listed in the PPQ Treatment Manual, which
is available at the Web address and mailing address in footnote 2 of
this document.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 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 12th day of August 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19958 Filed 8-15-13; 8:45 am]
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