Notice of a Determination Regarding the Fever Tick Status of the State of Baja California, Mexico, 55546-55547 [2019-22645]

Download as PDF 55546 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Notices reading procedures at pre-cooling facilities.7 Given Taiwan’s more temperate climate, we do not consider a similar pre-cooling failure likely to occur in Taiwan. Additionally, we note that cold treatment is not the only mitigation measure that we proposed in order to address Bactrocera spp. fruit flies. We proposed that places of production would have to have a fruit fly trapping system in place, as certified by the NPPO of Taiwan; that fallen fruit would have to be removed from places of production to eliminate possible fruit fly host material; that packinghouses where the guava was processed for consignment to the United States would have to be registered with the NPPO of Taiwan and determined to be pest exclusionary; and that a portion of a biometric sample of each consignment of guava intended for export to the United States would have to cut open by the NPPO of Taiwan and inspected for fruit fly larvae and other quarantine pests. For the above reasons, we do not consider it necessary to prohibit the importation of guava from Taiwan into the State of Florida. A commenter suggested that the guava could be irradiated as a treatment for fruit flies. We agree, and included this treatment option in the RMD. Finally, following the close of the comment period, the NPPO of Taiwan informed us that, as a standard industry practice, all guava intended for export from Taiwan for commercial sale are bagged. Accordingly, the NPPO indicated that they would be amenable to including bagging as an additional, voluntarily imposed mitigation measure to address the pest risk associated with the importation of guava into the continental United States, with the specific logistics of this bagging included in the operational workplan that they will enter into with APHIS. This additional bagging requirement is included in the revised RMD. Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c)(3)(iii), we are announcing our decision to authorize the importation of fresh guava fruit from Taiwan into the continental United States subject to the following phytosanitary measures: • Importation in commercial consignments only; • Development of an operational workplan that the NPPO of Taiwan must enter into with APHIS; 7 See https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/ plants/plant_imports/federal_order/downloads/ 2018/DA-2018-01.pdf. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 • Registration of places of production and packinghouses with the NPPO of Taiwan; • Regular inspections of places of production by the NPPO; • Grove sanitation and trapping for fruit flies in places of production; • Safeguarding and identification of the lot throughout the growing, packing and export process; • Bagging of fruit intended for export; • Phytosanitary treatment (cold treatment or irradiation); • Pre-export inspection by the NPPO, including fruit cutting of a portion of a biometric sample, and issuance of a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration that states that the fruit have been produced in accordance with the requirements of the systems approach, inspected, and found free of P. psidii and P. psidiicola; and • Port of entry inspections. These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements database (available at https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/ manual). In addition to these specific measures, fresh guava fruit from Taiwan will be subject to the general requirements listed in § 319.56–3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and vegetables. Paperwork Reduction Act In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the reporting and recordkeeping requirements included in this notice are covered under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 0579–0049. The estimated annual burden on respondents is 1,632 hours, which will be added to 0579– 0049 in the next quarterly update. E-Government Act Compliance The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to compliance with the EGovernment 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’ Information Collection 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). PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 10th day of October 2019. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22648 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2018–0030] Notice of a Determination Regarding the Fever Tick Status of the State of Baja California, Mexico Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we have determined that the State of Baja California, Mexico is free from Rhipicephalus (formerly Boophilus) spp. ticks, known as fever ticks. The evaluation determined that this region is free from fever ticks and that ruminants imported from the area pose a low risk of exposing ruminants within the United States. DATES: This change in fever tick status will be recognized on November 18, 2019. SUMMARY: Dr. Betzaida Lopez, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–3300. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals, birds, and poultry into the United States to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases of livestock and poultry. Subpart D of part 93 (§§ 93.400 through 93.436, referred to below as the regulations) governs the importation of ruminants; within the regulations, §§ 93.424 through 93.429 specifically address the importation of ruminants from Mexico into the United States. The regulations in paragraph (b)(1) of § 93.427 contain conditions for the importation of ruminants from regions of Mexico that we consider free from Rhipicephalus (formerly Boophilus) spp. ticks, known as fever ticks. Regions of Mexico that we consider free from fever ticks are listed at https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/ animalhealth/animal-and-animalFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Notices product-import-information/animalhealth-status-of-regions/animal-healthstatus-of-regions. The regulations in 9 CFR 92.2 contain requirements for requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region or for the approval of the export of a particular type of animal or animal product to the United States from a foreign region. If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in support of the request, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will make its evaluation available for public comment through a notice published in the Federal Register. Following the close of the comment period, APHIS will review all comments received and will make a final determination regarding the request that will be detailed in another notice published in the Federal Register. In accordance with that process, Mexico asked APHIS to recognize the State of Baja California, Mexico as a region free from fever ticks. In response to this request, we prepared an evaluation of the fever tick status of this region. The evaluation concluded that the State of Baja California, Mexico is free from fever ticks, and that ruminants imported from the region pose a low risk of exposing ruminants within the United States to fever ticks. On March 19, 2019, we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 10023– 10024, Docket No. APHIS–2018–0030) a notice 1 in which we announced the availability for review and comment of our evaluation of the fever tick status of the State of Baja California, Mexico. We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on May 20, 2019. We received no comments on our evaluation. Therefore, based on the findings of our evaluation and the absence of comments that would lead us to reconsider those findings, we are announcing our determination to add the State of Baja California, Mexico to the list of regions of Mexico declared free from fever ticks. This list is available on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-andanimal-product-import-information/ animal-health-status-of-regions/animalhealth-status-of-regions. Congressional Review Act Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of 1 To view the notice and the evaluation, go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0030. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 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. 1622 and 8301–8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. Done in Washington, DC, this 10th day of October 2019. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22645 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2018–0043] Notice of Determination of the Footand-Mouth Disease Status of Singapore Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public of our determination to recognize Singapore as being free of foot-andmouth disease (FMD). Based on our evaluation of the FMD status of Singapore, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, the Administrator has determined that Singapore is free of FMD. DATES: This change in Singapore’s FMD status will be recognized on November 18, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Roberta A. Morales, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 855–7735; Roberta.A.Morales@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the regulations) govern the importation of certain animals and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including foot-andmouth disease (FMD). The regulations prohibit or otherwise restrict the importation of live ruminants and swine, and products from these animals, from regions where the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) considers FMD to exist. Within part 94, § 94.1 contains requirements governing the importation of ruminants and swine from regions where FMD exists and the importation of the meat of any ruminants or swine SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55547 from regions where FMD exists to prevent the introduction of this disease into the United States. We consider FMD to exist in all regions except those listed in accordance with paragraph (a) of that section as free of FMD. Section 94.11 of the regulations contains requirements governing the importation of meat of any ruminants or swine from regions that have been determined to be free of FMD, but that are subject to certain restrictions because of their proximity to or trading relationships with FMD-affected regions. Such regions are listed in accordance with paragraph (a) of that section. The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, § 92.2, contain requirements for requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region. If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in support of the request, APHIS believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will indicate its intent and make its evaluation available for public comment through a document published in the Federal Register. Following the close of the comment period, APHIS will review all comments received and will make a final determination regarding the request that will be detailed in another document published in the Federal Register. In accordance with that process, Singapore requested that APHIS evaluate the FMD status of that country. In response to this request, APHIS conducted a qualitative risk assessment to evaluate the FMD status of Singapore. Based on the results of this evaluation, we have determined that Singapore is free of FMD. APHIS also determined that the surveillance, prevention, and control measures implemented by Singapore are sufficient to minimize the likelihood of introducing FMD into the United States via imports of species susceptible to this disease or products of those species. Accordingly, we published a notice 1 in the Federal Register on March 19, 2019 (84 FR 10024–10025, Docket No. APHIS–2018–0043), in which we announced the availability, for review and comment, of a risk assessment that evaluated the risk of introduction of FMD into the United States through the importation of animals and animal products from Singapore. We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending May 20, 2019. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, in accordance with the regulations, we are announcing our 1 To view the notice and supporting documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov/ docket?D=APHIS-2018-0043. E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55546-55547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22645]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0030]


Notice of a Determination Regarding the Fever Tick Status of the 
State of Baja California, Mexico

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have determined that the 
State of Baja California, Mexico is free from Rhipicephalus (formerly 
Boophilus) spp. ticks, known as fever ticks. The evaluation determined 
that this region is free from fever ticks and that ruminants imported 
from the area pose a low risk of exposing ruminants within the United 
States.

DATES: This change in fever tick status will be recognized on November 
18, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Betzaida Lopez, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 prohibit or 
restrict the importation of certain animals, birds, and poultry into 
the United States to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases 
of livestock and poultry. Subpart D of part 93 (Sec. Sec.  93.400 
through 93.436, referred to below as the regulations) governs the 
importation of ruminants; within the regulations, Sec. Sec.  93.424 
through 93.429 specifically address the importation of ruminants from 
Mexico into the United States.
    The regulations in paragraph (b)(1) of Sec.  [thinsp]93.427 contain 
conditions for the importation of ruminants from regions of Mexico that 
we consider free from Rhipicephalus (formerly Boophilus) spp. ticks, 
known as fever ticks. Regions of Mexico that we consider free from 
fever ticks are listed at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/
animalhealth/animal-and-animal-

[[Page 55547]]

product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/animal-
health-status-of-regions.
    The regulations in 9 CFR 92.2 contain requirements for requesting 
the recognition of the animal health status of a region or for the 
approval of the export of a particular type of animal or animal product 
to the United States from a foreign region. If, after review and 
evaluation of the information submitted in support of the request, the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) believes the request 
can be safely granted, APHIS will make its evaluation available for 
public comment through a notice published in the Federal Register. 
Following the close of the comment period, APHIS will review all 
comments received and will make a final determination regarding the 
request that will be detailed in another notice published in the 
Federal Register.
    In accordance with that process, Mexico asked APHIS to recognize 
the State of Baja California, Mexico as a region free from fever ticks. 
In response to this request, we prepared an evaluation of the fever 
tick status of this region. The evaluation concluded that the State of 
Baja California, Mexico is free from fever ticks, and that ruminants 
imported from the region pose a low risk of exposing ruminants within 
the United States to fever ticks.
    On March 19, 2019, we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 
10023-10024, Docket No. APHIS-2018-0030) a notice \1\ in which we 
announced the availability for review and comment of our evaluation of 
the fever tick status of the State of Baja California, Mexico. We 
solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on May 20, 2019. We 
received no comments on our evaluation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the notice and the evaluation, go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0030.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, based on the findings of our evaluation and the absence 
of comments that would lead us to reconsider those findings, we are 
announcing our determination to add the State of Baja California, 
Mexico to the list of regions of Mexico declared free from fever ticks. 
This list is available on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/animal-health-status-of-regions.

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. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 
31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 10th day of October 2019.
 Kevin Shea,
 Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-22645 Filed 10-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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