Notice of Decision To Revise Requirements for the Importation of Fresh Melon Fruit From Japan Into the United States, 61751-61752 [2021-24342]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 213 (Monday, November 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61751-61752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24342]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0100]


Notice of Decision To Revise Requirements for the Importation of 
Fresh Melon Fruit From Japan Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are notifying the public of our decision to revise 
requirements for the importation of fresh melon fruit with stems from 
Japan into the United States. Based on the findings of a pest risk 
analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment 
through a previous notice, 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 melon fruit with stems from 
Japan into the entire United States.

DATES: Imports may be authorized at all U.S. ports beginning November 
8, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Senior 
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, 
Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2352.

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) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture 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 and spread 
within the United States.
    Section 319.56-4 of the regulations provides requirements for 
authorizing the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United 
States and revising existing requirements for the importation of fruits 
and vegetables. Paragraph (c) of that section provides that the name 
and origin of all fruits and vegetables authorized for importation into 
the United States, as well as the requirements for their importation, 
be listed on the internet in APHIS' Fruits and Vegetables Import 
Requirements database, or FAVIR (https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual). It also provides that, if the Administrator of APHIS 
determines that any of the phytosanitary measures required for the 
importation of a particular fruit or vegetable are no longer necessary 
to reasonably mitigate the plant pest risk posed by the fruit or 
vegetable, APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register making 
its pest risk documentation and determination available for public 
comment.
    FAVIR had authorized the importation of fresh melon fruit without 
stems from Japan into Hawaii. The national plant protection 
organization of Japan, however, requested that we revise these import 
requirements to authorize importation of melons with stems into the 
entire United States.
    Accordingly, in accordance with the process set forth in the 
regulations, we published a notice \1\ in the Federal Register on May 
21, 2021 (86 FR 27552-27553, Docket No. APHIS-2020-0100), in which we 
announced the availability, for review and comment, of a pest risk 
assessment (PRA) that evaluated the risks associated with allowing 
importation into the entire United States of fresh melon fruit with 
stems from Japan. Based on the PRA, we also prepared a risk management 
document to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to 
the fresh melon fruit with stems from Japan to mitigate the pest risk.
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    \1\ To view the notice and supporting documents, go to 
www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS-2020-0100 in the Search field.
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    We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending July 20, 
2021. We did not receive any comments.
    Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec.  319.56-
4(c)(3)(iii), we are announcing our decision to authorize the 
importation into the entire United States of fresh melon fruit with 
stems from Japan subject to the following revised phytosanitary 
measures:
     Fresh melon fruit with stems from Japan must be imported 
as commercial consignments only.
     Each consignment must be inspected and accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the Japanese national plant 
protection organization stating that the melon fruit with stems is free 
of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus.
     Each consignment is subject to inspection upon arrival in 
the United States.
    These conditions will be listed in the FAVIR database (available at 
https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual). In addition to these specific 
measures, fresh melon fruit with stems from Japan will be subject to 
the general requirements listed in Sec.  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 recordkeeping and burden requirements associated 
with this action are included under the Office of Management and Budget 
control number 0579-0049.

E-Government Act Compliance

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to 
compliance with the E- Government 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' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-
2483.

[[Page 61752]]

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. 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 2nd day of November 2021.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-24342 Filed 11-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P