Importation of Fresh Pumpkin, Squash, and the Hybrid Tetsukabuto From Brazil Into the Continental United States, 31478 [2023-10548]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 31478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10548]


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 2023 / 
Notices

[[Page 31478]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0105]


Importation of Fresh Pumpkin, Squash, and the Hybrid Tetsukabuto 
From Brazil Into the Continental 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 a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with importation of fresh 
pumpkin, squash, and the interspecific hybrid tetsukabuto from Brazil 
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 fresh 
pumpkin, squash, and tetsukabuto from Brazil. 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 July 
17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2020-0105 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-2020-0105, 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. Claudia Ferguson, Senior 
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, 
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) 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 (NPPO) of Brazil to allow the importation of fresh pumpkin 
(Cucurbita moschata), squash (Cucurbita maxima), and the interspecific 
hybrid tetsukabuto (C. moschata x C. maxima) from Brazil into the 
continental United States. Currently, the importation of those items is 
not authorized. As part of our evaluation of Brazil'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 fresh 
pumpkin, squash, and tetsukabuto into the continental United States 
from Brazil. Based on the pest risk assessment, a risk management 
document (RMD) was prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that 
could be applied to those commodities 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 fresh pumpkin, 
squash, and tetsukabuto from Brazil, 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 importation status of fresh pumpkin, squash, and 
tetsukabuto from Brazil 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 fresh pumpkin, squash, and 
tetsukabuto from Brazil 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 12th day of May 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-10548 Filed 5-16-23; 8:45 am]
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