Rules and Regulations. Notice of availability

Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
Action: Notice of availability
Citation: 89 FR (No. 66) · FR Doc. 2024-07104 · Docket No. APHIS-2023-0040

Summary

We are advising the public that we have prepared pest risk analyses that evaluate the risks associated with the importation of leaves and stems of rosemary and leaves and stems of tarragon from Ethiopia into the continental United States. Based on the analyses, 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 rosemary and tarragon from Ethiopia. We are making the pest risk analyses available to the public for review and comment.

Dates

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 3, 2024.

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 rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) and leaves and stems of tarragon ( Artemesia dracunculus ) from Ethiopia into the continental United States. As part of our evaluation of Ethiopia's request, we have prepared pest risk assessments to identify the pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of the importation of rosemary and tarragon into the continental United States from Ethiopia. Based on the pest risk assessments, risk management documents (RMDs) were prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the rosemary and tarragon to mitigate the pest risk. Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56-4(c), we are announcing the availability of our pest risk assessments and RMDs for public review and comment. Those documents, as well as a description of the economic considerations associated with the importation of rosemary and tarragon 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 assessments and RMDs 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 rosemary and tarragon 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 rosemary and tarragon from Ethiopia into the continental United States subject to the requirements specified in the RMDs. Depending on the comments received, we may authorize the importation of all, some, or none of the commodities from Ethiopia specified in this notice. 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 26th day of March 2024. Michael Watson, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2024-07104 Filed 4-3-24; 8:45 am]