APHIS Reopens Comment Period For Proposed Rule on the Importation of Certain Fruits and Vegetables
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that it has reopened its comment period until March 10, 2006, for a proposed rule that would amend 7 CFR Part 319 in order to list a number of fruits and vegetables from certain parts of the world as eligible, under specified conditions, for importation into the U.S.
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APHIS has previously stated that this would provide the U.S. with additional types and sources of fruits and vegetables while continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantine pests through such imports.
In addition, this proposed rule would also list certain fruits and vegetables that have been imported into the U.S. under a permit without being specifically listed in the regulations, in order to improve the regulations' transparency.
Among other things, APHIS' proposed rule would affect the following fruits and vegetables imported from various countries listed below (partial list):
| Bananas from Mexico | Kiwi from Italy |
| Cassava from Sierra Leone | New Zealand spinach from Israel |
| Citrus from New Zealand | Onion, garlic, etc. from Canada |
| Eggplant from Guatemala & Panama | Pineapples from South Africa |
| Grapefruit, lemon, etc. from the Bahamas | Swiss chard from Peru |
| Grapes from Argentina | Tomatoes from Chile |
APHIS' proposed rule also included other proposed changes such as allowing mangoes to be imported from the all areas of the Philippines (except the island of Palawan) into Guam and Hawaii, as well as adding the definition of "national plant protection organization" (NPPO) to its regulations.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/31/06 and 02/01/06 news, 06013110 and 06020120, for Part I and II of BP's two-part summary of the proposed rule.)
- written comments are now due by March 10, 2006 (from February 21, 2006)
APHIS Contact - Donna L. West (301) 734-8758
APHIS Notice (D/N 03-086-2, FR Pub 03/03/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-3037.pdf