WASHINGTON --The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of all varieties of Malus domestica apples into the United States from Japan.
Based on recently completed research, APHIS has determined that the measures currently in place for Fuji apples imported into the United States from Japan would be effective in mitigating any pest risks associated with all varieties of M. domestica apples from Japan.
To ensure plant pests such as the yellow peach moth and the fruit tree spider mite do not enter into the United States through the importation of this commodity, APHIS would require the apples to be cold treated and then fumigated under the supervision of an APHIS official in Japan. The apples would also have to be inspected prior to export to the United States.
This action would allow all varieties of Malus domestica apples from Japan to be imported into the United States while continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantine pests.
Notice of this proposed rule is published in today’s March 10 Federal Register.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before May 10. Send an original and two copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0020, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0020. If you wish to submit a comment using the Internet go to the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=Docket Detail&d=APHIS-2009-0020.
Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov Web site and may be viewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room please call (202) 690‑2817.
Source : USDA