2023-13674. Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Leaves and Stems of Garland Chrysanthemum From Mexico Into the Continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands of fresh leaves and stems of Garland Chrysanthemum ( Glebionis coronarium) from Mexico. 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 leaves and stems of Garland Chrysanthemum from Mexico.

DATES:

Imports may be authorized beginning June 28, 2023.

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; email: [e-mail].

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 (USDA) 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 contains a performance-based process for approving the importation of commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that section. Under that process, APHIS proposes to authorize the importation of a fruit or vegetable into the United States if, based on findings of a pest risk analysis, we determine that the measures can mitigate the plant pest risk associated with the importation of that fruit or vegetable. APHIS then publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of a particular fruit or vegetable. Following the close of the 60-day comment period, APHIS will issue a subsequent Federal Register notice announcing whether or not we will authorize the importation of the fruit or vegetable subject to the phytosanitary measures specified in the notice.

In accordance with that process, we published a notice ^[1] in the Federal Register on October 19, 2021 (86 FR 57802–57803, Docket No. APHIS–2021–0037), in which we announced the availability, for review and comment, of a pest risk analysis that evaluated the risks associated with the importation of fresh leaves and stems of Garland Chrysanthemum ( Glebionis coronarium) from Mexico into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The pest risk analysis consisted of a pest risk assessment identifying pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation of fresh leaves and stems of Garland Chrysanthemum from Mexico into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and a risk management document identifying phytosanitary measures to be applied to that commodity to mitigate the pest risk.

We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on December 20, 2021. We received 26 comments by that date. Of these, 25 supported the importation of chrysanthemum leaves and stems for consumption without further comment or request for modification.

One commenter noted that Garland Chrysanthemum is already authorized for importation from Mexico as a cut flower if it is accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that has been issued by the national plant protection organization of Mexico and attests to the Garland Chrysanthemum's freedom from Puccinia horiana, the causal agent of Chrysanthemum White Rust. The commenter further noted that parts that may be imported include leaves and stems. In light of this existing authorization, the commenter questioned why the notice was necessary.

The regulations governing the importation of cut flowers into the United States are found in 7 CFR 319.74–1 through 319.74–4 (subpart P). These regulations do not pertain to imported plant parts intended for consumption. If the commodity is intended for consumption, it is governed by the regulations in subpart L that are referenced above in this notice. Separate authorization based on the intended use of the plant part is warranted because the intended use of a plant part may increase or decrease the risk that it presents of introducing plant pests or noxious weeds into the United States.

Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in § 319.56–4(c)(3)(iii), we are announcing our decision to authorize the importation of fresh leaves and stems of Garland Chrysanthemum ( Glebionis coronarium) from Mexico into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands subject to the phytosanitary measures specified in the RMD that accompanied the initial notice.

These conditions will be listed in the USDA, APHIS Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database ( https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/​s/​ ).^[2] In addition to these specific measures, each shipment will be subject to the general requirements listed in § 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.

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 20th day of June 2023.

Michael Watson,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Footnotes

1.  To view the notice, the pest risk analysis, and the comments we received, go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS–2021–0037 in the Search field.

2.  On September 30, 2022, the APHIS Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database was replaced by the ACIR database.