[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 38885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18437]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. 99-004-1]
Declaration of Emergency Because of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly
in Mexico
A serious outbreak of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis
capitata (Wiedemann), is occurring in Chiapas, Campeche, and Tabasco,
Mexico.
The Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) is one of the most destructive
pests of over 200 species of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, especially
citrus and stone fruits. Infestations can develop rapidly and spread
easily, causing severe damage to entire citrus and other fruit and
vegetable growing areas. At least 43 countries are known to regulate in
some manner for the Medfly.
In cooperation with the governments of Mexico and Guatemala, the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts activities
in Mexico and Guatemala to maintain a sterile Medfly barrier in western
Guatemala to prevent the spread of Medfly through Mexico and into the
United States. This program is called the Moscamed Program.
During the summer and fall of 1998, APHIS and cooperators in Mexico
detected 253 infestations of Medfly in the States of Chiapas, Campeche,
and Tabasco, Mexico. Over 160 infestations are currently active in the
State of Chiapas. Mexico has initiated programs to eradicate the
infestations, but does not have the resources to eradicate the Medfly
and keep the Moscamed Program running without assistance from the
United States.
The establishment of Medfly in the continental United States could
severely disrupt the fruit and vegetable industry due to crop damage
and loss of export markets. An economic assessment completed in 1993
estimates that if Medfly were established in the continental United
States, losses attributed to the Medfly would cost $1.5 billion
annually. Keeping Mexico free of Medfly will greatly reduce the risk
that this pest will be introduced into the United States. Fruit fly
experts predict that if the pest is allowed to continue to spread in
Mexico, the Medfly will reach the U.S. border by the year 2005.
Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of
September 25, 1981, 95 Stat. 953 (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there
is an emergency that threatens the citrus and other fruit and vegetable
industries of this country, and I authorize the transfer and use of
such funds as may be necessary from appropriations or other funds
available to the United States Department of Agriculture to conduct a
program to detect, control, and prevent the spread of the Medfly in
Mexico, in order to prevent its introduction into the United States.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This declaration of emergency shall become effective
July 9, 1999.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 99-18437 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
