Comment from Oscar Manuel Gutierrez R.

This is to convey OIRSA?s support to the Proposed Rule appeared at Federal Register/Vol. 70 No. 196, Docket No. 05-003-01, regarding importation to the United States of America, of peppers (Capsicum spp.) from some of the Central American countries, members of the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA). If definitely published and released, this rule shall remarkably help to promote pepper production and exportation from Central American countries to the USA and other international markets, with the ensuing improvement of the socio-econmomic situation of these countries, which are making great efforts to improve their agricultural status. While preventing to pose a risk to the agriculture of the United States, pepper production and exportation under the conditions described at the Proposed Rule benefits the final consumers who can gain access to quality produce at a lower price, and promotes the generation of employment in Central American rural areas, thus refraining the constant human migration to urban areas or to the North of the continent. We thank you in advance for the attention granted to this comment, which we expect will be taken into consideration in behalf of our member countries.