Comment from Richard D Gaskalla, Florida Department of Agriculture

February 21, 2006 Regulatory Analysis and Development USDA, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71 4700 River Road, Unit 118 Riverdale, Maryland 20737-1238 Reference: Federal Register Docket No. 03-086-1 Importation of Fruits and Vegetables The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services would like to take this opportunity to formally offer the following comments regarding the proposal to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations by listing a number of fruits and vegetables from certain parts of the world as eligible, under specified conditions for importation into the United States: Citrus Fruit from the Bahamas The proposed regulation would allow citrus fruit from the Bahamas to be imported into the United States provided that each shipment was certified as originating from an area of the Bahamas that is free from citrus canker disease, (Xanthomonas citri). It is our position that this declaration should be based on periodic and systematic surveys and ultimately should meet the same standards developed for the USDA for domestic fruit movement from Florida. We would question if the Bahamian government has the necessary resources and qualified personnel to accomplish this task. Cichorium from South and Central America On the matter of importing various species of Cichorium from South and Central America, the current regulations do indeed list chicory root as enterable into the United States if imported from Panama and Honduras. Why only allow importation from these two countries? It appears that the intention and the risk assessment only dealt with the foliage and stem portions of the Cichorium plants. However, the roots of these plants pose a different set of risks and we would hope Docket # 03-086-1 Importation of Fruits and Vegetables Page Two that all risk assessments pertaining to the importation of below ground and possible soil encrusted chicory roots were taken into consideration. Distinction Between Commercial and Non-commercial The distinction between commercially grown shipments and non- commercial products referenced in the proposed importation requirements for eggplant from Belize, Costa Rica, and Honduras is very vague. The definition is admittedly not complete. However, the only distinguishing characteristics mentioned are quantity of product, type of packaging, identification of grower and packinghouse, and consigning documents. We question whether this distinction would truly discourage all determined shippers of substandard product, and thereby not afford any broad ranging pest protection to the United States. Pineapples and Apples from South Africa We have some concerns relative to the importation, without a required treatment, of both pineapples and apples into the United States from South Africa as both these fruits can serve as hosts for the Oriental red mite, (Eutetranychus orientalis). The Oriental red mite which occurs in South Africa is a serious pest on more than 180 plants, crops and ornamentals, many of which are grown in Florida. This mite is a serious pest throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia. We would urge APHIS to re-evaluate this proposed amendment to the regulations for importing these commodities into the United States from South Africa. We certainly welcome the opportunity to offer comments on the proposed rule amendments governing the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States. Sincerely, CHARLES H. BRONSON COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE Richard Gaskalla Division Director RDG/ch