Comment from Richard Gaskalla

To Whom It May Concern: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Plant Industry (FDACS’DPI) reviewed Federal Register Docket Number APHIS-2011-0132, Importation of Fresh Apricots From Continental Spain. FDACS’DPI has concerns of the importation of apricots from Spain into Florida because of the potential movement of the Mediterranean fruit fly and the plum fruit moth, Cydia funebrana, which is not known to occur in Florida. Although the cited systems approach is noted as being adequate in mitigating the risk associated with the potential entry of potential pests, pests such as the plum fruit moth and Mediterranean fruit fly pose a significant risk to Florida Agriculture if either were to become established in Florida. The required monitoring should not preclude an additional high level of inspection at the port of entry and should establish that procedures are in place to confirm approved treatments were applied properly. ---------------------------- Richard Gaskalla Division Director Division of Plant Industry Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Post Office Box 147100 Gainesville, Florida 32614-7100 Phone: (352) 395-4628 richard.gaskalla@freshfromflorida.com