APHIS Seeks Comments on a Treatment Evaluation Document to Add a Treatment Schedule for Grapefruit from Australia Imported into the United States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is accepting comments on a treatment evaluation document and proposed change to a cold treatment schedule in the Plant Protection and Quarantine treatment manual. Interested parties can submit comments on the proposal until November 15, 2016.
After assessing the research regarding effective results of cold treatment of grapefruit at 3o C for Queensland Fruit Fly, APHIS is proposing an amendment to the treatment manual. With this revision, the interested parties would have the option to have grapefruit cold-treated at up to 3o C for no more than 14 days to meet the U.S. entry requirements. In March 2011, APHIS approved cold treatment at or below 3o C of certain other species of citrus fruit from Australia, namely lemons, oranges, tangerines, and tangors to meet the U.S. entry requirements.
APHIS will carefully consider all comments received by the deadline, November 15, 2016, and then make its decision regarding any change to the Agency’s cold treatment schedule for grapefruit from Australia.
Addresses:
You may submit comments starting September 16, 2016, by either of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0049
- Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2016-0049, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
- Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed athttp://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0049 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.