Notifications for United States of America (932 notifications)

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of tetraconazole in or on multiple commodities.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of clethodim in or on multiple commodities. In addition, this regulation removes several previously established tolerances that are superseded by this final rule.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluensulfone in or on multiple commodities.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of sulfentrazone in or on multiple commodities.

APHIS is proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador would be subject to a systems approach that would include requirements for establishment of pest-free places of production and the labeling of boxes prior to shipping. Fresh cape gooseberry fruit from non pest-free places of production would have to undergo approved cold treatment or irradiation. The fresh cape gooseberry fruit would also have to be imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Ecuador certifying that the fruit has been produced in accordance with the systems approach. Fresh cape gooseberry fruit that does not meet the conditions of the systems approach would be allowed to be imported into the continental United States subject to treatment. This action would allow for the importation of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests. [Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 77 Friday, 20 April 2018 pages 17503-17506]

APHIS is proposing to amend the regulations that allow the importation of peppers from the Republic of Korea to increase the mesh size of the screening over vent openings from 0.6 mm to 1.6 mm, and to require the use of colored sticky traps as an additional measure for pest monitoring. We have determined that, when used alongside other mitigations in the regulations, there is no additional pest risk related to the change in mesh size. This action would modify the conditions under which peppers from the Republic of Korea may be imported into the continental United States while continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantine pests. [Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 77 Friday, 20 April 2018 pages 17501-17503]

Through this addendum notification, FSIS is sharing with Member countries copies of the forthcoming revised FSIS Form 9060-5 export certificate series that FSIS will issue for all countries beginning on 29 June 2018. FSIS has made limited revisions to the 9060-5 series to better align with commonly accepted international guidance and to ensure importing country requirements are met. The revised export certificate series will be implemented with the initial launch of the Public Health Information System (PHIS) export component, FSIS' electronic application and certification system. The FSIS Form 9060-5 export certificate series includes: (1) 9060-5 (meat/poultry export certificate); (2) 9060-5S (Siluriformes fish export certificate); (3) 9060-5A (product continuation page); and (4) 9060-5B (remarks continuation page), a new addendum to provide more space for additional attestations, when required by the importing country. Samples of these revised export certificates are provided with this addendum notification. FSIS is also providing further instructions on how Central Competant Authority (CCA) officials can access USDA internet-based applications that are important for facilitating trade with the United States.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to list lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.) from Chile as eligible for importation into the continental United States subject to a systems approach. Under this systems approach, the fruit will have to be grown in a place of production that is registered with the Government of Chile and certified as having a low prevalence of Brevipalpus chilensis. The fruit will have to undergo pre-harvest sampling at the registered production site under the direction of Chile's national plant protection organization. Following post-harvest processing, the fruit will have to be inspected in Chile at an APHIS-approved inspection site. Each consignment of fruit will have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the fruit had been found free of B. chilensis based on field and packinghouse inspections. This final rule will allow for the safe importation of lemons from Chile using mitigation measures other than fumigation with methyl bromide.  (Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 67, Friday, 6 April 2018, pages 14733-14736)

APHIS is proposing to amend the regulations to allow the importation of fresh pummelo fruit from Thailand into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, fresh pummelo fruit from Thailand would be subject to a systems approach that would include irradiation treatment, packinghouse processing requirements, and port of entry inspection. The fruit would also be required to be imported in commercial consignments and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Thailand. This action would allow for the importation of fresh pummelo fruit from Thailand while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests into the continental United States. [Federal Register Vol. 1, No. 61, Thursday, 29 March 2018, pp. 13433-13436]

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending the regulations to allow the importation of fresh cherimoya fruit from Chile into the continental United States in accordance with a systems approach as an alternative to the current required treatment. Commercial consignments of fresh cherimoya fruit are currently authorized entry into all ports of the United States from Chile subject to a mandatory soapy water and wax treatment. The systems approach includes requirements for production site registration, low pest prevalence area certification, post-harvest processing, and inspection at the packinghouse. The fruit will also be required to be imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the consignment was produced in accordance with the regulations. Fresh cherimoya fruit that does not meet the conditions of the systems approach or is imported into locations outside the continental United States will continue to be allowed to be imported into the United States subject to the current soapy water and wax treatment. This will allow for the importation of fresh cherimoya fruit from Chile while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests into the continental United States.  [Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 61, Thursday, 29 March 2018 pp. 13375-13378]

This document announces the Agency's receipt of several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of several pesticides in or on various commodities.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is notifying the public of its decision to supplement the requirements governing the importation of fresh sweet orange, grapefruit, mandarin, clementine, and tangerine fruit from Colombia into the United States and are requesting public comment on these changes. APHIS has determined that, in order to mitigate the current pest risks posed by the importation of these commodities from Colombia into the United States, it is necessary to supplement the phytosanitary requirements now in place with additional requirements. This action will help to protect the United States against plant pests while allowing the resumption of imports of fresh sweet orange, grapefruit, mandarin, clementine, and tangerine fruit from Colombia, which were suspended in 2016 due to the discovery of new plant pests in South America. (Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 25, Tuesday 6 February 2018, page 5179-5181)

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fluopicolide in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. In addition, this regulation removes several previously established tolerances that are superseded by this final rule.

This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of trinexapac-ethyl in or on poppy, seed.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of kasugamycin in or on the cherry subgroup 12-12A and walnut.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the regulations governing the importation of plants for planting by authorizing the importation of Campanula spp. plants for planting from Denmark in approved growing media into the United States, subject to a systems approach. The systems approach will include measures that are currently specified in the regulations as generally applicable to all plants for planting authorized importation into the United States in approved growing media. This action will allow for the importation of Campanula spp. plants for planting from Denmark in approved growing media, while providing protection against the introduction of plant pests.

In response to requests from industry and consumer groups, FSIS is extending the comment period by 30 days for the Federal Register proposed rule, "Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection" (83 FR 4780, 1 February 2018). The original deadline to submit comments was 2 April 2018; the new deadline to submit comments is 2 May 2018. As FSIS explained in the proposed rule, FSIS has proposed to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to establish a new inspection system for market hog slaughter establishments that provides public health protection at least equivalent to the existing inspection system. Market hog slaughter establishments that do not choose to operate under the new swine inspection system may continue to operate under their existing inspection system. The Agency also proposed several changes to the regulations that would affect all establishments that slaughter swine, regardless of the inspection system under which they operate or the age, size, or class of swine. These proposed changes would allow all swine slaughter establishments to develop sampling plans that are more tailored to their specific operations and thus be more effective in monitoring their specific process control. These proposed changes also would ensure that before the start of slaughter operations, food-contact surfaces are sanitary and free of enteric pathogens. The proposed rule can be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/c17775a2-fd1f4c11-b9d2-5992741b0e94/2016-0017.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Comments on the rule may be submitted online via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, available at http://www.regulations.gov; by mail sent to Docket Clerk, US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza III, Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700; or by hand or courier delivery to Patriots Plaza III, 355 E St. SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700. All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2016-0017.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of quizalofop ethyl in or on field corn forage, grain, and stover.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of quizalofop ethyl in or on the commodities wheat germ and milled by-products, and increases the tolerances in or on wheat forage, hay, and straw.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend the egg products inspection regulations by requiring official plants that process egg products (herein also referred to as "egg products plants'' or "plants'') to develop and implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) and to meet other sanitation requirements consistent with the meat and poultry regulations. FSIS is proposing to eliminate those current regulatory provisions that are inconsistent with HACCP, Sanitation SOPs, and the proposed sanitation requirements. FSIS is also proposing to specify in the regulations that official plants are required to process egg products to be edible without additional preparation to achieve food safety.  In addition, FSIS is proposing to: Provide for generic approval as part of the prior label approval system for egg products; make changes to labeling requirements for shell eggs consistent with those in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) regulations; require special handling instructions on egg products; eliminate the requirements for prior approval by FSIS of egg products plant drawings, specifications, and equipment; incorporate egg products plants into the coverage of the ‘‘Rules of Practice'' that the Agency follows when initiating administrative enforcement actions; and change the Agency's interpretation of the requirement for continuous inspection in agency law.  FSIS is also announcing that it is seeking public comment on draft guidance designed to help small and very small plants producing egg products to meet the new regulatory requirements being proposed in this rulemaking. Should the rule become final, FSIS intends to finalize this guidance.