Final Rule: Importation of Fresh Andean Blackberry and Raspberry Fruit from Ecuador into the Continental United States (Docket # APHIS-2014-0085)

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh Andean blackberry and raspberry fruit from Ecuador into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, the fruit will have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that includes requirements for importation in commercial consignments from a pest free production site within a certified low pest prevalence area for fruit flies, and pest monitoring and trapping. The fruit will also have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Ecuador bearing an additional declaration stating that the consignment was produced and prepared for export in accordance with the requirements of the systems approach. This action will allow for the importation of fresh Andean blackberry and raspberry fruit from Ecuador while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests into the continental United States.

This notice is available in English at: https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0085-0010.

Federal Register/Vol. 81, No. 68/Friday, 8 April 2016/pgs. 20525-20528

On 24 April 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 22927-22930, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0085) a proposal to amend the regulations to allow importation of Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus Linnaeus) fruit into the continental United States from Ecuador subject to a systems approach. We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending 23 June 2015. We received five comments during the comment period.