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USDA/APHIS RIN: 0579-AB80 Publication ID: Spring 2007 
Title: Revision of Fruits and Vegetables Import Regulations  
Abstract: This rule would revise and reorganize the regulations pertaining to the importation of fruits and vegetables to consolidate requirements of general applicability and eliminate redundant requirements, update terms and remove outdated requirements and references, update the regulations that apply to importations into territories under U.S. administration, and make various editorial and nonsubstantive changes to regulations to make them easier to use. The rule would also make substantive changes to the regulations, including establishing criteria within the regulations that, if met, would allow us to approve certain new fruits and vegetables for importation into the United States and to acknowledge pest-free areas in foreign countries without undertaking rulemaking and doing away with the practice of listing specific commodities that may be imported subject to certain types of phytosanitary measures. These changes are intended to simplify and expedite our processes for approving certain new imports and pest-free areas while continuing to allow for public participation in the processes. If adopted, the rule would represent a significant structural revision of the fruits and vegetables import regulations and would establish a new process for approving certain new commodities for importation into the United States. It would not, however, allow the importation of any specific new fruits or vegetables, nor would it alter the conditions for importing currently approved fruits or vegetables except as specifically described in this document. 
Agency: Department of Agriculture(USDA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 7 CFR 305    7 CFR 319    7 CFR 352   
Legal Authority: 7 USC 450    7 USC 7701 to 7772    7 USC 7781 to 7786    7 USC 8311    21 USC 136 and 136a    31 USC 9701   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/27/2006  71 FR 25010   
NPRM Comment Period End  07/26/2006    
NPRM Comment Period Reopened  08/01/2006  71 FR 43385   
NPRM Comment Period End  08/25/2006    
Final Rule  07/00/2007    
Additional Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Donna L. West
Senior Import Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ
Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
4700 River Road, Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231
Phone:301 734-0627