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USDA/APHIS RIN: 0579-AD13 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: ●Hass Avocados From Mexico; Importation Into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Other Changes 
Abstract: This rulemaking amends the regulations governing the importation of fruits and vegetables to provide for the importation of Hass avocados from Mexico into Puerto Rico under the same systems approach currently required for the importation of Hass avocados into all States of the United States from Michoacán, Mexico. The systems approach requirements include trapping, orchard certification, limited production area, trace back labeling, pre-harvest orchard surveys for all pests, orchard sanitation, post-harvest safeguards, fruit cutting and inspection at the packinghouse, port-of-arrival inspection, and clearance activities. This action allows for the importation of Hass avocados from Michoacán, Mexico, into Puerto Rico while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests. In addition, this action amends the regulations to provide for the Mexican national plant protection organization to use an approved designee to inspect avocados for export and to suspend importation of avocados into the United States from Michoacán, Mexico, only from specific orchards or packinghouses when quarantine pests are detected, rather than suspending imports from the entire municipality where the affected orchards or packinghouses are located. These changes provide additional flexibility in operating the export program while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests. 
Agency: Department of Agriculture(USDA)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 7 CFR 319   
Legal Authority: 7 USC 450    7 USC 7701 to 7772    7 USC 7781 to 7786    21 USC 136 and 136a   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  05/14/2010  75 FR 27225   
NPRM Comment Period End  07/13/2010    
Final Rule  12/28/2010  75 FR 81372   
Final Rule Effective  12/28/2010    
Additional Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
International Impacts: This regulatory action will be likely to have international trade and investment effects, or otherwise be of international interest.
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
David Lamb
Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ
Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
4700 River Road, Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236
Phone:301 851-2103