Aug 1, 2017APHIS seeks comments on apple Malus cuttings’ proposal
The Pacific Northwest fruit tree industry has asked USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to remove dormant live apple (Malus spp.) cuttings from the Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis (NAPPRA) list.
APHIS conducted a pest risk assessment (PRA) to examine plant pest risks associated with importing commercially produced dormant live apple (Malus spp.) cuttings for planting from the European Union countries of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands into the continental United States and Alaska.
The PRA is available for public review and comment until Aug. 30.
To view the PRA, go here to APHIS Stakeholder Risk Assessment Consultation web page.
Comments should be submitted by email your comments by email here. APHIS is accepting comments for 30 days. All comments will be considered and may result in changes to the pest risk assessment.
Draft risk assessments available for comment
Stakeholder risk assessment consultation allows stakeholders to review and provide comments on draft risk assessments or pest lists for fruits, vegetables, plants, or plant products for a 30-day period prior to the country consultation process. As draft risk assessments and pest lists are made available for comment.
How to Submit Comments
Comments should be submitted here. Respondents must include the name of the commodity assessed by the draft document (examples: apples, spruce trees) in the Subject line of their emailed comment.
Comments will be considered and may result in changes to the risk assessments or pest lists. However, APHIS is unable to provide individual feedback regarding comments comment. When providing comments, please note:
- Interested parties will not find mitigations for pests shown in draft pest lists and risk assessments. Risk Management, including mitigation’s, is conducted after the receipt of stakeholder and country comments on each pest list or risk assessment.
- There will be additional opportunities to provide comments on our risk assessments or pest lists when the respective proposed rules or notices are available for comment in the Federal Register.