Importation of Fruits and Vegetables

SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our

proposed rule that would amend the regulations regarding the

importation of fruits and vegetables by allowing a number of previously

prohibited fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States

from certain parts of the world. This extension will provide interested

persons with additional time in which to prepare comments on the

proposed rule.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to written comments on Docket

No. 95-098-1 that are received on or before September 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to

Docket No. 95-098-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,

suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state

that your comments refer to Docket No. 95-098-1. Comments received may

be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and

Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect

comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate

entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Grosser, Senior Operations

Officer, Port Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 139,

Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8295.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 2, 1996, we published in the Federal

Register (61 FR 34379-34385, Docket No. 95-098-1) a proposal to amend

the regulations in 7 CFR parts 300 and 319 by allowing a number of

previously prohibited fruits and vegetables to be imported into the

United States from certain parts of the world. All of the fruits and

vegetables, as a condition of entry, would be subject to inspection,

disinfection, or both, at the port of first arrival as may be required

by a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector. In addition, some of the

fruits and vegetables would be required to undergo prescribed

treatments for injurious plant pests as a condition of entry, or to

meet other special conditions.

Comments on all portions of Docket No. 95-098-1 except the proposed

rule's information collection and recordkeeping requirements that are

subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act were required to be received on

or before August 1, 1996. By that date, we received two comments

requesting an extension of the comment period for the rule portion of

the proposed rule. These requests were made by a representative of

industry and a representative of State government.

In response to these requests, we are reopening and extending the

comment period on Docket No. 95-098-1 so that comments on any portion

of the proposed rule will be considered if we receive them by September

3, 1996. We believe that this action will allow the representatives

requesting extension of the comment period and all other interested

persons adequate opportunity to prepare and submit comments.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 151-167, 450, 2803, and

2809; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of August 1996.

Terry L. Medley,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 96-20920 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P