APHIS Asks for Comments on Info Collections for Amending Import Regs, Cactus, Peppers

1. Requirements for Request to Amend Import Regulations

APHIS has established regulations governing the submission of requests for changes in its regulations that restrict the importation of plants, plant parts, and products. APHIS will collect required information to properly consider requests and to help insure that the information required to prepare a risk analysis and/or other analyses that evaluate the risks and other effects associated with a final ruling to change a regulation. This process requires the use of collecting information about the requestor, information about the commodity to be imported, shipping information, a description of pests and diseases associated with the commodity, risk mitigation or management strategies, and additional information as determined by APHIS to complete a pest risk analysis in accordance with international standards. APHIS estimates that this information collection will take 37 respondents a total of 2,960 burden hours to complete.

2. Importation of Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus from Netherlands & Denmark

Christmas cactus and Easter cactus established in growing media are now allowed to be imported into the U.S. from the Netherlands and Denmark under certain conditions. The APHIS requires a phytosanitary certificate and a declaration saying the plants were grown in accordance with specific conditions, an agreement between APHIS and the plant protection services of the country where the plants are grown, and an agreement between the foreign plant protection service and the grower. The information is used as a guide to the intensity of the inspection that APHIS must conduct when the shipment arrives. APHIS estimates that this information collection will take 20 respondents a total of 120 burden hours to complete.

3. Importation of Peppers from Korea

APHIS amended the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of peppers from the Republic of Korea under certain conditions. As a condition of entry, the peppers would have to be grown in approved insect-proof, pest-free greenhouses and packed in pest-exclusionary packinghouses. Each shipment of pepper from the Republic of Korea must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate of inspection with a declaration issued by the National Plant Quarantine Service of Korea officials stating the peppers were grown in greenhouses in accordance with the regulations in 7 CFR 319-56-42 and found free of certain plant pests. Failing to collect this information would cripple APHIS’ ability to ensure that peppers from Korea are not carrying plant pests and would cause millions of dollars in damage to U.S. agriculture. APHIS estimates this information collection will take one respondent (the Korean government) a total of three hours to complete.

Comments Requested on Ways to Minimize Burden, Etc.

APHIS is asking for comments on these three information collections, to address (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimates of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automatic, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.