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Home My WebLink AboutRES 532 Draft 01 1988-1992COUNTY OF HAWA11 STATE OF HAWAII f. RESOLUTION N0. 532 g2 REQUESTING THE ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, USDA, TO AMEND ITS PROPOSED RULES TO ALLOW IMPORTATION OF HAWAII FRUITS AND VEGETABLES INTO THE UNITED STATES UNDER LESS RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS WHEREAS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, at the request of various importers and foreign ministries of agriculture, is proposing to allow the importation of previously prohibited fruits and vegetables from certain parts of the world; and WHEREAS, the proposed rules provide that okra, produced in the South American country of Suriname, may be imported into Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and any part of Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia south of the 38th parallel, except during the period from December 1 through May 15, when host material necessary to sustain an infestation of the pink bollworm is not available; and WHEREAS, under the proposed rules, certain fruits and vegetables required to be treated for fruit flies would be restricted to North Atlantic ports of arrival where climatic conditions are not conducive to fruit flies becoming established pests; and WHEREAS, the proposed rules further provides the precaution of prohibiting the movement of the fruits and vegetables into areas of the United States where fruit flies could become established, and requires labeling that the fruit are "... 'not for distribution' in these areas"; and WHEREAS, many of Hawaii's fruits and vegetables can be imported to North Atlantic states during cold weather periods when necessary host materials are not available; and WHEREAS, similar labeling requirements and prohibitions of the movement of Hawaii fruits and vegetables into areas of the United States where fruit flies could become established can be imposed; and WHEREAS, Hawaiian agriculture will greatly benefit from an amendment to the rules proposed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Hawaii, that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is requested to update the list of enterable fruits and vegetables and to amend the rule proposed on June 15, 1992 (7 CFR Parts 300 and 319, Docket No. 88-143-1) to allow the importation of Hawaii fruits and vegetables, during cold weather months, into northern states where climatic conditions are unsuitable for the survival of fruit flies; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit certified copies of this Resolution to the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA; Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA; the Honorable John D. Waihee, Governor of the State of Hawaii; and the Hawaii congressional delegation. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 21st day of October 1992. INTRODUCED BY: COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on October 21 . 1992 ATTEST: C C RK CHAIRM~ & RESIDING OFFICER COUN ILMEMBER, UNT HAWAII ROLL CALL VOTE AYES NOES ABS EX ARAKAKI DE LIMA X DOMIIJGO X HALE X A N Z =~ LAI X MAKUAKANE RUDDLE SCHUTCE ~~ 6 0 0 Reference RESOLUTION NO. S.3Z 92 SPENCER K. SCHUTTE ~~airman & Presiding Officer BRIAN J. DE LIMA Vice-~~'hairman October 5, 1992 COLI,'~`rY COLI,\CIL County o} Hawaii Hawaii Caurrtu Building 25 Auyuni Streef Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Council Chairman Spencer K. Schutte Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Ennl>; r'. .aL,or~zo JAMES Y. ARAKAKI TAKASHI DOMINGO HELENE H. HALE ROBERT H. MAKUAKANE HARRY S. RUDDLE ""E?LE K. LAI 0 T T_ ~~ 7 ~ ,n a c x CG N O CJ -{ {'~ -T^ ~~ rn Re: Resolution requesting the animal and plant health inspection service, USDA, to amend its proposed rules to allow importation of Hawaii fruits and vegetables into the United States under less restrictive conditions Pursuant to Section 1(d) of Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the County of Hawaii, this written approval is submitted in regards to Resolution No. 532 , relating to the request of the USDA to amend its proposed rules allowing importation of Hawaii fruits and vegetables into the United States under less restrictive conditions, waiving said referral from the Committee on Planning in order that appropriate action can be taken by the Council. In reviewing the contents of the referral, it is deemed advisable that such waiver be granted. ~~~ Takashi Dom'ngo, C Committee on Plann Approved: cman uncil Chairman Spencer K. Schutte ROBIN J. YAHIKU County Clerk OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 15 Aupuni Strret Hilo, Hawaii %720 October 29, 1992 Mr. Edward R. Madigan Department of Agriculture Office of the Secretary 14th and Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20250 ROBERTS. SHfOII Deputy County Clerk HARRY A.TAKAHASHI Legislatioe Auditor On behalf of the Hawaii County Council, it is my pleasure to transmit the attached Resolution No. 532-92 which was adopted on October 21, 1992. Robin Yahiku Co~ Clerk Att. RJY/hkd Also sent to: Mr. Robert Melland, Administrator Governor John D. 4daihee Animal & ??lant Health Inspection Svcs. State Off ice Tower Dent. of Agriculture 235 South Ber et~nia Street 14th and Independence Avenue cTq Honolulu, uI 96813 Pashington, D.C. 20250 (See back for more) ~a~a ~ United States Department of ~ Agriculture Animal and Plant P.O. Box 96464 Health Inspection Washington, DC Service 20090-6464 November 20, 1992 Ms. Robin J. Yahiku County Clerk Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Ms. Yahiku: '92 NUS 25 r'1`i ~ `i9 r. oFflc;= .i ~I~~, ~cl:.. , .., ,..,,v,,il Thank you for your letters of October 29, 1992, to Secretary Madigan and me transmitting Resolution No. 532-92, which was adopted by the Hawaii County Council. our Agency has always been supportive of relieving restrictions on the movement of fruits and vegetables from Hawaii to the mainland when there is no risk to mainland agriculture. However, we do not believe the safeguards proposed in the resolution regarding limiting the distribution of Hawaiian fruit fly host materials on the mainland would eliminate the serious risk involved. As a result, we do not believe it would be prudent for us to propose a regulatory change at this time. Furthermore, the intent of the proposed rule mentioned in the resolution is to alleviate restrictions on the importation into the United States of previously prohibited fruits and vegetables from foreign sources that no longer pose a threat to U.S. agriculture. Therefore, this proposal could not be amended to include Hawaii. As you know, Hawaii is unique in that it has pests that do not occur on the mainland that could cause serious agricultural problems if introduced. Fruit fly outbreaks on the mainland are financially and agriculturally devastating to consumers and producers, and we hope you can understand our hesitation to propose regulations that could increase the risk of this pest's introduction. Sincerely, Robert Melland Administrator APHIS-Proleclinq American Agriculture