Mediterranean Fruit Fly; Quarantined Areas, Regulated Articles, Treatments

We are adopting as a final rule, with minor, nonsubstantive changes, interim rules that amended the Mediterranean fruit fly regulations. In a series of interim rules published in the Federal Register between June 1997 and October 1998, we amended the Mediterranean fruit fly regulations by establishing and removing quarantined areas in the State of Florida. Two of the interim rules also added a regulated article; added the use of irradiation as a treatment for berries, fruits, nuts, and vegetables that are regulated articles; and added a definition for core area. These actions were necessary on an emergency basis to prevent the spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly into noninfested areas of the continental United States, and to provide an additional option for qualifying regulated articles for movement from quarantined areas.