Importation of Strawberries, Currants, and Palms

We are adopting as a final rule, with changes, portions of an interim rule concerning the importation of strawberry, currant, and palm plants. This final rule will allow the importation of both of the Howea species of sentry palms into the United States from Australia (including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands) and from New Zealand, subject to certain conditions. This action will allow the importation of the Howea species of sentry palms without significant risk of introducing exotic palm diseases into the United States. We are still considering comments on the provisions of the interim rule concerning the importation of strawberry and currant plants and as yet have not decided whether to affirm or revise these provisions. We will do so in a separate Federal Register document.