Mediterranean Fruit Fly; Removal of Quarantined Areas

We are amending the Mediterranean fruit fly regulations by removing the quarantined areas in Highlands and Manatee Counties, FL, from the list of quarantined areas. The quarantines were necessary to prevent the spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly to noninfested areas of the United States. There have been no new detections of the Mediterranean fruit fly in these areas since August 10, 1998, and we have, therefore, determined that restrictions on the intrastate and interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas are no longer necessary. As a result of this action, there are no longer any areas quarantined for the Mediterranean fruit fly in the State of Florida. This action also relieves unnecessary restrictions on the intrastate and interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas.