Washington, DC
April 29, 2002

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its Karnal bunt regulations through an interim rule to prohibit grain grown in an area regulated for the fungus to be used as seed outside the regulated area.

Also, APHIS will no longer require that wheat seed, durum wheat seed and triticale that originates within a regulated area be treated with a fungicide before it may be planted within a regulated area.

This immediate action is necessary to prevent the artificial spread of Karnal bunt to fields outside the regulated area by prohibiting the use of seed produced in regulated areas in those fields and will remove a treatment requirement that APHIS determined is not necessary.

Karnal bunt is caused by the smut fungus Tilletia indica. It is primarily spread by spores and through the movement of infected or contaminated seed. While the fungus does not threaten human health, flour made from heavily infected wheat has an unpleasant odor and taste, jeopardizing its marketability.

For more technical information, contact Robert Spaide, staff officer, surveillance and emergency programs planning and coordination, plant protection and quarantine, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 134, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1236; (301) 734-7819.

This interim rule was effective April 25 and is scheduled for publication in the April 30 Federal Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments postmarked, commercially delivered or e-mailed on or before July 1. Please send an original and three copies of postal or comercial delivery comments to Docket No. 01-118-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comments must be contained in the body of the message, do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the message and use the Docket No. 01-118-1 on the subject line.

Comments received may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahea
on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.