WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/USA/80
15May1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-2030)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: UNITED STATES
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Department ofAgriculture, Animal andPlant Health Inspection
Service
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Potatoes
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Foreign potatoes (3pages)
5. Description ofcontent: TheAnimal andPlant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
proposing toamend theregulations concerning imported plants andplant products to
prohibit theimportation ofpotato tubers from Bermuda andtoprohibit theimportation
ofpotato plants from Newfoundland andaportion ofCentral Saanich, British
Columbia, Canada. These changes appear necessary toprevent theintroduction of
foreign potato diseases andinsect pests intotheUnited States. Wearealsoproposing
toreorganize andstreamline theregulations concerning theimportation ofpotatoes into
theUnited States. These changes would remove unnecessary regulations andrelieve
restrictions thatnolonger appear warranted.
6. Objective andrationale: Plant health
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: 62FR24849,
7May1997; 7CFR Parts 319,321and330
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Tobedetermined.
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: Theeffective datewillbegiven upon publication of
thefinalruleintheFederal Register.
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Page2
11. Final date forcomments: 7July1997
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments: Animal andPlant Health Inspection
Service, USDA
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:
United States SPSEnquiry Point
USDA/FAS/OFSTS
Attn: Carolyn F.Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
14thandIndependence
Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel: (202) 7202239
Fax: (202) 6900677
E-mail address: Wilsonc@fas.usda.gov