. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/331
19 September 2000
(00-3721)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible: Environmental Protection Agency – EPA
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Pesticides
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition
to Amend an Exemption From Tolerance for a Certain Pesticide Chemical in or on Food -
Dimethylpolysiloxane (3 pages)
5. Description of content:  This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition
proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of a certain pesticide chemical in or
on various food commodities.
EPA has received a pesticide petition proposing, pursuant to section 408(d) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d), to amend 40 CFR part
180.1001(c) to amend the existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for
dimethylpolysiloxane in or on the raw agricultural commodities when used as an inert
ingredient in pesticide formulations which were applied to the growing crop and/or after
harvest. EPA has determined that the petition contains data or information regarding the
elements set forth in section 408(d)(2) of th e FFDCA; however, EPA has not fully evaluated
the sufficiency of the submitted data at this time or whether the data supports granting of thepetition. Additional data may be needed before EPA rules on the petition.
The Agency has established a set of criteria which identifies categories of polymers that
present low risk. These criteria (described in 40 CFR 723.250) identify polymers that are
relatively unreactive and stable compounds compared to other chemical substances as well
as polymers that typically are not readily absorbed. These properties generally limitpolymer's ability to cause adverse effects. The Agency believes that polymers meeting the
criteria noted above will present minimal or no risk. The petitioner summary reviews how
dimethylpolysiloxane conforms to the definition of polymer given in 40 CFR 723.250(b)
and meets the criteria that are used to identify low risk polymers.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [    ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           G/SPS/N/USA/331
Page 2
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  There are no CODEX Maximum Residue
Limits established for dimethylpolysiloxane in/on any crop commodities at this time.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 55240,
13 September 2000 (Available in English).
9. Proposed date of adoption: To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  13 October 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: Environmental Protection Agency
[    ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Detailed instruction on where
and how to send comments is in the body of the full text - which will be sent upon requestto the address in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
United States SPS Enquiry Point/Notification Authority
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture BuildingStop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov