. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/532
4 January 2002
(02-0048)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service – APHIS
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Clementines   Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent
relevant or practicable:  Spain
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Suspension of Imports of
Clementines from Spain (2 pages)
5. Description of content:  USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
suspended imports of clementines from Spain effective November 30, 2001.  This action
was taken because live Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) larvae were found in cold-treated
Spanish clementine fruit in several food stores throughout the United States.  At this time,clementines from Spain are not allowed entry into the United States.
The Medfly (Ceratitis capitata) is one of the world's most destructive agricultural pests,
threatening more than 250 kinds of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.  The female Medfly attacks
ripening fruit, piercing the soft skin and laying eggs in the puncture.  The eggs hatch into
larvae, which feed inside the fruit pulp.  The United States has no established Medfly
populations.
6. Objective and rationale:  [     ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  This action is necessary to prevent introduction of the
Medfly into the United States.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  This action is in accordance with the principles
related to emergency action of the IPPC's International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures
– Number One.G/SPS/N/532
Page 2
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Letter to
Stakeholders from Richard L. Dunkle, Deputy Administrator, Plant Protection and
Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA, dated 5 December 2001.
(Available in English.)
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  30 November 2001
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[ 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 Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel:   (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov