. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/507
11 October 2001
(01-4977)
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:  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).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Plant pests.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Plant Pest Regulations;  Update of
Current provisions (19 pages).
5. Description of content: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing
to revise the regulations regarding the movement of plant pests by adding risk-based criteria
for determining the plant pest status of organisms, establishing a notification process that
could be used as an alternative to the current permitting system, providing for the
environmental release of organisms for the biological control of weeds, and updating the
text of the subpart. These proposed changes would clarify the factors that would be
considered when assessing the plant pest risks associated with certain organisms, facilitate
the importation and interstate movement of regulated organisms, and address gaps in the
current regulations.
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. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  This proposal is consistent with Article I of the
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  66 FR 51340,
9 October 2001 (available in English).
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/507
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  APHIS will consider all comments received by
10 December 2001.  Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National
notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail
address (if available) of other body:  APHIS will consider all comments received by
10 December 2001.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Detailed instruction on where and how to send comments is in the body of the full
text - which will be sent upon request to the address in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] 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/FSTSDATTN: Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250Tel:   (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address:ofsts@fas.usda.gov