. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/140
8 December 1998
(98-4896)
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
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited
with the WTO.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Horses
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:   Horses From Australia and New
Zealand;  Quarantine Requirements
5. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
proposing to amend the regulations regarding the importation of horses to exempt horses
imported from Australia and New Zealand from testing for dourine and glanders during the
quarantine period.  APHIS believes this action is warranted because neither country hasever had a reported case of dourine, New Zealand has never had a reported case of glanders,
and Australia has not had a reported case of glanders since 1891. It appears that horses
imported from Australia and New Zealand would pose a negligible risk of introducing
dourine and glanders into the United States.
6. Objective and rationale:  Animal health
7. An international standard, guidelin e or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or  recommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:   This action is in accordance with international standards set by the
Office international des épizooties.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 63 FR 65712,
30 November 1998 (available in English, 3 pages);  9 CFR Part 93.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  The date of entry into force will be announced when
the final rule is published in the Federal Register.G/SPS/N/USA/140
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  29 January 1999
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:   Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA
12. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telefax number and
E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
United States SPS Enquiry Point
USDA/FAS/FSTSDAttn: : Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov