WORLD TRADE G/SPS/GN/4
18October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4368)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
ELEMENTS OFTHE USFOOD QUALITY PROTECTION ACT OF1996
RELATING TOTHE IMPLEMENTATION OFTHE SPSAGREEMENT
Statement made bytheUnited States
atthemeeting of8-9October 1996
TheUnited States would liketoadvise theCommittee ofanumber ofelements oftheFood
Quality Protection Act(FQPA) of1996 pertaining toourimplementation oftheSPSAgreement. In
particular, wecalltheCommittee 'sattention tonewlegislative provisions applying totheestablishment
ofmaximum residue limits (MRLs) forpesticides infood. These provisions ensure bothadherence
totheSPSAgreement andthecontinuation ofhighlevels ofprotection forUSconsumers.
TheUnited States hopes thatthepresentation ofthisinformation willhelpMembers tobetter
understand theUSSPSregime andwillalsobeofinterest andassistance inMembers 'ownefforts
tofullyimplement theAgreement. Wewelcome Members 'comments orquestions.
Implementation
TheFQPA of1996wasenacted on3August 1996. Wearenowintheprocess ofimplementing
thenewlawfully, andwillbegladtorespond toanyquestions Members mayhaveastothecontent
andtiming ofnewregulatory measures. While theFQPA tookeffect onenactment, allexisting US
tolerances andresidue limits willremain ineffect untilre-evaluated. Thiswillensure asmooth transition
forbothtraders andregulators. Following isabriefdescription ofsome ofthekeyprovisions that
maybeofinterest toMembers.
Uniform standards forpesticides
TheFQPA establishes aconsistent, health-based levelofprotection forpesticide residues in
bothrawandprocessed food. UStolerances, orMRLs, havealways applied equally toimported and
domestically-produced foods. While inthepast,someprocessed foods weresubject todifferent statutory
provisions, thenewlawensures thatasingle standard willapply equally topesticide residues indifferent
foodproducts, bothrawandprocessed. Thenewlegislation applies immediately toallnewpesticide
tolerances. Italsorequires thatallexisting tolerances (there aremore than9,000) bereviewed over
atenyearperiod toensure fullcompliance withthenewrequirements. Existing tolerances willremain
ineffect untilre-evaluated.
Transparency
TheFQPA ensures greater transparency intheestablishment ofUSpesticide residue limits.
Itrequires, forexample, thatadetailed summary ofalltolerance petitions bemade public andthat
eachtolerance decision specifically address thenewlegalstandards, including special protections for
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infants andchildren. Asalways, decisions willbenotified, when appropriate, through SPSprocedures
andwillbeopentoMembers 'comments.
TheUSEnvironmental Protection Agency 's(EPA) firsttolerance decision under thenewlaw
waspublished inourFederal Register earlylastmonth. Thedecision establishes MRLs forpyridaben
inapple andapple pomace. Aswithallsuchdecisions, itisaccessible overtheInternet.1TheFederal
Register document outlines theriskassessment performed andtheprocess bywhich EPAdetermined
thattherequirements oftheFQPA were met.
Useofinternational standards
TheFQPA specifically requires thatUSregulatory authorities takeinternational pesticide
standards (MRLs established bytheCodex Alimentarius Commission) intoaccount when establishing
national pesticide tolerances. TheUnited States willpublish notice forpublic comment explaining
anydifferences frominternational standards. Thesystematic consideration ofinternational standards
willpromote international harmonization, while maintaining highlevels ofprotection forUSconsumers.
Tolerances forpesticides notregistered foruseintheUnited States
Under theFQPA, theUnited States willcontinue itspolicy ofsetting tolerances forpesticide
residues inimported food, evenifthepesticide isnotregistered foruseintheUnited States. Forthis
tobedone, however, concerned exporters mustprovide sufficient datatoestablish thatthenewlaw's
stringent foodstandards arefullymet.
Forthefirsttime,theFQPAalsorequiresUSregulatoryauthoritiestosettime-limitedtolerances
forpesticides that,while notfullyregistered intheUnited States, maybeusedunder anemergency
exemption granted toparticular states orfederal agencies under Section 18oftheFederal Insecticide,
Fungicide, andRodenticide Act.These temporary tolerances, which mustbeconsistent withtheFQPA,
willapply equally tobothimported anddomestically-produced foodproducts.
Uniform application atthesub-Federal level
Inmost cases, theFQPA requires uniformity inpesticide residue standards setbystates, if
theFederal safety determinations havebeenmade under thenewlaw. Inthepast, Members have
expressed concerns thateachoftheUSstates might setdifferent tolerances. Inourview, however,
suchconcerns aremore theoretical thanreal,sincepesticides tolerances setatthestatelevelhaverarely
differed significantly from those established attheFederal level.
1EPA'sInternet URL is"http://www.epa.gov." TheFQPA home pagemaybeaccessed directly
at"http://www.epa.gov/opppspsl/fqpa/index.html."