WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/USA/95
29October 1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-4743)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: UNITED STATES
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Department ofAgriculture, Animal andPlant Health Inspection
Service (95)
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Imported
tomatoes
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Importation ofTomatoes From
France, Morocco andWestern Sahara, Chile, andSpain (available inEnglish, 9pages)
5. Description ofcontent: TheAnimal andPlant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
proposing toamend theregulations governing fruits andvegetables toallow tomatoes
from France, Morocco andWestern Sahara, andChile tobeimported intothe
United States subject tocertain conditions. Theproposed action would provide
importers andconsumers intheUnited States withadditional sources oftomatoes,
while continuing toprovide protection against theintroduction anddissemination of
injurious plant pests. APHIS isalsoproposing toamend theregulations pertaining to
importation oftomatoes from Spain byrequiring containers ofpinkorredtomatoes to
besealed before shipment ifthecontainer willtransit anyother fruitflysupporting
areas while enroute totheUnited States, andbyrequiring records tobekeptby
Spain'splant protection service regarding trapping practices andfruitflycaptures.
These actions appear necessary toprevent theintroduction ofexotic fruitfliesintothe
United States.
6. Objective andrationale: Plant health
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations: APHIS istaking thisaction inaccordance withArticle 6,
Paragraph 1oftheInternational Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: 62FR53761,
16October 1997; 7CFR Parts 300and319
./.G/SPS/N/USA/95
Page2
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Tobedetermined
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: Theeffective datewillbegiven upon publication of
theFinal RuleintheFederal Register
11. Final date forcomments: 15December 1997
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments: Animal andPlant Health Inspection
Service, USDA
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:
United States SPSEnquiry Point:
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F.Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax(202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: wilsonc@fas.usda.gov