RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/USA/15/Rev.1*
ORGANIZATION 12September 1995
(95-2639)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: UNITED STATES
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Department ofAgriculture (15)
3. Products covered (tariff itemnumber(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited
withtheWTO. ICSnumbers maybeprovided inaddition, where applicable):
Genetically engineered plants
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Genetically Engineered
Organisms andProducts; Simplification ofRequirements andProcedures for
Genetically Engineered Organisms (7pages)
5. Description ofcontent: Thisdocument proposes toamend theregulations pertaining
togenetically engineered plants introduced under notification procedures (assetoutin
Federal Register atFCR 340.3) andtotheprocess forpetition forthedetermination of
non-regulated status (assetoutinFederal Register atCFR 340.6). Theproposed
notification amendments would allow most genetically engineered plants thatare
considered regulated articles tobeintroduced under thenotification procedure,
provided thattheintroduction meets certain eligibility criteria andperformance
standards. TheDepartment isalsoproposing toreduce thefieldtestreporting
requirements fortrials conducted under notification forwhich nounexpected oradverse
effects areobserved. TheDepartment intends touseguidelines when appropriate to
provide additional information todevelopers ofregulated articles andother interested
persons regarding procedures, methods, scientific principles, andother factors that
could beconsidered insupport ofactions under theregulations pertaining togenetically
engineered plants introduced under notification.
6. Objective andrationale: Tosimplify procedures.
*English only
./.G/SPS/N/USA/15/Rev.1
Page2
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation doesnotexist[X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever
possible, identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents: 60FR43567, 22August 1995; 7CFR Part340. Willappear
intheFederal Register when adopted.
9. Proposed dateofadoption andentry intoforce: Tobedetermined.
10. Final dateforcomments: 23October 1995
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X]oraddress andtelefax number
ofother body: