RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/USA/40
8May1996
ORGANIZATION
(96-1816)
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
3. Products covered (tariff itemnumber(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited
withtheWTO. ICSnumbers maybeprovided inaddition, where applicable):
Imported fruits andvegetables
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Importation ofFruits and
Vegetables (6pages)
5. Description ofcontent: TheAgency proposes toallow, under certain conditions, the
coldtreatment ofimported fruitupon arrival attheports ofSeattle, Washington,
Atlanta, Georgia, andGulfport, Mississipi. APHIS hasdetermined thatthere are
biological barriers atthese ports that,along withcertain safeguards, would prevent the
introduction offruitfliesandother insect pests intotheUnited States intheunlikely
event thattheyescape from shipments offruitbefore undergoing coldtreatment. We
arealsoproposing torequire thatcoldtreatment facilities attheportofWilmington,
North Carolina, remain locked during non-working hours. These actions would
facilitate theimportation offruitrequiring coldtreatment while continuing toprovide
protection against theintroduction offruitfliesandother insect pests intotheUnited
States.
6. Objective andrationale: Plant health
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation doesnotexist[].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever
possible, identify deviations: FAO Guidelines citedinAnnex 2oftheInternational
Standards forPhytosanitary Measures, Section 1,Import Regulations, Part3.1,risk
management options, treatment atpoint oforigin orpoint ofentry, provides for
elaboration oftreatment regimes which would include coldtreatment.
8. Relevant documents: 61FR18690, 29April 1996; 7CFR Part319
./.G/SPS/N/USA/40
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9. Proposed dateofadoption andentry intoforce: Theeffective datewillbegiven
upon publication ofthefinalruleintheFederal Register.
10. Final dateforcomments: 28June1996
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress andtelefax number of
other body:
USDA/FAS/OFSTS
Attn: Carolyn F.Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
14thandIndependence
Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel: (202) 720-2239
Fax: (202) 690-0677