. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/480
31 July 2001
(01-3803)
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 - APHIS
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable). Solid wood packing materials   Regions or countries likely to be affected, to
the extent relevant or practicable:  China
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Export Certification; Canadian
Solid Wood Packing Materials Exported From the United States to China (4 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
amending the export certification regulations for the certification of softwood (coniferous)
packing materials used with goods exported from the United States to China.  Prior to this
interim rule, the packing materials had to be certified as having been heat treated in theUnited States.  We are allowing certification of packing materials that were heat treated in
Canada if that treatment is certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to meet
requirements established by the Government of the People's Republic of China.  This
change is necessary to facilitate the exportation to China of the large volume of United
States goods that is shipped using Canadian-origin coniferous solid wood packing
materials.  This change will affect persons who use coniferous solid wood packing
materials to export goods from the United States to the People's Republic of China.
6. Objective and rationale: [    ] food safety,  [    ] animal health,  [  X ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [    ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  APHIS is taking this action in accordance with
Article 6, paragraph 1 of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  66 FR 37114,
17 July 2001 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  This interim rule is effective 11 July 2001.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  This interim rule is effective 11 July 2001.G/SPS/N/USA/480
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  APHIS will consider all comments received by
17 September 2001.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [    ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:  Detailed instructions on where and how to send comments is in
the body of the full text - which will be sent upon request to the address in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
United States SPS Enquiry Point/Notification Authority
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov