. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/238
15 March 2000
(00-1055)
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).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Livestock
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Livestock Identification; American
Identification Numbering System (2 pages)
5. Description of content:  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published an
advance notice of proposed rulemaking soliciting public comment on our intent to recognize
the American Identification Numbering System as a means of providing unique
identification for livestock on official eartags. The American Identification NumberingSystem is a universal numbering system. It can be used to identify an animal for many
purposes, including interstate and international movements, food safety, genetic evaluation,
and animal health purposes, thus reducing the need for multiple identification numbers and
devices. Recognizing this system would allow producers to use it for interstate movement of
livestock under our domestic regulations for disease control and eradication.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] 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 [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 11485,
3 March 2000;  9 CFR Parts 71, 77 and 78 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  The date of entry into force will be announced when
the final rule is published in the Federal Register.G/SPS/N/USA/238
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  2 May 2000.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA
.[    ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Detailed instruction 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 10271400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov