. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/348
3 November 2000
(00-4651)
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:  Environmental Protection Agency - EPA
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  StarLink Corn Cry9C Bt Corn Plant-Pesticide
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Assessment of Scientific
Information Concerning StarLink Corn Cr y9C Bt Corn Plant-Pesticide (7 pages)
5. Description of content:  On 25 October 2000, Aventis CropScience (Aventis) submitted
new information in support of its petition (PP 9F5050) for an exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance for the genetically engineered "plant-pesticide'' materials in
StarLink corn.  These materials are the Bacillus thuringiensis  subsp. tolworthi  Cry9C
protein and the genetic material (DNA) necessary for the production of this protein. Whilethe original petition requested an exemption covering both the Cry9C DNA and Cry9C
protein in all food commodities, this submission limits the request only to foods made from
StarLink corn.  The Aventis submission specifically addresses the potential allergenicity of
the Cry9C protein that may be present in hum an food made from StarLink corn, a line of
genetically modified corn developed by Aventis.  This notice provides information on
Aventis' submission and outlines the US Envi ronmental Protection Agency's process for
seeking public comment on and external scientific review of the new information.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] 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 65246,
31 October 2000 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/348
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  27 November 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: Environmental Protection Agency
[    ] 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 requestto 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
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov