. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/288
13 June 2000
(00-2322)
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, where applicable).
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Pesticides
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Pesticides; Guidance on Pesticide
Import Tolerances and Residue Data for Im ported Food; Request for Comment (22 pages)
5. Description of content:  This document provides detailed guidance on applying current US
data requirements for the establishment or continuance of tolerances for pesticide residues in
or on imported foods.  The purpose of this guidance is to promote greater transparency and
provide clear guidance to interested parties on how to obtain an import tolerance.  This
guidance includes information on how to adapt da ta requirements for US food uses to import
tolerances, both for establishing new import tolerances and for modifying or maintaining
existing US tolerances for import purposes when the US uses or registrations are cancelled.
The Agency is soliciting comments on the approach reflected in this detailed guidance.  In
addition, the Agency expects to consider certain information on pesticide use outside the
United States and resulting pesticide chemical residues in or on imported food to establish or
modify tolerances when there is a corresponding US registration and use. EPA may also
require additional information and/or data to better characterize the nature of residues in or onimports when such information and/or data are necessary to make the required safety finding
during registration, reregistration, or tolerance reassessment.  This would apply to a limited
number of cases when imported commodities comprise a high percentage of US consumption;
domestic residue data are not likely to be representative of growing conditions in other
countries; and US consumers would likely be exposed to significant residues in importedfoods.  The Agency is developing criteria to implement this requirement and is soliciting
comments. In addition to meeting the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA), this guidance
has been developed consistent with the goals of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), including minimizing trade irritants among the NAFTA countries.  This documentalso addresses the US obligations under the World Trade Organization Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
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           G/SPS/N/USA/288
Page 2
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 35069,
1 June 2000 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  31 June 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 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