. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/500
10 September 2001
(01-4245)
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:  Animal disease
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Change in Disease  Status of Japan
With Regard to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (3 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to
amend the regulations to add Japan to the list of regions that are considered free of
rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease.  We are taking this action because we have
determined that Japan is now free of foot-and-mouth disease.  We are also proposing to addJapan to the list of regions that are subject to certain restrictions because of their proximity
to or trading relationships with rinderpest- or foot-and-mouth disease- affected countries.
These actions would update the disease status of Japan with regard to foot-and-mouth
disease while continuing to protect the United States from an introduction of rinderpest and
foot-and-mouth disease by providing additional requirements for any meat and meat
products imported into the United States from Japan
6. Objective and rationale: [     ] 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 [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  This proposal is consistent with the
International Animal  Health Code of the OIE, Articles 2.1.1.2 and 2.1.1.6.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  66 FR 46228, 4
September 2001 (available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determinedG/SPS/N/USA/500
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  APHIS invites you to comment.  We will consider all comments
that we receive by 5 November 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:  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
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: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] 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 BuildingStop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
     E-mail Address:ofsts@fas.usda.gov