. /. WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/USA/908 
3 June 2004 
 (04-2349) 
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:   US Department of Agriculture, Plant and Animal Health Inspection 
Service-APHIS 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Avocados 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Mexico  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Mexican Hass Avocado 
Program, English, Volume 69 Number 100 pp. 29466-29477 
www.aphis.usda. gov/ppd/rad/webrepor  
6. Description of content:   The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
proposing to amend the regulations governing th e importation of fruits and vegetables to 
expand the number of States in which fresh Hass  avocado fruit grown in approved orchards 
in approved municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico, may be distributed. APHIS is also proposing to allow the distribution of the avoca dos during all months of the year. To reflect 
these proposed changes, we would also make other changes in the regulations, such as 
removing restrictions on the ports through wh ich the avocados may enter the United States 
and the corridor through which the avocados must transit the United States. APHIS is 
proposing this action in response to a request from the Government of Mexico and based on its finding that the phytosanitary measures described in this proposed rule will reduce 
the risk of introducing plant pests associated with Mexican Hass avocados into the United 
States. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [   ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [   ] protec t territory from other 
damage from pests 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [ X ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:  
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  English 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   To be announced 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   To be announced G/SPS/N/USA/908 
Page 2  
 
 12. Final date for comments:  13 July 2004 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
ATTN:  Julie Morin 
Reference:  03-022-3 United States SPS Enquiry Point Officer 
Food Safety and Technical Services Division 
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Telephone:  202 720-4051, Fax:  202 720-7772 
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:    
ATTN:  Julie Morin 
United States SPS Enquiry Point Officer 
Food Safety and Technical Services Division 
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Telephone:  202 720-4051, Fax:  202 720-7772