. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/340
3 October 2000
(00-4024)
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:  Pesticides
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Notice of Filing a Pesticide
Petitions to Establish a Tolerance for Certain Pesticide Chemicals in or on Food -
Avermectin - Abamectin (6 pages)
5. Description of content:  This notice announces the initial filing of pesticide petitions
proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of  certain pesticide chemicals in or
on various food commodities.
EPA has received two pesticide petitions pr oposing, pursuant to section 408(d) of the
FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(d), to amend 40 CFR part 180 by establishing tolerances for
residues of the insecticide, avermectin (a mixture of avermectins containing greater than or
equal to 80% avermectin B1a (5-O-demethyl aver mectin A1) and less than or equal to 20%
avermectin B1b (5-O-demethyl-25-de(1-methylethyl) avermectin A1)) and its delta
8,9-isomer in or on the food commodities at the tolerance level as follows:
1. The first petitioner proposes the establishment of a tolerance for celeriac (roots and
tops) at 0.05 parts per million (ppm).
2. The second petitioner proposes the establishment of tolerances for avocado at 0.02
ppm, grass forage at 0.001 ppm, grass hay at 0.001 ppm, stone fruit crop group at
0.015 ppm, mint tops at 0.01 ppm, tree nut crop group and pistachios at 0.005 ppm,
and the tuberous and corm vegetables crop subgroup at 0.005 ppm.
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 [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  There are no abamectin Codex maximum
residue levels for avocados, celeriac, grass forage, grass hay, stone fruit, mint, tree nut crop
group, pistachios and tuberous and corm vegetables crop subgroup.G/SPS/N/USA/340
Page 2
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 58080,
27 September 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:  27 October 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 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