G/SPS/N/USA/3136  
 
27 November 2019  
(19-8130) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  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 should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Tomato and pepper seeds, transplants, and fruit  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Federal Order for US I mports of tomato ( Solanum 
lycopersicum ) and pepper ( Capsicum  spp.) hosts of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus 
(ToBRFV) (DA -2019-01, 12 November 2019) . Language(s): English . Number of 
pages:  5 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder -info/SA_By_Date/2019/SA -
11/tomato -brown -rugose -fruit-virus 
6. Description of content:  Effective 22 November 2019, after issuance of this notice, the 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will restrict the importation 
of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and pepper ( Capsicum  spp.) hosts of Tomato br own 
rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). APHIS has determined it is necessary to restrict the 
importation of these plant species to prevent the introduction of ToBRFV into the United 
States of America.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal healt h, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  These interim 
measures are necessary to safeguard US tomat o and pepper production while APHIS fully 
evaluates emerging scientific evidence on ToBRFV.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or r elated text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  G/SPS/N/USA/3136  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
22 November 2019  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Dr Angela McMellen -Brannigan at +(301) 851 2314 or Angela.McMellen -
Brannigan@usda.gov  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail addres s (if available) of other body:   
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder -info/SA_By_Date/2019/SA -
11/tomato -brown -rugose -fruit-virus