. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/438
9 May 2001
(01-2384)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
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).  Ruminants and their products   Regions or countries likely to be affected, to
the extent relevant or practicable:  Germany, Italy and Spain
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Change in Disease Status of
Germany, Italy, and Spain because of BSE (2 pages)
5. Description of content:  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA is amending
the regulations by adding Germany, Italy, and Spain to the list of regions where Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy exists because the disease has been detected in native-born
animals in those regions.  Germany, Italy, and Spain are currently listed among the regionsthat present an undue risk of introducing Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy into the
United States.  Therefore, the effect of this action is a continued restriction on the
importation of ruminants that have been in Germany, Italy, or Spain and meat, meat
products, and certain other products of ruminants that have been in Germany, Italy, or
Spain.  This action is necessary in order to update the disease status of Germany, Italy, and
Spain regarding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
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. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  This rulemaking is necessary on an emergency basis to
update the disease status of Germany, Italy, and Spain regarding BSE.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  APHIS is taking this action in accordance with
Chapter 2.3.13of the Office International de s Epizooties (OIE) Animal Health Code.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  66 FR 22425
4 May 2001 (Available in English)G/SPS/N/USA/438
Page 2
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This interim rule was
effective 30 April 2001. APHIS invites you to comment. We will consider all comments
that we receive by 3 July 2001.
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments: The full
text of this notification, including instructions for commenting, are available from the
address below.  [ 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. 20250Tel:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov