. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/259
18 April 2000
(00-1556)
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, where
applicable).  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 petition
to establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for humic acid, sodium salt
and ethyl lactate (4 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 a pesticide petition proposing, pursuant to section 408(d) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d), to amend 40 CFR part 180 to
establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of humic acid,
sodium salt when used as an inert ingredient  in pesticide formulations applied to growing
crops, raw agricultural commodities (RAC) after harvest, or to animals. EPA has
determined that the petition contains data or information regarding the elements set forth in
section 408(d)(2) of the FFDCA; however, EPA has not fully evaluated the sufficiency ofthe submitted data at this time or whether the data support granting of the petition.
Additional data may be needed before EPA rules on the petition.
EPA has received a pesticide petition proposing, pursuant to section 408(d) of the FFDCA,
21 U.S.C. 346a(d), to amend 40 CFR part 180 to establish an exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance for ethyl lactate when  used as an inert ingredient in pesticide
formulations applied to growing crops, RAC's after harvest or animals. EPA has
determined that the petition contains data or information regarding the elements set forth in
section 408(d)(2) of the FFDCA; however, EPA has not fully evaluated the sufficiency of
the submitted data at this time or whether the data support granting of the petition.
Additional data may be needed before EPA rules on the petition.
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           G/SPS/N/USA/259
Page 2
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  There are no international tolerances, or
tolerance exemptions for humic acid, sodium salt.  No Codex maximum residue levels have
been established for humic acid, sodium salt.  The same is true for Ethyl lactate.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 19759,
12 April 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:  12 May 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. WilsonRoom 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov