. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/496
4 September 2001
(01-4207)
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:  Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health
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:  Imported fruits and vegetables
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Phytosanitary Certificates for
Imported Fruits and Vegetables (12 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to
amend our regulations to require that a phytosanitary certificate accompany all fruits and
vegetables imported into the United States, wi th certain exceptions.  This proposal would
include commercial produce imported into the United States as well as fruits and vegetables
brought in by travellers.  We would exempt fruits and vegetables that are dried, cured,
frozen, or processed, as well as fruits and vegetables that travellers and shoppers bring into
the United States for personal use through land ports of entry located along the Canadian
and Mexican borders.  The regulations currently do not require that phytosanitary
certificates accompany produce imported into this country, except for certain fruits and
vegetables grown in designated foreign regions.  We believe this change is necessary to help
prevent foreign plant pests from being introduced into and disseminated within the United
States.  If implemented, this proposal would require changes in the practices of importersand travellers who bring produce into the United States from other countries.
6. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] 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:  This proposal is consistent with Article V of
the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  66 FR 45637,
29 August 2001 (available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined
10. Proposed date of entry into force: To be determinedG/SPS/N/USA/496
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  APHIS invites you to comment.  We will consider all comments
that we receive by 29 October 2001.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Detailed instructions 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 BuildingStop 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