. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/548
5 February 2002
(02-0542)
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, meat and products   Regions or countries likely to be affected, to
the extent relevant or practicable:  Slovakia and Slovenia
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Change in Disease Status of
Slovakia and Slovenia because of BSE (2 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
amending the regulations by adding Slovakia and Slovenia to the list of regions where
bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists because the disease has been detected in native-
born animals in those regions.  Slovakia and Slovenia 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 Slovakia or Slovenia and meat, meat products, and certain other
products of ruminants that have been in either of those countries.  This action is necessary in
order to update the disease status of Slovakia and Slovenia regarding bovine spongiform
encephalopathy.
6. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] 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 Slovakia and Slovenia 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 2.3.13.1 of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Animal Health Code.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available  67 FR 4877,
1 February 2002 (Available in English)G/SPS/N/USA/548
Page 2
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This interim rule is
effective 1 February 2002.  APHIS  invites you to comment.  We will consider all
comments we receive that are postmarked, delivered, or e-mailed by 2 April 2002.
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [  X ]
National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax number
and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  The full text of this interim rule,
including instructions for commenting, is available upon request to the address below:
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