. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/215
12 January 2000
(00-0108)
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:  Azoxystrobin;  Pesticide Tolerance
(3 pages)
5. Description of content: EPA is proposing to revise tolerances for residues of
azoxystrobin(methyl(E)-2-(2-(6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yloxy)phenyl)-3-
methoxyacrylate) and its Z isomer (methyl(Z)-2-(2-(6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin
-4-yloxy)phenyl)-3-methoxyacrylat e) in or on pistachios at 0.02 part per million (ppm)
and tree nuts at 0.02 ppm. A final rule establishing tolerances for residues of azoxystrobinand its Z isomer in or on pistachios at 0.01 ppm and tree nuts at 0.01 ppm was published
in the Federal Register of 17 March.  Immediately following completion of this final rule,
EPA received telephone comments from two pa rties indicating that they believed the
pistachio and tree nuts tolerances were too low, considering the data submitted in support
of the tolerances and the use directions on the label, and might lead to adulterated
commodities even when the label use directions were accurately followed.  EPA agreed to
revisit the tolerances assigned to these co mmodities, has concluded that the commentors
are correct in their concerns, and here proposes to increase the tolerances for residues of
azoxystrobin and its Z isomer in or on pist achios to 0.02 ppm and in or on tree nuts to
0.02 ppm.
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           
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:  There are no Codex Maximum Residue Limits
(MRLs) established for azoxystrobin for pistachios or tree nuts.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  64 FR 425,
5 January 2000;  40 CFR Part 180 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/215
Page 2
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  6 March 2000
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:  Environmental Protection Agency
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. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 10271400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov