G/SPS/N/USA/3159  
 
17 March 2020  
(20-2095) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  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 should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Phalaenopsis  spp. orchid plants for planting  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or pract icable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Costa Rica  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice:  Importation of Phalaenopsis  Spp. Orchid Plants 
for Planting in Approved Growing Media from the Republic of Costa Rica into the United 
States (Docket No. APHIS -2019-0015) . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  2 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2019-0015-0001 
6. Description of content:  APHIS is proposing to authorize the importation of 
Phalaenopsis  spp. orchid plants  from the Republic of Costa Rica in approved growing 
media into the United States, including territories. As a condition  of entry, 
Phalaenopsis  spp. orchid plants in approved growing media from the Republic of Costa 
Rica would have to meet all relevant req uirements including in the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Plants for Planting Manual and detailed in a bilateral workplan. This proposed 
action would allow for importation of  Phalaenopsis  spp. orchid plants in approved growing 
media from the Republic of Co sta Rica while providing protection against the 
introduction  of plant pests.   (Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 42, Tuesday, 3 March 2020)  
7. 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.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related tex t):  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : 
ISPM numbers: 1, 2, 11, 36, 14  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   G/SPS/N/USA/3159  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 4 May 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Ms. Lydia E. Colón, Senior Regulatory Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737 -1236; (301) 851 -2302;  Lydia.e.colon@usda.gov.  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2019-0015-0001 
United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulation s and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1014, Washington D.C. 
20250; Tel: +(1 202) 720 1301; Fax: +(1 202) 720 0433; E -mail: 
us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov