. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/255
11 April 2000
(00-1448)
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 a Tolerance for Certain Pesticide Chemicals in or on Food: Abamectin
(avermectin B1) and/or its delta 8,9-isomer (5 pages)
5. Description of content: This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition
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 by
establishing a tolerance for residues of Abamectin (avermectin B1) and/or its delta 8,9-
isomer in or on the raw agricultural commodities plums at 0.01 parts per million (ppm),
fruiting vegetables (except Cucurbits) group at 0.02 ppm, and leafy vegetables (except
Brassica) group at 0.10 ppm. 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           
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:  Codex has established an abamectin Maximum
Residue Level of 0.02 ppm for peppers. The fruiting vegetable tolerance of 0.02 ppm for
abamectin is harmonized with Codex.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 18328,
7 April 2000 (Available in English)G/SPS/N/USA/255
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  8 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. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 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