. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/252
7 April 2000
(00-1422)
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 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).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Horses
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Spanish Pure Breed Horses from
Spain (4 pages)
5. Description of content: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing
to amend the regulations that govern the importation of Spanish Pure Breed horses from
Spain, a country in which contagious equine metritis, a venereal disease of horses, may
exist.  We would allow Spanish Pure Breed horses to be imported from Spain into theUnited States under the same conditions that apply to thoroughbred horses from certain
other regions in which contagious equine metritis either exists or may exist.  We are
proposing this action because Spanish Pure Breed horses, like thoroughbred horses from
those other regions, are less likely to be infected with contagious equine metritis than other
horses, largely because the life history and medical records of each horse is known and can
be certified by a veterinarian of the national government of the region of origin.  This action
would relieve some restrictions on the importation of Spanish Pure Breed horses into theUnited States.
6. Objective and rationale: [    ] food safety,  [  X ] 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:  We believe this action is in accordance with
international standards set by the Office international des épizooties.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 17455,
3 April 2000;  9 CFR Part 93 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/252
Page 2
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  The date of entry into force will be announced when
the final rule is published in the Federal Register.
11. Final date for comments:  2 June 2000.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service
[    ] 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. WilsonRoom 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