. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/512
5 November 2001
(01-5430)
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).  Pesticides  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant
or practicable:           
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition
to Establish a Tolerance (exemption from) for a Certain Pesticide Chemical in or on Food -
tetraethoxysilane polymer with hexamethyidisiloxane (3pages)
5. Description of content: This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition
proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of a certain pesticide chemical in or
on various food commodities.
EPA has received a pesticide petition proposing, pursuant to section 408(d) of
the FFDCA, 21 U.S.C. 346a(d), to amend 40 CFR part 180 to establish an exemption from
the requirement of a tolerance for tetraethoxysilane polymer with hexamethyldisiloxane,
when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations applied in accordance with good
agricultural practice to growing crops and to raw agricultural commodities after harvest, and
to animals. EPA has determined that the petition contains data or information regarding the
elements set forth in section 408(d)(2) of th e 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.
In the case of certain substances that are defined as ``polymers,'' the Agency has
established a set of criteria that identify categories of polymers that present low risk. Thesecriteria described in 40 CFR 723.250 identify polymers that are relatively unreactive and
stable compounds to other chemical substances was well as polymers that typically are not
readily absorbed. These properties generally limit a polymer's ability to cause adverse
effects. In addition, these criteria exclude polymers about which little is known. The
Agency believes that polymers meeting the criteria noted will present minimal or no risk.Tetraethoxysilane, polymer with hexamethyldisiloxane conforms to the definition of
polymer given in 40 CFR 723.250(b) (as amended April 11, 1997) and meets the ...criteria
that are used to identify low risk polymers.
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           G/SPS/N/USA/512
Page 2
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
established for tetraethoxysilane, polymer with hexamethyldisiloxane in/on any crop
commodities at this time.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  66 FR 55178
1 November 2001 (available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined
11. Final date for comments:  Comments must be received on or before 3 December 2001
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: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] 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
Tel:   (202) 720-2239Fax:  (202) 690-0677
     E-mail Address:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov