WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/USA/106/Rev.1
23January 1998
ORGANIZATION
(98-0245)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION OFEMERGENCY MEASURES
Revision
1. Member toAgreement notifying: UNITED STATES
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Department ofAgriculture, Animal andPlant Health Inspection
Servive, APHIS
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with the
WTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Ruminants and
ruminant products
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Restrictions ontheImportation of
Ruminants, Meat andMeat Products From Ruminants, andCertain Other Ruminant
Products. (3pages -English)
5. Description ofcontent: TheAnimal andPlant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
amending theregulations governing theimportation intotheUnited States ofruminants,
meat andmeat products from ruminants, andother ruminant products torestrict the
importation ofliveruminants, meatandmeatproducts from ruminants, andcertain other
ruminant products from countries inwhich Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
mayexist. The6January 1998 Federal Register notice follows anemergency action
taken on12December 1997 which temporarily stopped theissuance ofimport permits
forliveruminants andcertain products ofruminant origin tocertain European countries
duetotheriskofBSE. The6January 1998 Federal Register notice gives background
ontheaction taken, reasons forthenewrestrictions andexplains procedures for
requesting removal ofrestrictions bythecountries affected bythisaction.
6. Objective andrationale: This action isnecessary toensure thatanimals andanimal
products affected withBSEarenotimported intotheUnited States.
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7. Nature oftheurgent problem(s): Current policy places theUnited States atcontinued
riskforintroduction ofBSE intotheanimal orhuman food chain andprovides no
incentive forhigh-risk nations tocomply withinternationally recommended surveillance
andriskassessment standards foranimal health. TheUnited States hasimmediate
animal andpublic health concerns about thesafety ofEuropean ruminants andruminant
products andisrequesting information about BSEsurveillance andreporting systems in
these countries.
Currently, APHIS restricts importation ofliveruminants andruminant products from
nations which havereported BSEinnative borncattle. Thispassive method relies solely
ontheability ofanation 'sveterinary service todetect andreport thedisease. The
APHIS Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) Working Group, theFDA TSE
Advisory Committee, andtheEU’sStanding Veterinary Committee haverecommended
thattheUnited States baseimport policy onactive riskassessment andsurveillance
rather thanreporting alone. Concern about theUSimport policy andpotential impact
onthehealth andwelfare oftheAmerican consumer hasbeenexpressed byOfficials of
theCenters forDisease Control andPrevention. Therefore, theUnited States hastaken
thisimmediate temporary emergency action.
8. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
TheOffice International desEpizooties (OIE) International Animal Health Code,
Chapter 3.2.13, Article 3.2.13.1 supports import policies based onactive analysis ofrisk
inexporting Nations.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) inwhich these are available: 63FR406,
6January 1998; 9CFR Parts 94and96
10. Date ofentry intoforce/period ofapplication (asapplicable): 12December 1997. The
period ofapplication ofthisaction isuntil theriskofBSEbeing introduced through
these sources canbeassessed.
11. Texts available from/and agency orauthority designated tohandle comments: Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA ;National enquiry point [X]oraddress, telefax
number andE-mail address (ifavailable) ofother body:
United States SPSEnquiry Point:
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
Attn: Carolyn F.Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel: (202) 7202239
Fax: (202) 6900677
E-mail: wilsonc@fas.usda.gov
Comments willbereceived until9March 1998.