. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/881 
17 March 2004 
 (04-1200) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd 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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Products that use the pesticide Benfluralin 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Any 
US trade partners 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Benfluralin; Availability 
of Risk Assessments (Interim Process)  (available in English, 2 pages). 
6. Description of content:  This notice announces the availability of risk assessments that 
were developed as part of EPA's process fo r making pesticide Reregistration Eligibility 
Decisions (REDs) and tolerance reassessments consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. 
These risk assessments are the human health and environmental fate and effects risk 
assessments and related documents for benfluralin . Benfluralin is a dinitroaniline herbicide 
registered for use on lettuce; animal feed cr ops; non-bearing fruits; and berries; commercial 
and residential turf; and ornamentals.  This notice also starts a 60-day public comment period for the risk assessments.  By a llowing access and opportunity for comment on the 
risk assessments, EPA is seeking to strengthe n stakeholder involvement and help ensure 
that pesticide decisions are transparent a nd based on the best available information. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from anima l/plant pest or disease,  [   ]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   n.a. 
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  DOCID:  fr25fe04-
58, Federal Register : 25 February 2004 (Volume 69, Number 37) pages 8640-8642; 
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA- PEST/2004/February/Day-25/p3939.htm ; available in 
English 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   n.a. G/SPS/N/USA/881 
Page 2  
 
 11. Proposed date of entry into force:   n.a. 
12. Final date for comments:  Comments must be received on or before 26 April 2004.   
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [   ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  Public Information and Record s Integrity Branch (PIRIB), 
Information Resources and Services Division (7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20460. opp-docket@epa.gov Note:  Identify docket name "OPP-2003-0381" in subject line 
of your response.   
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number an d E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Julie Morin, United States SPS Enquiry Point Officer, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
Food Safety and Technical Services Division, Stop 1027, Washington, DC  20250.  Tel: (202) 720-4051, Fax: (202) 720-7772, E-mail: fstsd@fas.usda.gov