. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/243
27 March 2000
(00-1238)
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:  Noxious weeds
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Noxious Weed Regulations;
Update of Current Provisions (5 pages)
5. Description of content:  APHIS is considering revising the noxious weed regulations issued
under the Federal Noxious Weed Act in order to maximize their effectiveness. APHIS
believes changes may be necessary to improve control and limit the spread of invasive weed
species that are not covered under the current noxious weed regulations. We are consideringcategorizing weeds according to geographic, regulatory, and other criteria. This notice
solicits public comment on these categories and on the criteria for assigning weeds to each
category. We are also asking the public to help us determine how to prioritize funding
resources for existing and future programmes. After evaluating public comment on the
issues presented in this document, we will determine whether to propose changes to our
regulations.
6. Objective and rationale: [    ] food safety,  [    ] animal health,  [  X ] 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:  APHIS is considering taking this action in
accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC).
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 14927,
20 March 2000 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/243
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  19 May 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. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 10271400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov