G/SPS/N/USA/3290  
 
7 December 2021  
(21-9179) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  USDA 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 should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Horses  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  "Import Regulations for Horses" [Docket No. APHIS -
2016-0033] . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  9 (pages 67661 to 67669)  
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/APHIS -2016-0033 
6. Description of content:  We are proposing to amend the regulations for the importation 
of equines. These changes include increasing the number of days horses exported from 
regions free from contagious equine metritis (CEM) are allowed to spend in a CEM -affected 
region and re -enter the United States without testing from 60 days to 90 days; requiring 
an import permit for horses transiting through CEM -affected regions; adding requirements 
for health certifications to ensure health certifications properly attest to the health of the 
imported horse; removing the requirement that horses permanently imported from Canada 
undergo inspection at the port of entry; requiring that horses transiting Central America or 
the West Indies comply with the same regulations that apply to horses directly  imported 
from these regions; and adding requirements for shipping containers used in transporting 
horses. We are also proposing a number of miscellaneous changes to the regulations such 
as clarifications of existing policy or intent, and corrections of in consistencies or outdated 
information. Many of these proposed changes would better align our regulations with 
international standards and allow us and the equine industry more flexibility. The proposed 
changes would also add further safeguards that protect  against introducing or 
disseminating pests or diseases of livestock into the United States. (Federal Register, 
Vol. 86, No. 226, Monday, 29 November 2021, pages 67661 -67669)  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protec tion, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of  Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  G/SPS/N/USA/3290  
 
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  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 28 January 2022  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Dr. Iwona Popkowski, VS Strategy and Policy, Live Animal Imports, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737 -1231; +(301) 851 3300  
13. Text(s) avai lable from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.regulations .gov/document/APHIS -2016-0033-0001