G/SPS/N/USA/3122  
 
6 November 2019  
(19-7524) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Environmental Protection Agency  
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):  Rice, grain  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or c ountries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Clothianidin; Pesticide Tolerance for Emergency 
Exemptions. Final Rule . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  6 
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2019-10-07/html/2019 -21540.htm  
6. Description of content:  This regulation establishes a time -limited tolerance for resid ues 
of clothianidin in or on rice, grain. This action is in response to EPA's granting of an 
emergency exemption under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
(FIFRA) authorizing use of thiamethoxam on rice. Emergency use of thiamethoxam on  
rice results in potential clothianidin (a major metabolite of thiamethoxam) residues that 
when combined with the residues from legal use of clothianidin on rice, require an increase 
in the tolerance for residues of clothianidin in rice. Although there is an existing regulation 
establishing a maximum permissible level for residues of clothianidin in or on rice, grain 
at 0.01 ppm, this rule would establish a new, time -limited maximum permissible level at 
0.5 ppm for clothianidin in or on rice, grain. The tim e-limited tolerance expires on 
31 December 2024. This action is also associated with the utilization of a crisis exemption 
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of 
thiamethoxam on rice.  
7. Objective and rati onale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] 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:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CXS 198 -1995 - Standard for Rice  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] Internatio nal Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  G/SPS/N/USA/3122  
 
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  [X] 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) : 7 October 2019  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 7 October 2019  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 7 October 2019  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
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:   
Michael L. Goodis, P.E., Director, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental P rotection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, 
DC 20460 -0001; Main telephone number: +(703) 305 7090; E -mail: 
RDFRNotices@epa.gov  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number a nd e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2019-10-07/html/2019 -21540.htm