G/SPS/N/USA/3290/Add.1  
22 September 2023  
(23-6338) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 22 September 2023, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of  the United States of America . 
 
_______________  
 
 
"Import Regulations for Horses" [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0033]  
We are amending 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 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; 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 transporti ng horses. We are also adding a number of 
miscellaneous changes to the regulations such as clarifications of existing policy or intent, and 
corrections of inconsistencies or outdated information. Many of these changes will better align our 
regulations with  international standards and allow us and the equine industry more flexibility. The 
changes will also add further safeguards that protect against introducing or disseminating pests or 
diseases of livestock into the United States.  
https://federalregister.gov/d/2023 -19864  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/202 3/SPS/USA/23_12562_00_e.pdf  
This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force  
[ ] Other:  
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified measure 
in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of originally announced fin al date for comments, the 
comment period provided in the addendum may vary.)  
[ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : Effective 16 October 2023.  G/SPS/N/USA/3290/Add.1  
 
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  Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, 
[X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other 
body:  
For further information contact: Dr. Iwona Tumelty, VS Strategy and Policy, Live Animal Imports, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Ro ad Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737 -1231; Tel: +(301) 851 3300; 
E- mail: Iwona.Tumelty@usda.gov  
Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry P oint. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
 
 
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