G/SPS/N/USA/3451  
7 May 2024  
(24-3629) 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:  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):  Berry, low -growing, subgroup 13 -07G 
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:  Flonicamid; Pesticide Tolerances. Final Rule . 
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  4 
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-04-29/html/2024 -09048.htm  
6. Description of content:  This regulation amends the existing tolerance for residues of 
flonicamid in or on the raw agricultural commodity berry, low -growing, subgroup 13 -07G 
by increasing the tolerance from 1.5 parts per million (ppm) to 2 ppm.  
7. Objective and rationale: [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 Alimentari us Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : https://www.fao.org/fao -who-
codexalimentarius/codex -texts/dbs/pestres/pesticide -detail/es/?p_id=282  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM n umber) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  Codex has an MRL  for residues of flonicamid in or on low 
growing berries at 1.5 ppm, and Canada has MRLs for residues of flonicamid in or on 
bearberry; bilberry; blueberry, lowbush; cloudberry; cranberry; and lingonberry at 
1.5 ppm. The existing US tolerance for residues of flonicamid in or on berry, low -growing, 
subgroup 13 -07G at 1.5 ppm is harmonized with Codex and Canadian MRLs. However, the 
petition requested that EPA increase the existing US tolerance from 1.5 ppm to 2 ppm in G/SPS/N/USA/3451  
 
- 2 - 
 
  order to harmonize with the Japanese MRL for residues of flonicamid in or on strawberry, 
cranberry, and other berries at 2 ppm and minimize barriers to imports of strawberries 
from Japan. Although this action is establishing a higher tolerance for residues of 
flonicamid in or on low growing berry , subgroup 13 -07G that is no longer harmonized with 
Codex or Canadian MRLs, this is not expected to create a trade barrier to imports of these 
commodities from Codex countries and Canada since commodities that comply with the 
lower Codex and Canadian MRLs could be imported into the U nited States. For these 
reasons, EPA has determined it is appropriate to amend the tolerance for residues of 
flonicamid in or on low growing berry, subgroup 13 -07G from 1.5 ppm to 2 ppm, as 
petitioned.  
9. Other relevant documen ts and language(s) in which these are available:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-07-05/html/2023 -14192.htm  
(avail able in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 29 April 2024  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 29 April 2024  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 29 April 2024  
[ ] 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:   
Charles Smith, Director, Registration Division (7505T), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460 -
0001; Main telephone number: +(202) 566 1030; E -mail: RDFRNotices@epa.gov  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-04-29/html/2024 -09048.htm