G/TBT/N/USA/1565  
20 January 2020  
(20-0531) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Department of 
Labor [1592]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applica ble):  Electronic 
detonators; Safety fuses; detonating fuses; percussion or detonating caps; igniters; 
electric detonators (HS 3603); Explosion protection (ICS 13.230), Electrical apparatus for 
explosive atmospheres (ICS 29.260.20), Explosives. Pyrotechnics  and fireworks 
(ICS 71.100.30), Mining equipment (ICS 73.100)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Electronic 
Detonators (6 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Proposed rule; request for comments - The Mine Safety and 
Health Administration (MSHA) is proposing to revise certain safety standards for 
explosives at metal and nonmetal (MNM) mines. This proposed rule updates existing 
provisions consistent with technol ogical advancements involving electronic detonators. 
Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, MSHA is also publishing a direct final rule 
because the Agency expects that there will be no significant adverse comments on the 
rule. If no significant a dverse comments are received, the Agency will confirm the 
effective date of the final rule. If a significant adverse comment is received, MSHA will 
withdraw the direct final rule and proceed with this proposed rule. MSHA intends to publish 
a Federal Regist er notice announcing the Agency's action. This proposed rule and the 
companion direct final rule are substantially identical.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
• 85 Federal Register (FR) 2064, 14 January 2020; Title 30 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Parts 56 and 57:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-14/html/2019 -28447.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-14/pdf/2019 -28447.pdf  G/TBT/N/USA/1565  
 
- 2 - 
 
  • Electroni c Detonators, Direct final rule; request for comments published 
14 January 2020:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-14/html/2019 -28446.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-14/pdf/2019 -28446.pdf  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  16 March 2020  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/cr nattachments/2020/TBT/USA/20_0514_00_e.pdf