G/SPS/N/USA/3046  
 
19 December 2018  
(18-8032) 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: 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): Live bovines  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevan t or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Mexico  
5. Title of the notified document: Final Rule: Branding Requirements for Bovines 
Imported Into the United States from Mexico [Docket No. APHIS -2016-0050] . 
Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 3 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001 -2240 
6. Description of content: APHIS is amending the regulations regarding the branding of 
bovines imported into the United States from Mexico. APHIS is taking this action at the 
request of the Government of Mexico to address issues that have arisen with the branding 
requirement for these bovines. These changes will help prevent inco nsistencies in 
branding that can result in bovines being rejected for import into the United States. 
(Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 240, Friday, 14 December 2018 pp. 64223 -64225)  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant pr otection, 
[ ] 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) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed reg ulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  G/SPS/N/USA/3046  
 
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  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) : 14 December 2018  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 14 January 2019  
[ ] Trade facilitating mea sure  
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. Addres s, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Dr Betzaida  Lopez, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Import Export Services, Policy, 
Permitting, and Regulatory Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 
20737 -1231; +(301) 851 3300  
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.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001 -2240