G/SPS/N/USA/2996  
 
24 April 2018  
(18-2572) 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): Peppers  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Korea, Republic of  
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed Rule: Importation of Peppers from the 
Republic of Korea; Mesh Screening Size [Docket No. APHIS -2016-0094] . Language(s) : 
English.  Number of pages: 3 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001 -2180 
6. Description of content: APHIS is proposing to amend the regulations that allow the 
importation of peppers from the Republic of Korea to increase the mesh size of the 
screening over vent openings from 0.6 mm to 1.6 mm, and to require the use of colored 
sticky traps as an additional measure  for pest monitoring. We have determined that, when 
used alongside other mitigations in the regulations, there is no additional pest risk related 
to the change in mesh size. This action would modify the conditions under which peppers 
from the Republic of K orea may be imported into the continental United States while 
continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantin e pests. [Federal Register 
Vol. 83, No. 77 Friday, 20 April 2018 pages 17501 -17503]  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  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:  
[ ] 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 regulation 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/2996  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are av ailable:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 19 June 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National E nquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
Ms. Carol Kreger, Regulatory Policy Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; +(301) 851 2356; E -mail: Carol.M.Kreger@aphis.usda.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.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001 -2180