G/SPS/N/USA/2994  
 
3 April 2018  
(18-2003) 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): Fresh pummelo fruit  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Thailand  
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed Rule: Importation of Pummelo From Thailand 
Into the Continental United States [Docket No. APHIS –2016–0034] . Language(s): 
English.  Number of pages: 4 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2016-0034-0001 
6. Description of content: APHIS is proposing to amend the regulations to allow the 
importation of fresh pummelo fruit from Thailand into the continental United States. As a 
condition of entry, fresh pummelo fruit from Thailand would be subject to a systems 
approach that would include irradiation treatment, packin ghouse processing requirements, 
and port of entry inspection. The fruit would also be required to be imported in commercial 
consignments and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national 
plant protection organization of Thailand. Thi s action would allow for the importation of 
fresh pummelo fruit from Thailand while continuing to provide protection against the 
introduction of plant pests into the continental United States. [Federal Register Vol. 1, 
No. 61, Thursday, 29 March  2018, pp. 13433 -13436]  
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? I f 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 G/SPS/N/USA/2994  
 
- 2 - 
 
  If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international stand ard:  
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) : 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) : 29 May 2018  
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:  
Ms Claudia A. Ferguson, MS, Senior Regulatory Policy Coordinator, Imports, Regulations, 
and Manuals, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 
133, Riverdale, MD 20737 -1236; +(301) 851 2352  
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 -2016-0034-0001