G/SPS/N/USA/2700
17 September 2014 
(14-5190)  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: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): citrus 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: South Africa  
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed rule: Importation of Fresh Citrus Fruit From 
the Republic of South Africa Into the Continental United States (Docket No. APHIS-2014-0015)  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 5 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docu mentDetail;D=APH IS-2014-0015-0001  
6. Description of content: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of several varieties 
of fresh citrus fruit, as well as Citrus hybrids, into the continental United States from 
areas in the Republic of South Africa where citrus black spot has been known to occur. 
As a condition of entry, the fruit would have to be produced in accordance with a 
systems approach that would include shipment traceability, packinghouse registration 
and procedures, and phytosanitary treatment. The fruit would also be required to be imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate 
issued by the national plant protection organization of the Republic of South Africa with 
an additional declaration confirming that the fruit has been produced in accordance with the systems approach. This action would allow for the importation of fresh citrus fruit, including Citrus hybrids, from the Republic of South Africa while continuing to provide 
protection against the introduction of plant pests into the United States. 
Federal Register, Vol. 79, No. 167, Thursday 28 August 2014, pages 51273-51277. 
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 st andard? 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)    G/SPS/N/USA/2700 
 
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  [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:   
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:     
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : not applicable 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : not applicable 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : not applicable 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 27 October 2014. 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
You may submit comments by either of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0015 . 
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2014-0015, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road 
Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. 
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0015  
For Further Information Contact Mr. Marc Phillips, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, 
Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 156, Riverdale, MD 20737; Tel: +(301) 851 2114. 
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
United States SPS National Notification Auth ority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1014, Washington D.C. 
20250; Tel: +(1 202) 720 1301; Fax: +(1 202) 720 0433; E-mail: us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov