G/SPS/N/USA/2734  
 
12 March 2015  
(15-1417)  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): Live animals, hatching eggs, and animal germplasm 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed Rule: Exportation of Live Animals, Hatching 
Eggs, and Animal Germplasm From the United States (Docket No. APHIS-2012-0049)  
Language(s): English  Number of pages: 20 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docu mentDetail;D=APH IS-2012-0049-0001  
6. Description of content: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
proposing to revise the regulations pertaining to the exportation of livestock from the 
United States. Among other things, we propos e to remove most of the requirements for 
export health certifications, tests, and treatments from the regulations, and instead would direct exporters to follow the requir ements of the importing country regarding 
such processes and procedures. We propose to retain only those export health 
certification, testing, and treatment requirements that we consider necessary to have assurances regarding the health and welfare of livestock exported from the United 
States. We also propose to allow pre-export inspection of livestock to occur at facilities 
other than an export inspection facility associated with the port of embarkation, under certain circumstances, and propose to replace specific standards for export inspection facilities and ocean vessels with performance standards. These changes would provide 
exporters and the Animal and Plant Health In spection Service with more flexibility in 
arranging for the export of livestock from th e United States while continuing to ensure 
the health and welfare of the livestock. Additionally, if a country is known to require an 
export health certificate for any animal other than livestock, including pets, or for any 
hatching eggs or animal germplasm, we propose to require that the animal, hatching eggs, or animal germplasm have an export health certificate to be eligible for export 
from the United States. This change would help ensure that all animals, hatching eggs, 
and animal germplasm exported from the United  States meet the health requirements of 
the countries to which they are destined. Finally, we are proposing editorial amendments to the regulations to make them easier to understand and comply with. 
Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 38, Thursday, 26 February 2015, pages 10398-10417. 
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/USA/2734 
 
- 2 - 
 
  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)    
[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 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 27 April 2015 
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
-2012-0049  
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2012-0049, 
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-2012-0049  
For further information contact Dr. Jack Taniewski, Director for Animal Export, National 
Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1231; Tel: +(1 301) 851 3300 
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