G/SPS/N/EU/48  
 
9 July 2013  
(13-3617)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: EUROPEAN UNION 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: European Commission, Health and Consumers Directorate-
General 
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): Plant protection products and treated seeds containing 
fipronil 
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: Draft "Commission Implementing Regulation 
amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011, as regards the conditions of 
approval of the active substance fipronil, and prohibiting the use and sale of seeds 
treated with plant protection products containing this active substance"  Language(s): 
English  Number of pages: 6 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/EEC/13_2640_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Proposal to amend Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as 
regards the active substance fipronil with a view to restrict the uses and to prohibit the 
placing on the market and the use of some seeds treated with these substances. 
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] 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)    
[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/EU/48 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  
The European Food Safety Authority published a conclusion on the risk assessment for 
bees of fipronil. 
The document is available online: 
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/ efsajournal/pub/3158.htm   
(available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : August 2013 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : August 2013 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 September 2013 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 16 July 2013 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral International Relations 
Rue Froissart 101 B-1049 Brussels, Belgium 
Tel: +(32 2) 29 59922 
Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090 E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu 
13. Texts available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral International Relations  
Rue Froissart 101 
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +(32 2) 29 59922 
Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090 
E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu