G/SPS/N/USA/2918  
 
20 March 2017  
(17-1523) 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) of the US 
Department of Agriculture  
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): Certain genetically engineered organisms  
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: Importation, Interstate Movement, and Environmental 
Release of Certain Genetically Engineered Organisms (Docket No. APHIS 2015 0057) . 
Language(s): English . Number of pages: 2 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2015-0057-0016 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2015-0057-0001 
6. Description of content: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is extending 
the comment period for our proposed rule that would revise our regulations regarding 
the import ation, interstate movement, and environmental release of certain genetically 
engineered organisms in order to update the regulations in response to advances in 
genetic engineering and understanding of the plant pest and noxious weed risk posed by 
genetical ly engineered organisms, thereby reducing burden for regulated entities whose 
organisms pose no plant pest or noxious weed risks. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.  
Proposed rule: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2015-0057-0001 
Extension: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2015-0057-0016 
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) :   
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[X] None  G/SPS/N/USA/2918  
 
- 2 - 
 
  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) : 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 2017  
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:  
Docket No. APHIS -2015-0057, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 
Station 3A -03.8, 4700 River Roa d, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737 -1238 
13. Text(s)  available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [ ]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
United States SPS National Notification Authority, USD A Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Standards Division (IR SD), Stop 1014, Washington 
D.C. 20250; Tel: +(1 202) 720 1301; Fax: +(1 202) 720 0433; 
E-mail: us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov