G/SPS/N/USA/2685  
 
28 July 2014  
(14-4346)  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): Apples 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: China  
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed Rule: Importation of Apples from China 
(Docket No. APHIS-2014-0003)  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 5 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docu mentDetail;D=APH IS-2014-0003-0001  
6. Description of content: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh apples (Malus pumila) from China into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, 
apples from areas in China in which the Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) is not 
known to exist would have to be produced in  accordance with a systems approach that 
would include requirements for registration of  places of production and packinghouses, 
inspection for quarantine pests at set intervals by the national plant protection 
organization of China, bagging of fruit, safeguarding, labeling, and importation in commercial consignments. Apples from areas in China in which Oriental fruit fly is known 
to exist could be imported into the continental United States if, in addition to these 
requirements, the apples are treated with fumi gation plus refrigeration. All apples from 
China would also be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that all conditions for the importation of the apples have 
been met and that the consignment of appl es has been inspected and found free of 
quarantine pests. This action would allow fo r the importation of apples from China into 
the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the 
introduction of quarantine pests. 
Federal Register Vol. 79, No. 138, Friday, 18 July 2014, pages 41930-41934. 
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)   G/SPS/N/USA/2685 
 
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  [ ] 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 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 16 September 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-2014-0003 . 
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2014-0003, 
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-2014-0003 . 
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; +(301) 851 2114. 
13. Texts 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 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