G/SPS/N/USA/2646  
 
31 March 2014  
(14-1973)  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  
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): Potatoes 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: Mexico  
5. Title of the notified document: Final Rule:  Importation of Potatoes from Mexico 
(APHIS-2013-0037)  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 6 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docu mentDetail;D=APH IS-2013-0037-0013  
6. Description of content: The Animal and Plant Health In spection Service is amending 
the regulations concerning the importation of fruits and vegetables to allow the importation of fresh potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum  L.) from Mexico into the United 
States. As a condition of entry, the potatoes must be produced in accordance with a 
systems approach employing a combination of mitigation measures to prevent the 
introduction and dissemination of plant pests into the United States. The potatoes must 
be imported in commercial consignments, must be produced by a grower who is 
registered in a certification program, must be  packed in registered packinghouses, must 
be washed, cleaned, and treated with a sprout inhibitor, and must be inspected after 
packing for quarantine pests. The potatoes must also be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate that declares that the conditions for importation have been met. Finally, the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Mexico must provide a bilateral workplan to the Animal and Plant He alth Inspection Service (APHIS) that details 
the activities that the NPPO of Mexico will carry out to meet these requirements, subject 
to APHIS' approval. This action allows the importation of potatoes from Mexico while continuing to protect against the introduction of plant pests into the United States. 
Federal Register, Vol. 79, No. 58, Wednesday, 26 March 2014, pages 16651-16656. 
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)    G/SPS/N/USA/2646 
 
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  [X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[X] 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) : 25 April 2014 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable. This rule is effective 25 April 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:  
For further information contact: Mr. David Lamb, Regulatory Policy Specialist, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; +(1 301) 851 2018.  
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