G/SPS/N/USA/2995  
 
24 April 2018  
(18-2567) 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  
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): Fresh cape gooseberry  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent re levant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Ecuador  
5. Title of the notified document: Proposed Rule: Importation of Fresh Cape Gooseberry 
Fruit from Ecuador to the Continental United States  [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0009] . 
Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 4 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001 -2183 
6. Description of content: APHIS is proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables 
regulations to allow the importation of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador into the 
continental United States. As a condition of entry, fresh cape gooseberry fruit from 
Ecuador would be subject to  a systems approach that would include requirements for 
establishment of pest -free places of production and the labeling of boxes prior to shipping. 
Fresh cape gooseberry fruit from non pest -free places of production would have to undergo 
approved cold tre atment or irradiation. The fresh cape gooseberry fruit would also have to 
be imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate 
issued by the national plant protection organization of Ecuador certifying that the fruit has 
been produced in accordance with the systems approach. Fresh cape gooseberry fruit that 
does not meet the conditions of the systems approach would be allowed to be imported 
into the continental United States subject to treatment. This action would allow for the 
importation of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador into the continental United States 
while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests. [Federal 
Register Vol. 83, No. 77 Friday, 20 April 2018 pages 17503 -17506]  
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) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/USA/2995  
 
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  [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 stand ard:  
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 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
Ms Claudia Ferguson, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and 
Comp liance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737 -1236; 
+(301)  851 2352  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001 -2183