G/SP S/N/USA/2930  
 
27 June 2017  
(17-3439) 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)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item n umber(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Fresh Pomegranate  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading part ners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Turkey  
5. Title of the notified document: Importations of Fruits and Vegetables Into the 
Continental United States: Fresh Pomegranate Fruit From Turkey (Docket #APHIS -2013-
0091).  Language(s): English . Number of pag es: 6 
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS -2013-0091-0001 
6. Description of content: The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
is proposing to amend th e fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of 
commercial consignments into the continental United States of fresh pomegranate fruit 
from Turkey. As a condition of entry, fresh pomegranate fruit from Turkey would have to 
be produced in acc ordance with a systems approach that would include grove 
registration, sanitation, and pest control measures; packinghouse registration and 
procedures designed to exclude quarantine pests; cold treatment; and procedures for 
packing, storing, and shipping t he pomegranate fruit. In addition, consignments would 
have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant 
protection organization of Turkey. This proposed rule would allow for the importation of 
fresh pomegranates from Turkey  into the continental United States while continuing to 
provide protection against the introduction of plant pests.  
Federal Register Vol. 82 No. 118, Wednesday, 21 June  2017, Pages 28257 -28262.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal healt h, [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) :  
[X] None  G/SPS/N/USA/2930  
 
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  Does this pr oposed 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  
[ ] Trade facilitating meas ure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 21 August 2017  
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:  
Mr Tony Román, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and 
Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737 -1231; 
+(301) 851 2242  
13. Text(s)  availab le 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, 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