. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/2000 
14 April 2010  
 (10-1911) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES
 
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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Propagative seed of several Rutaceae  (citrus family) genera 
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:  Interim Rule and Request for Comments:  Citrus Seed 
Imports;  Citrus Greening and Citrus Varieg ated Chlorosis (Docket No. APHIS-2008-0052) 
Language:  English  Number of pages:  7   
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
amending the regulations governing the impor tation of nursery stock to prohibit the 
importation of propagative seed of several Rutaceae  (citrus family) genera from certain 
countries where citrus greening or citrus varieg ated chlorosis (CVC) is present.  We are 
also requiring propagative seed of these gene ra imported from all other countries to be 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an  additional declaration that neither citrus 
greening nor CVC are known to occur in th e country where the seed was produced.  
Scientific evidence indicates that seed of certain genera of the family Rutaceae  may be a 
pathway for the introduction of those diseases.  This action is necessary in order to prevent 
the introduction or dissemination of citrus gr eening and CVC into or within the United 
States.  This interim rule is effective 6 April 2010. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [X] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  This action is necessary 
in order to prevent the introduction or dissemination of citrus greening and CVC into or within the United States. G/SPS/N/USA/2000 
Page 2  
 
  9. 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)   
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  ISPM No. 13 
"Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action".  This action is in accordance with the prin ciples related to emergency action of 
Article VII of the revised text of the International Plant Protection Convention. 
[ ] 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:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   F e d e r a l  
Register:  6 April 2010 (Volume 75, Number  65), Notices Pages 17289-17295.  Available 
online in English at:  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-7736.htm  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  6 April 2010    
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
We will consider all comments that we receive  on or before 7 June 2010.  You may submit 
comments by either of the following methods:  
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:  Go to http://www.regulations.gov/  and search on the 
docket number (APHIS 2008-0052) to s ubmit or view comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:  Please send two copies of your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS–2008-0052, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.  Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–2008-0052. 
For further information contact: 
Dr. Arnold Tschanz, Senior Plant Pathologist, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231;  Tel:  +(1 301) 734 0627. 
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 Authority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Standards Di vision (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 
20250;  Tel:  +(1 202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov