. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1868 
22 September 2008  
 (08-4415) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   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 number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Live fish susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) (chiefly HS 
Code 0301 91 and 0301 99) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  All 
regions where viral hemorrhagic septicemia occurs  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Interim Rule:  Viral 
Hemorrhagic Septicemia; Interstate Movement  and Import Restrictions on Certain Live 
Fish  (available in English,  17 pages)  
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is establishing 
regulations to restrict the interstate movement  and importation into the United States of live 
fish that are susceptible to viral hemorrhag ic septicemia, a highly contagious disease of 
certain fresh and saltwater fish. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [   ] food safety, [ X ] animal health, [   ] plant protection, [  
 ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests    
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Immediate action is 
necessary to prevent the introduction of VHS into aquaculture facilities by controlling the 
movement of live fish at risk of harbouring VHS virus. 
9. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the 
appropriate reference and briefly identify deviations:  Aquatic Animal Health Code 
Chapter 2.1.5.1 Viral Hemorrhag ic Septicaemia.  The interim rule requires sampling for 
viral assays for importation of live fish for processing for human consumption and other 
uses. G/SPS/N/USA/1868 
Page 2  
 
  10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   Federal Register: 
9 September 2008 (Volume 73, Number 175), Pages 52173-52189; Available in English. 
To view online, go to  http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/PDFgate.cgi?WAISdocID=0497306 3840+0+1+0&WAISaction=retrieve  
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  10 November 2008    
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Comments on the interim rule are due on or before 10 November 2008.  Comments on the 
environmental assessment are due on or before 9 October 2008.  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-2007-0038) to submit or vi ew comments and to view supporting and 
related materials available electronically. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please se nd two copies of your comment to Docket 
No. APHIS-2007-0038, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdal e, MD 20737–1238. Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0038. 
For further information contact: Dr. P. Gary Egrie, Senior Staff Veterinary Medical Officer, National Center for Animal 
Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
tel. +1 (301) 734-0695; or Dr. Peter L. Merrill,  Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center 
for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; tel. +1 (301) 734-8364. 
13. Texts available from: [ X ] National notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point, 
or 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 1027, Washington D.C. 
20250;  Tel:  +(1 202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  
us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov