. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1989 
26 March 2010  
 (10-1652) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
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):  All varieties of Malus domestica  apples 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Japan  
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed Rule:  Removal of Varietal Restrictions on 
Apples from Japan (Docket No. APHIS-2009-0020)  Language:  English  Number of 
pages:  2   
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend the regulations that allow the importati on of Fuji variety apples from Japan to allow 
all varieties of Malus domestica  apples into the United States under the same conditions as 
those for Fuji variety apples.  We have determ ined that the risk of introducing insects and 
diseases through the pathway of all varieties of M. domestica  fresh apples to be very low 
under the mitigation measures presently in place for Fuji apples.  This action would allow 
all varieties of M. domestica  apples from Japan to be imported into the United States while 
continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantine pests. 
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 stan dard?  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/1989 
Page 2  
 
  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 standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal 
Register:  10 March 2010 (Volume 75, Nu mber 46), Notices Pages 11071-11072.  
Available online in English at:  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-5114.htm    
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 measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  10 May 2010 
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:   
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–2009-0020) to subm it 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–2009–0020, 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–2009–0020. 
For further information contact:  Ms. Claudia Ferguson, M.S., Regulatory Policy Specialist, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231;  +(1 301) 734 0754. 
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