. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/2112 
8 November 2010  
 (10-5938) 
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):  Certain animals, meat, and other animal products 
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:  Interim Rule and Request for Comments:  Change in 
Disease Status of Japan Because of F oot-and-Mouth (Docket No. APHIS-2010-0077) 
Language:  English  Number of pages:  2   
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
amending the regulations governing the importa tion of certain animals, meat, and other 
animal products by removing Japan from the list of regions considered to be free of foot-
and-mouth disease (FMD) and also from the list of FMD-free regions that are subject to 
certain import restrictions on meat and meat products because of their proximity to or 
trading relationships with FMD- or rinderpest -affected countries.  We are taking this action 
because the existence of FMD has been confir med in Japan.  This action restricts the 
importation of ruminants and swine and the fresh meat and other animal products of 
ruminants and swine from that country and is necessary to prevent the introduction of FMD into the United States. 
This interim rule is effective 25 October 2010.  However, we are imposing this restriction 
retroactively to 20 April 2010. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] 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 
to prevent the introduction of FMD into the United States. G/SPS/N/USA/2112 
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)   
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)   
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   
[ ] 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:  25 October 2010 (Volume 75,  Number 205), Notices Pages 65431-65432.  
Available online in English at:  http://edocket.access.gpo. gov/2010/2010-26849.htm    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  This interim 
rule is effective 25 October 2010.  However, we  are imposing this restriction retroactively 
to 20 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 rece ive on or before 27 December 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 2010-0077) to s ubmit or view comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2010-0077, 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-2010-0077. 
For further information contact: Dr. Kelly  Rhodes, Senior Staff Veterinarian, 
Regionalization Evaluation Services--Import, National Center for Import and Export, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231;  +1 (301) 734-4356. 
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 Fore ign 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