. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1624/Add.2 
8 October 2007  
 (07-4277) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
Addendum
 
 
 
The following communication, received on 2 October 2007, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegation of the United States . 
 
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 Final rule:  Importation of Blueberries from Sout h Africa, Uruguay, and Argentina with Cold 
Treatment (APHIS-2007-0061)  
 
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Se rvice is allowing the importation into the 
continental United States of fresh blueberri es from South Africa and Uruguay under certain 
conditions.  As a condition of entry,  the blueberries will have to unde rgo cold treatment and will have 
to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate i ssued by the national plant protection organization 
of the exporting country.  This action will allow for the importation of blueberries from South Africa and Uruguay into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the 
introduction of quarantine pests. In addition, AP HIS is allowing the use of cold treatment for 
blueberries imported into the United States from Argentin a.  This action provides an alternative to the 
methyl bromide treatment that is currently required for blueberries imported from Argentina. 
 
The regulations in "Subpart--Fruits and Ve getables" (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-47, 
referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or rest rict the importation of fruits and vegetables into 
the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of 
plant pests that are new to or not wide ly distributed within the United States. 
 
On 5 June 2007, APHIS published in the Federal Register (72 FR 30979-30984, Docket No. 
APHIS 2007-0061) a proposal to amend the regulations  to allow the importation into the continental 
United States of fresh blueberries from South A frica and Uruguay under certain conditions.  As a 
condition of entry, APHIS proposed that the blue berries would have to undergo cold treatment and 
would have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection 
organization (NPPO) of the exporting country.  In add ition, APHIS proposed to allow the use of cold 
treatment for blueberries imported into the United States from Argentina. 
 
APHIS solicited comments concerning their proposal for 45 days ending 20 July 2007.  
APHIS received six comments by that date.  They  were from blueberry distributors, a commercial 
fumigation company, and a blueberry industry group.  Four of the commenters supported the proposed rule.  One commenter di d not address the proposed rule. G/SPS/N/USA/1624/Add.2 
Page 2  
 
   
Available in English, [Federal Register :  17 September 2007 (Volume 72, Number 179)] 
[Proposed Rules]; [Page 52776-52779];  Availabl e at Federal Register on-line via GPO Access 
website:  http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
  Enter page # under "Quick Search" and link to 
relevant document. 
 
For additional information, see attached link:  http://www.regulations.gov  , using the "Search 
for Documents Open for Comment" function, select "Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service": 
from the agency drop-down menu, then click on "S ubmit".  In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-
2007-0091 to submit or view comments and to vi ew supporting and related materials available 
electronically.  You may also contact Mr. Tony Rom[aacute]n, Import Specialist, Commodity Import 
Analysis and Operation Staff, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8758.   
United States SPS National Notification Authority, US DA Foreign Agricultural Service, International 
Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  +(1 202) 720-
1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 690-0677;  E-ma il:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov 
 
 
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