. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1781 
10 April 2008  
 (08-1638) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
  
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numb er(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  The three tributyltin (TBT) compounds ar e formulated for a pplication both in 
manufacturing processes and as end-use products applied directly by consumers.  TBT oxide 
is registered for use in sites including antifoul ant-impregnated rubber shaped for sonar domes, 
antifoulant components of oceanographic in struments, wood preservatives, construction 
materials including dryw all, sterilants for nonfood processi ng equipment used  in materials 
manufacture, hard surface disinfectants for ha tchery and poultry/swin e farm premises, and 
textiles.  TBT benzoate is registered for use in sites incl uding construction materials such as 
spackling compound and in adhesives for non -food contact surfaces.  TBT maleate is 
registered for use as a materials preservative in sites including foam, textiles, carpet backing, and adhesives. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  Any 
US trade partners 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  NOTICE:   Certain 
Tributyltin Compounds, Risk Assessments;  Noti ce of Availability (available in English, 
2 pages) 
6. Description of content:  This notice announces the availabili ty of EPA's risk assessments, 
and related documents for the pesticides tributy ltin oxide, tributyltin benzoate, and tributyltin 
maleate, and opens a public comment period  on these documents (Phase 3 of 4-Phase 
Process).  The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address 
the risks identified.  EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for tributyltin oxide, tributyltin benzoate, and tr ibutyltin maleate through a modified, 4-Phase 
public participation process that the Agency uses  to involve the public in developing pesticide 
reregistration decisions.  Thr ough this program, EPA is ensuri ng that all pesticides meet 
current health and safety standards.  
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [   ] animal health,  [ X ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests    G/SPS/N/USA/1781 
Page 2  
 
  8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    
9. Relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:   F e d e r a l  R e g i s t e r :   
2 April 2008 (Volume 73, Number 64) Notices Page 17977-17978; 
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA -PEST/2008/April/Day-02/p6811.htm  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  N/A 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  This is a notice of availability which may or may not 
result in further regulatory action. 
12. Final date for comments:  Comments must be received on or before 2 June 2008, and may 
be identified by docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0171. 
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: 
Registration Division, (7505P), Office of Pe sticide Programs, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001 
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notificati on authority, [   ] Na tional enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
United States SPS National Notification Aut hority, 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