. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1059 
3 May 2005 
 (05-1837) 
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:   Department of Agri culture-The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service-APHIS 
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):  Christmas Cactus and Easter  Cactus in Growing Media 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Denmark and Netherlands  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Importation of Christmas 
Cactus and Easter Cactus in Growing Medi a from the Netherlands and Denmark, Federal 
Register:  27 April 2005 (Volume 70, Number 80) [Pages 21679-21682] http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor/all.html
 
or 
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getd oc.cgi?dbname=2005_regis ter&docid=fr27ap05-
26 
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend the regulations governi ng the importation of plants and plant products to add 
Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera spp., and Easter cactus, Rhipsalidopsis spp., from the 
Netherlands and Denmark to the list of plan ts that may be imported in an approved 
growing medium subject to specified growing,  inspection, and certification requirements.  
APHIS is taking this action in response to re quests from the Netherlands and Denmark and 
after determining that Christmas cactus and Easter cactus established in growing media can be imported without resulting in the introduction into the United States or the dissemination within the United States of a plant pest or noxious weed.  The proposed 
change would allow Christmas cactus and East er cactus established in growing media to be 
imported into the United States from the Netherlands and Denmark under certain 
conditions. 
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. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [ X ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    G/SPS/N/USA/1059 
Page 2  
 
 9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  English 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   TBA 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   TBA 
12. Final date for comments:  27 June 2005 to Docket No. 04-082-1 
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:   Ms. Julie Morin, Acting United St ates SPS Enquiry Point Officer, 
Food Safety and Technical Serv ices Division, USDA/ Foreign Agricultural Service.  
Telephone:  202 720-4051;  Fax:  202 690-0677;  E- mail:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov 
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   Ms. Julie 
Morin, Acting United States SPS Enquiry Point Officer, Food Safety and Technical Services 
Division, USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service.   Telephone:  202 690-1642;  Fax:  202 720-
7772;  E-mail:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov