. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/USA/2268 
13 September 2011  
 (11-4415) 
Committee on Sanitary and 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):  Live dogs 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed Rule: Animal Welfare; Importation of Live 
Dogs (Docket No. APHIS-2009-0053)  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  6 
 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docum entDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0053-0001  
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
proposing to amend the regulations to implemen t an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act 
(AWA).  The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 added a new section to the 
AWA to restrict the importation of certain live do gs.  Consistent with this amendment, this 
proposed rule would, with certain limited exceptions, prohibit the importation of dogs from 
any part of the world into the continental United States or Hawaii for purposes of resale, 
research, or veterinary treatment, unless th e dogs are in good health, have received all 
necessary vaccinations, and are at least six months  of age.  This proposed rule is necessary 
to implement the amendment to the AWA and w ould help to ensure the welfare of imported 
dogs. 
Federal Register:  1 September 2011, Vo lume 76, Number 170, Pages 54392-54397 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] 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)   
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    G/SPS/N/USA/2268 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] 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:    
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:      
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) :  We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 31 
October 2011 
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/#!docum entDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0053-0001 . 
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your  comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0053, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, AP HIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road 
Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. 
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov/#! docketDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0053  or in our reading room, 
which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.  To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming. 
Other Information: Additional information a bout APHIS and its programs is available on 
the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov . 
For further information contact:  Dr. Gerald Rushin, Veterinary Medical Officer, Animal 
Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; +1 (301) 734-0954. 
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), St op 1014, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  +1 
(202) 720 1301;  Fax:  + 1 (202) 720 0433;   E-mail:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov