. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1872 
25 September 2008  
 (08-4503) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   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 number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Ash ( Fraxinus  spp.) plants (HS Code 0602) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  All 
countries  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Importation of Ash 
Plants (available in English, 3 pages)  
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health In spection Service is amending the 
regulations governing the importation of nur sery stock to prohibit or restrict the 
importation of ash ( Fraxinus  spp.) plants for planting, except seed, from all foreign 
countries except for certain areas in Canada th at are not regulated areas for emerald ash 
borer.  This action is necessary to prevent furthe r introductions of this plant pest into the 
United States and to prevent the artificial spread of the emerald ash borer. 
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. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  This action is necessary 
to prevent further introductions of this plant pest into the United States and to prevent the 
artificial spread of the emerald ash borer. 
9. 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:    G/SPS/N/USA/1872 
Page 2  
 
  10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   Federal Register:  
23 September 2008 (Volume 73, Number 185), Pa ges 54665-54667;  Available in English. 
To view online, go to http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html
, select 2008 FR Vol. 73, 
and type "54665" in search box (with quotation marks). 
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  23 September 2008 
12. 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:  
We will consider all comments that we receive  on or before 24 November 2008.  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 2007-0111) to subm it or view comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. 
− Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:  Please send two copies of your comment to Docket 
No. APHIS–2007-0111, 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–2007-0111. 
For further information contact:  Dr. Arnold T. Tschanz, Senior Risk Manager,  Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; Tel:  +1 (301) 734-
5306. 
13. Texts available from: [ X ] National notification authority, [   ] National 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