. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/2219 
30 May 2011  
 (11-2706) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd 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):  Fresh pitaya fruit 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Central America  
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed Rule:  Importation of Fresh Pitaya Fruit from 
Central America into the Continental Un ited States (Docket No. APHIS-2010-0113)  
Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  5 
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend the fruits and vegetabl es regulations to allow the importation of fresh pitaya fruit 
from Central America into the continental Unite d States.  As a condition of entry, pitaya 
fruit from Central America would be subject to a systems approach that would include requirements for monitoring and oversight, est ablishment of pest-free places of production, 
and procedures for packing the pitaya fruit.  This action would allow for the importation of 
pitaya fruit from Central America into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests. 
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. 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)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None G/SPS/N/USA/2219 
Page 2  
 
  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:  Federal 
Register:  24 May 2011 (Volume 76, Number  100), Notices Pages 3003 6-30040. Available 
online in English at:  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-24/html/2011-12755.htm   
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 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  25 July 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/
 and search on the docket 
number (APHIS-2010-0113) to submit 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-2010-0113 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-2010-0113. 
For further information contact:  Mr. Davi d B. Lamb, Import Specialist, Regulatory 
Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit, 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236;  + 1 (301) 734-0627 
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), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  +(1 202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.s psenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov