. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1491 
17 January 2007 
 (07-0215) 
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:  Animal 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):   Meat and meat products. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Argentina. 
5. Title, language and number of p ages of the notified document:  Notice:  Change in 
Disease Status of the Patagonia South Region of  Argentina With Regard to Rinderpest and 
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Available in English;  5 pages). 
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend the regulations to add that portion of the Patagonia region of Argentina located south 
of latitude 42[deg] south (Patagonia South) to the list of regions considered free of 
rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).  We  are taking this action because we have 
determined that Patagonia South is free of ri nderpest and FMD.  We are also proposing to 
add that region to the list of regions that are subject to certain import restrictions on meat 
and meat products because of their proximity to  or trading relationships with rinderpest-or 
FMD-affected countries.  These actions would update the disease status of Patagonia South 
with regard to rinderpest and FMD while continuing to protect the United States from an 
introduction of those diseases by providing add itional requirements for any meat and meat 
products imported into the United States from Patagonia South. 
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. 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/1491 
Page 2  
 
  9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  [Federal Register: 
5 January 2007 (Volume 72, Number 3)] [Page 475-480].  Available in English: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E6-
22627.htm 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  N/A. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  N/A.  
12. Final date for comments:  6 March 2007.  Comme nts in general will be accepted at 
anytime after publication of the notice of filing.  However, if a final rule is promulgated, it 
will address only those comments that were receive d prior to publication of the final rule. 
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:   
Submit written or electronic comments by any of the following methods: 
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:  http://www.regulations.gov   Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:  Regul atory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238 
• Instructions:  All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket 
Number APHIS-2006-0121 for this rulemaking.  
For further information contact:  Dr. Silvia Kreindel, Veterinary Medical Officer, 
Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8419.  
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 Authority, USDA/ Fo reign Agricultural Service, International 
Regulations and Standards Division (ISRD), Stop 1027, Washington, DC  20250, Tel:  202-
720-1301, Fax:  202 690-0677, E-mail:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov