. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1492 
16 January 2007 
 (07-0213) 
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):   Fruits and vegetables. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Trading 
partners. 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Final rule:  Importation 
of Fruits and Vegetables (Availa ble in English;  10 pages). 
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending the 
regulations to list a number of fruits and ve getables from certain parts of the world as 
eligible, under specified conditions, for importa tion into the United States.  Some of the 
fruits and vegetables are already eligible for importation under permit, but are not 
specifically listed in the regulations.  All of th e fruits and vegetables, as a condition of entry, 
will be inspected and subject to treatment at th e port of first arrival as may be required by an 
inspector.  In addition, some of the fruits and vegetables will be required to meet other 
special conditions.  In one case, we are adding a systems approach that will provide an alternative to methyl bromide fumigation.  These actions will provide the United States with 
additional types and sources of fruits and vege tables while continuing to protect against the 
introduction of quarantine pests thr ough imported fruits and vegetables. 
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), [   ] 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/1492 
Page 2  
 
  9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  [Federal Register: 
18 December 2006 (Volume 71, Number 242)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 75649-75659].  Available in English: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-
21496.htm 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  18 December 2006. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  18 December 2006.  
12. Final date for comments:  N/A. 
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:  Ms Donna L. West, Senior Import Specialist, Commodity 
Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8758.  
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