. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1269 
5 April 2006 
 (06-1592) 
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:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  
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):  Methyl bromide use in enclosures, chambers and structural food 
processing/storage facilities.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Any 
US trade partners  
5. Title, language and number of p ages of the notified document:  Notice.  Methyl 
Bromide Revised Risk Assessment for Uses in Enclosure, Chambers and Structural Food 
Processing/Storage Facilities; Notice of Availability and Solicitation of Risk Reduction Options (Available in English, 2 pages).  
6. Description of content:  This notice announces the availability of EPA's revised risk 
assessment for the pesticide methyl bromide's uses in enclosures, chambers and structural 
food processing/storage facilities.  In addition,  this notice solicits public comment on risk 
reduction options for methyl bromide's co mmodity uses.  EPA is developing a Re-
registration Eligibility Decision (RED) for uses in  enclosures, chambers and structural food 
processing/storage facilities of methyl bromide (i .e. uses that result in  a food tolerance) 
through the full, 6-Phase public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the 
public in developing pesticide re-registrati on and tolerance reassessment decisions. 
The risk assessment includes me thyl bromide uses that have accompanying food residue 
tolerances such as post-harvest fumigation of food commodities in chambers at ports or 
specialized structural. 
fumigations at food processing facilities. Although some methyl bromide uses such as 
fumigation of timber, wood products, and indus trial equipment do not require a food residue 
tolerance, they have been included in this assessment since they are performed in similar 
facilities and were assessed with similar me thods.  EPA plans to release a revised 
assessment (Phase 5) for all other uses of methyl bromide, mainly soil fumigant applications, later this year.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ X ] food safety,  [ X ] animal health,  [ X ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests   G/SPS/N/USA/1269 
Page 2  
 
  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:   
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal Register: 
29 March 2006 (Volume 71, Number 60, Pages: 15728 - 15730), 
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/March/Day-29/p4568.htm  
Available in English.  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  - 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  This is a notice of availability and may or may not 
result in a future regulatory action.  A notice invites the public to submit additional scientific information and comments to the Agency.  
12. Final date for comments:  Comments should be received on or before 30 May 2006. 
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:  Special Review and Re-registration Division , (7508C), Office 
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Prot ection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001 
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notifi cation authority, [   ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Ms Julie Morin, United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Food Safety & Technical Services Division, Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250.  Tel:  202-720-4051;  Fax:  202-690-0677;  E-mail:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov