. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1881 
11 November 2008  
 (08-5462) 
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):  Pork and pork products 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable :  Russia 
and Azerbaijan  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Interim rule and request 
for comments:  Addition of Russia and Azerbaijan to the List of Regions Where African 
Swine Fever Exists (Docket No. APHIS–200 8–0107) (available in English, 3 pages)  
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health In spection Service is amending the 
regulations concerning the importation of an imals and animal products by adding Russia 
and Azerbaijan to the list of regions where African swine fever exists.  APHIS is taking 
this action because outbreaks of African swine fever have been detected in Russia and 
Azerbaijan.  This action will restrict the im portation of pork and pork products into the 
United States from Russia and Azerbaijan and is necessary to prevent the introduction of 
African swine fever into the United States. 
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. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  In December 2007, 
Russia reported an outbreak of ASF to the Worl d Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  
ASF was detected on 5 November 2007, and Russia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food 
(MAF) confirmed the outbreak on 19 November 2007.  The MAF has reported a total of 19 outbreaks after the initial detection and be lieves the source of the infection to be 
transboundary migration of wild boars in the area.  Azerbaijan reported an outbreak of ASF 
in Qebele, in the north-central part of the c ountry.  According to Azerbaijan's report to the 
OIE, the outbreak started on 22 January 2008, and was confirmed by Azerbaijan's Ministry 
of Agriculture 28 January 2008. G/SPS/N/USA/1881 
Page 2  
 
  9. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the 
appropriate reference and briefly identify deviations:    
10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   Federal Register:  
3 November 2008 (Volume 73, Number 213), Pa ges 65255-65257;  Available in English. 
To view online, go to http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html , select 2008 FR Vol. 73, 
and search on "page 65255" (with quotation marks) or go directly to:  http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=327642 217244+1+1+0&WAIS action=retrieve  
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  3 November 2008 
(retroactive to 19 November 2007 for Russia and to 28 January 2008 for Azerbaijan) 
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 rece ive on or before 2 January 2009.  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–2008–0107) to subm it or view comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:  Please se nd two copies of your comment to Docket 
No. APHIS–2008–0107, 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–2008–0107. 
For further information contact: 
Mr. Javier Vargas, Animal Scientist, Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, National 
Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231;  +(1 301) 734 0756. 
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 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