. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1488 
16 January 2007 
 (07-0179) 
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 a nd vegetables.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Korea. 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Notice:  Importation of 
Unshu Oranges From the Republic of Korea Into  Alaska (Available in English;  6 pages). 
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Health Inspection Service is proposing to amend 
the fruits and vegetables regulations governing the importation of citrus fruit to allow fresh 
Unshu oranges from the Republic of Korea to be imported into the State of Alaska under certain conditions.  As a condition of entry, the oranges would have to be prepared for 
shipping using packinghouse procedures that include culling of damaged or diseased fruit 
and washing in a water bath.  In addition, th e oranges would have to be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the oranges were 
inspected and found free from Xanthomonas axonop odis pv. citri and Unaspis yanonensis.  
The individual cartons or boxes in which the Unshu oranges are shipped would also have to be stamped or printed with a statement restri cting their importation and distribution to the 
State of Alaska.  This action would allow for the importation of Unshu oranges from the 
Republic of Korea into Alaska while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine 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. 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/1488 
Page 2  
 
  9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal Register: 
4 December 2006, Volume 71, Number 232 [Page 70330-70335].  Available in English:  http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-
20422.htm 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  N/A. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  N/A.  
12. Final date for comments:  2 February 2007.  Comments 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:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [   ] 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:  Mr. Alex Belano, Import Special ist, Commodity Import 
Analysis and Operations, Plant Health Progr ams, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 301-734-8765  
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:  United 
States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Standards Di vision (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 
20250.  Tel:  202-720-1301;  Fax:  2 02-690-0677;  Email:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov