. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/2030 
9 June 2010  
 (10-3155) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Hass avocados 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Mexico  
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed Rule:  Hass Avocados from Mexico; 
Importation into the Commonwealth of Pu erto Rico and Other Changes (Docket 
No. APHIS-2008-0060)  Language:  English  Number of pages:  3   
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to 
amend its fruits and vegetables re gulations to provide for the importation of hass avocados 
from Mexico into Puerto Rico under the same systems approach  currently required for the 
importation of hass avocados into all States of  the United States from Michoacán, Mexico.  
The systems approach requirements include  trapping, orchard certification, limited 
production area, trace back labelling, pre-harv est orchard surveys for all pests, orchard 
sanitation, post-harvest safeguards, fruit cu tting and inspection at the packinghouse, port-
of-arrival inspection, and clearance activities.  This action would allow for the importation 
of hass avocados from Michoacán, Mexico, into Puerto Rico while continuing to provide 
protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.  In addition, we are proposing to amend the regulations to provide for the Mexi can national plant protection organization to 
use an approved designee to inspect avocados  for export and to suspend importation of 
avocados into the United States from Michoacán , Mexico, only from specific orchards or 
packinghouses when quarantine p ests are detected, rather than suspending imports from the 
entire municipality where the affected orch ards or packinghouses are located.  These 
changes would provide additional flexibilit y in operating the export program 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.    G/SPS/N/USA/2030 
Page 2  
 
  8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal 
Register:  14 May 2010 (Volume 75, Number 93), Pages 27225-27227;  available in 
English at:  http://edocket.access.gpo.go v/2010/2010-11598.htm    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  13 July 2010 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
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–2008-0060) to subm it or view comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. 
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:  Please send two copies of your comment to Docket 
No. APHIS–2008–0060, 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–2008–0060. 
For further information contact:  Mr. Davi d B. Lamb, Import Specialist, Regulatory 
Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231;  +(1 301) 734 0627 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
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:  +(1 202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov