. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1831 
18 June 2008  
 (08-2886) 
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 :  
Mauritius  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Interim rule and request 
for comments:  Add Mauritius to the List of  Regions Where African Swine Fever Exists 
(Docket No. APHIS–2007–0151) (available in English, 2 pages)  
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health In spection Service is amending the 
regulations concerning the impor tation of animals and animal products by adding Mauritius 
to the list of regions where African swine fever exists.  We are taking this action because outbreaks of African swine fever have been confirmed in various locations throughout 
Mauritius.  This action will restrict the im portation of pork and pork products into the 
United States from Mauritius 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:  On 19 October 2007, 
the Republic of Mauritius reported to the Wo rld Organization for Animal Health three 
outbreaks of ASF in various areas throughout the country.  The source of the outbreak is 
unknown.  Therefore, in order to prevent the introduction of ASF into the United States, we are amending the regulations by adding Mauritiu s to the list in § 94.8 of regions where 
ASF exists or is reasonably belie ved to exist.  As a result of this action, the importation into 
the United States of pork and pork products fro m Mauritius will be restricted.  We are 
imposing this restriction retroactively to 17 October 2007, which is the date that the 
presence of ASF in Mauritius was confirmed. G/SPS/N/USA/1831 
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:  Chapter 2.6.6. of the Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code specifies the conditions fo r freedom from African Swine Fever.  This 
action does not deviate significantly from the standard. 
10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   Federal Register:  
20 February 2008 (Volume 73, Number 34), Pages 9174-9175; available in English. 
Available online via http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html ; select 2008 FR Vol. 73, 
and type in 9174. 
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  20 February 2008 
(retroactive to 17 October 2007) 
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 recei ve on or before 21 April 2008.  You may 
submit comments by either of the following methods:  
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:  Go to 
http://www.regulations.gov/f dmspublic/component/main?ma in=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-
2007-0151  to submit 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–2007–0151, Regulatory Analysis a nd Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdal e, MD 20737–1238. Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0151. 
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; tel. +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