. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1527 
24 April 2007 
 (07-1673) 
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:  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):  N/A 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Any 
US trade partners  
5. Title, language and number of pages of  the notified document:  FINAL RULE .  
Ethylene Oxide; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public 
Comment (available in English, 2 pages)  
6. Description of content:  EPA has received a quarantine ex emption request from the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to  use the pesticide ethylene oxide (EtO); 
Receipt (CAS No. 75-21-8) to sterilize the interior  surfaces of enclosed animal isolator units 
to control microorganisms to create a germ free environment for research at USDA National 
Veterinary Services laboratories (NVSL) and at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, Iowa.  The application prop oses the use of a pesticide containing an 
active ingredient which is the subject of a Special Review.  Due to the urgent nature of the emergency and the very narrow and extrem ely limited use being requested, EPA has 
eliminated the public comment period.  Noneth eless, interested parties may still contact the 
Agency with comments about this notice and treatment program.  
7. Objective and rationale:  [   ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [ X ] protect territory from other damage from pests       
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:  USDA has requested 
the Administrator to issue a quarantine exempti on for the use of EtO on the interior surfaces 
of enclosed animal isolator units to inactiv ate forms of microbial life in an inanimate 
environment, including all forms of vegetativ e bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi, fungal 
spores, and viruses to create a germ free environment for animal research. Information in 
accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request.  As part of this 
request, the Applicant asserts that there are no control products labeled for this use on 
animal isolator units which c ould provide the degree of ster ilization required for the conduct 
of this research.  Without the ability to ster ilize the animal isolator units, NVSL and NADC 
would not be able to conduct studies of national importance.  G/SPS/N/USA/1527 
Page 2  
 
  9. 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:        
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal Register: 
4 April 2007 (Volume 72, Number 64) Notices Page 16356-16357; 
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2007/April/Day-04/p6249.htm  
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This regulation is 
effective 4 April 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:  Registration Division, (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.  
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: 202-
720-1301;  Fax:  202-690-0677;  E-mail:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov