. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1241 
8 March 2006 
 (06-1011) 
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:  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):  Forests and ornamental lawns and turf.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Any 
U.S. trade partners.  
5. Title, language and number of p ages of the notified document:  Notice.  Boric Acid / 
Sodium Borate Salts Risk Assessment; Noti ce of Availability (Available in English, 
2 pages.).  
6. Description of content:  This notice announces the availab ility of EPA's risk assessment, 
and related documents for the pesticide boric  acid/sodium borate salts, and opens a 60 day 
public comment period on these documents.  Th e public is encouraged to suggest risk 
management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. 
Boric acid and sodium borate salts are used as acaricides, algaecides, fungicides, herbicides, 
and insecticides.  Boric acid and sodium borat e salts are frequently used for control of 
insects such as ants or roaches by application in non-agricultural food and feed areas.  Other 
uses include use in animal housing, turf, w ood preservatives, forests, sewage systems, 
transportation and storage facilities, medi cal/veterinary institutions, uncultivated 
agricultural/nonagricultural areas, refuse/solid  waste sites, swimming pool algae control, 
ornamental lawns and turf, paved areas and aquatic structures.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ X ] food safety,  [ X ] animal health,  [ X ] plant protection, 
[ X ] 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/1241 
Page 2  
 
  9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Federal Register: 
22 February 2006 (Volume 71, Number35, Pages: 9112 - 9114), http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA- PEST/2006/February/Day-22/p2471.htm  Available in 
English.  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  This is a notice of availability and may or may not result in a 
future regulatory action.  A notice invites the public to submit additional scientific 
information and comments to the Agency.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not specified. 
12. Final date for comments:  Comments must be received on or before 24 April 2006.  
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:  Special Review and Re-registration Division (7508C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001  
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:   
Ms Julie Morin, United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign 
Agricultural Service, Food Safety & Technical Services Division, Stop 1027, Washington 
D.C. 20250.  Tel:  202-720-4051;  Fax:  202-690-0677;  Email:  fstsd@fas.usda.gov