WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1962 
23 October 2009  
 (09-5244) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
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):  Prohibited Plant Genera ( Rutaceae ): Aeglopsis, Atalantia, Balsamocitrus, 
Bergera, Calodendrum, Citrofortunella, C itroncirus, Citrus, Cl ausena, Fortunella, 
Limonia, Microcitrus, Murraya, Poncirus, Severinia, Swinglea, Toddalia, and Triphasia  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners 
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Argentina, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Brazil, 
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Costa Rica, Comoros, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Ma uritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, 
Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Ré union, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saudi Arabia, 
Sri Lanka, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Chinese Taipei, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-
Leste, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.  
5. Title of the notified document:  Federal Quarantine Order: Citrus Greening Disease (CG) 
and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis (dated 6 October 2009)  Language:  English  Number of 
pages:  2   
6. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
issuing a Federal Order pursuant to the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of 20 June 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a), to prevent 
the entry and introduction of two harmful citr us diseases into the United States: bacteria 
Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the causal agent of citrus greening disease (CG) (also known 
as Huanglongbing/ HLB); and Xylella fastidiosa , the causal agent of citrus variegated 
chlorosis disease (CVC). 
To prevent the introduction of these harmful pest s into the United States, APHIS is issuing 
a revised Federal Quarantine Order prohibiting th e importation of seed of citrus and related 
genera from certain countries.  This Federa l Order updates and replaces the previous CG 
and CVC Federal Order (dated 29 January 2008)  by adding four countries, Belize, Cuba, 
Dominican Republic, and Mexico to the previous  list of countries, and is effective on 
6 November 2009.  Federal Orders  will remain in effect until they are revised by another 
Federal Order or until an interim rule on the subject is published. G/SPS/N/USA/1962 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] 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 reason for urgent action:  Citrus Greening (CG) 
and citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) are harmful plant pests which spread via hosts 
commodities.  CG and CVC are highly injuri ous diseases of citrus and information 
indicates that both CG and CVC can be tran smitted through the seeds to the resulting 
seedlings, although the rates of seed transm ission differ.  This quarantine action is 
necessary because the APHIS Administrator h as determined that the introduction and 
establishment of CG and CVC poses a serious th reat to many citrus and citrus related 
genera grown in the United States.  CG is f ound in several countries in Asia and Africa and 
has limited distribution in Central America, North America, South America and Oceania. 
CV is found in Central and South America.  CG affects over eighteen Rutacae genera while 
CVC affects only Citrus spp . 
9. Is there a relevant international standard ?  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)   
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to  the relevant international standard? 
 [X] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  This notification complies with the International Standard on 
Phytosanitary Measures No.13 "Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and 
emergency action".  This action is in accord ance with the principles related to emergency 
action of Article VII of the revised text of the International Plant Protection Convention. 
10. Other relevant documents and langu age(s) in which these are available:  
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/ plant_imports/federal_order/index.shtml    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
6 November 2009 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. 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:  For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please 
contact:  ppq.ippc.notification@aphis.usda.gov   G/SPS/N/USA/1962 
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  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 Fore ign 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.s psenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov