. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/549
5 February 2002
(02-0539)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service - APHIS
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Meat and meat products
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Change in Disease Status of
Estonia With Regard to Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (4 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
proposing to amend the regulations to add Estonia to the list of regions that are considered
free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease.  We are taking this action because we have
determined that Estonia is free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease.  We are alsoproposing to add Estonia to the list of regions that are subject to certain import restrictions
on meat and meat products because of their proximity to or trading relationships with
rinderpest-or foot-and-mouth disease-affected  countries.  These actions would update the
disease status of Estonia with regard to rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease while
continuing to protect the United States from an introduction of those diseases by providing
additional requirements for any meat and meat products imported into the United States
from Estonia.
6. 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           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  APHIS is taking this action in accordance with
Chapter 2.1.1 and 2.1.4 of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Animal Health
Code.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 67 FR 4927,
1 February 2002 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/549
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  APHIS invites you to comment.  We will consider all comments
we receive that are postmarked, delivered, or e-mailed by 2 April 2002.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:  Detailed instruction on where and how to send comments is in
the body of the full text - which will be sent upon request to the address in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
United States SPS Enquiry Point/Notification Authority
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov