. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/257
18 April 2000
(00-1563)
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: Environmental Protection Agency - EPA
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Pesticides
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Notice of filing a pesticide petition
to establish exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for urea and nitric acid
(5 pages)
5. Description of content: This notice announces the initial filing of pesticide petitions
proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of certain pesticide chemicals in or
on various food commodities.
EPA has received a pesticide petition proposing, pursuant to section 408(d) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d), to amend 40 CFR part 180 to
establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for urea in or on raw agricultural
commodities, in processed commodities, and in or on meat and meat by products of cattle,
sheep, hogs, goats, horses, and poultry, milk, and dairy products, eggs, seafood and
shellfish, and fruits and vegetables when such residues result from the use of urea as a
component of a food contact surface sanitizing solution for use in food handling
establishments. The request is for an unlimited clearance. EPA has determined that thepetition contains data or information regarding the elements set forth in section 408(d)(2) of
the FFDCA; however, EPA has not fully evaluated the sufficiency of the submitted data at
this time or whether the data supports granting of the petition. Additional data may be
needed before EPA rules on the petition.
EPA has received a pesticide petition proposing, pursuant to section 408(d) of FFDCA, 21
U.S.C. 346a(d), to amend 40 CFR part 180 to establish an exemption from the requirement
of a tolerance for nitric acid in or on raw agricultural commodities, in processed
commodities, and in or on meat and meat bypr oducts of cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, horses,
and poultry, milk, and dairy products, eggs, seafood and shellfish, and fruits and vegetables
when such residues result from the use of nitric acid as a component of a food contactsurface sanitizing solution for use in food handling establishments at 1,000 parts per
million (ppm).
EPA has determined that the petition contains data or information regarding the elements
set forth in section 408(d)(2) of the FFDCA ; however, EPA has not fully evaluated the
sufficiency of the submitted data at this time or whether the data supports granting of thepetition. Additional data may be needed before EPA rules on the petition.G/SPS/N/USA/257
Page 2
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] 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 [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  No Codex maximum residue levels have been
established for urea or nitric acid.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 18324,
7 April 2000 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  8 May 2000.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  Environmental Protection Agency.
[    ] 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. WilsonRoom 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov