. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/317
30 August 2000
(00-3401)
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: Imported Fruits and Vegetables.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document: Importation of Fruits and
Vegetables (12 pages).
5. Description of content: APHIS is proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations
to list a number of fruits and vegetables from certain parts of the world as eligible, under
specified conditions, for importation into the United States. All of the fruits and vegetables,
as a condition of entry, would be inspected and subject to disinfection at the port of firstarrival as may be required by a U.S. Departme nt of Agriculture inspector. In addition, some
of the fruits and vegetables would be required to be treated or meet other special conditions.
This action would provide the United States with additional kinds and sources of fruits and
vegetables while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of injurious plant
pests by imported fruits and vegetables. APHIS is also proposing to recognize the State of
Baja California Sur, Mexico, as an area free of certain fruit flies and recognize Belize and
the Department of Peten, Guatemala, as areas free of the Mediterranean fruit fly. This actionwould relieve import restrictions while continuing to prevent the introduction of plant pests
into the United States.
6. Objective and rationale: [   ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] 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 proposing this action in accordance
with Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the Intern ational Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 65 FR 50655,
21 August 2000;  Available in English.
9. Proposed date of adoption: To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/317
Page 2
10. Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined.
11. Final date for comments: 20 October 2000
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:  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
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: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] 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 10271400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677
     E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov