[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 135 (Wednesday, July 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38148-38153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18839]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-027-1]


International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting 
Activities

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with legislation implementing the results of the 
Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade, we are informing the public of international standard-
setting activities of the Office International des Epizooties, the 
Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the 
North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting 
public comment on the standards to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
Docket No. 98-027-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 
Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please 
state in your letter that your comments refer to Docket No. 98-027-1, 
and state the name of the committee or working group to which your 
comments are addressed. Comments received may be inspected at USDA, 
room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested to 
call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment 
reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Greifer, Acting Director, 
Trade Support Team, International Services, APHIS, room 1128, South 
Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, 
20250, (202) 720-7677; or e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4a202d382f232c2f380a2b3a222339643f392e2b642d253c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97fdf0e5f2fef1f2e5d7f6e7fffee4b9e2e4f3f6b9f0f8e1">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The World Trade Organization (WTO) was 
established on January 1, 1995, as the common international 
institutional framework for the conduct of trade relations among its 
members in matters related to the Uruguay Round Agreements. The WTO is 
the successor organization to the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade. U.S. membership in the WTO was approved by Congress when it 
enacted the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, which was signed into law 
(Public Law 103-465) by the President on December 8, 1994. The Uruguay 
Round Agreements Act amended title IV of the Trade Agreements Act of 
1979 (19 U.S.C. 2531 et seq.) by adding a new subtitle F, 
``International Standard-Setting Activities.'' Subtitle F requires the 
President to designate an agency to be responsible for informing the 
public of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting 
activities of each international standard-setting organization. The 
designated agency must inform the public by publishing a notice in the 
Federal Register that provides the following information: (1) The 
sanitary or phytosanitary standards under consideration or planned for 
consideration by the international standard-setting organization; and 
(2) for each sanitary or phytosanitary (SPS) standard specified: a 
description of the consideration or planned consideration of the 
standard; whether the United States is participating or plans to 
participate in the consideration of the standard; the agenda for United 
States participation, if any; and the agency responsible for 
representing the United States with respect to the standard.
    Subtitle F defines ``international standard'' as a standard, 
guideline, or recommendation: (1) Adopted by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission (Codex) regarding food safety; (2) developed under the 
auspices of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) regarding 
animal health and zoonoses; (3) developed under the auspices of the 
Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in 
cooperation with the North American Plant Protection Organization 
(NAPPO) regarding plant health; or (4) established by or developed 
under any other international organization agreed to by the member 
countries of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or by 
member countries of the WTO.
    The President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995 
(60 FR 15845), designated the United States Department of Agriculture 
as the agency responsible for informing the public of the SPS standard-
setting activities of Codex, OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO. This responsibility 
was delegated to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) 
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for Codex activities and 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for OIE, IPPC, and 
NAPPO activities.
    FSIS is responsible for publishing an annual notice in the Federal 
Register to inform the public of SPS standard-setting activities for 
Codex. Codex was created in 1962 by two United Nations organizations, 
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health 
Organization. It is the major international organization for 
encouraging international trade in food and protecting the health and 
economic interests of consumers.
    APHIS is responsible for publishing notice of OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO 
activities related to international standards and representing the 
United States with respect to these standards.
    Following are descriptions of OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO scheduled 
activities for the coming year. In some cases, working groups and 
committees have not yet set meeting dates and locations or determined 
specific standards to be discussed. The OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO sanitary 
and phytosanitary standard-setting activities for the coming year may 
be modified as emergency situations may affect the agenda of each 
standard-setting body.

OIE Standard-Setting Activities

    The OIE was created in Paris, France, in 1924 with the signing of 
an international agreement by 28 countries. It is currently composed of 
151 member nations, each of which is represented by a delegate, who, in 
most cases, is the chief veterinary officer of that country.
    The WTO has designated the OIE as the international forum for 
setting animal health standards, reporting global animal situations and 
disease status, and presenting guidelines and recommendations on 
sanitary measures.
    The OIE facilitates intergovernmental cooperation to prevent the 
spread of contagious diseases in animals through the sharing of 
scientific research among its members. The major function of the OIE is 
to ensure that scientifically justified standards govern international 
trade in animals and animal products. The OIE aims to achieve this 
through the development and revision of international standards for 
diagnostic tests and vaccines for the safe international trade of 
animals and animal products.

[[Page 38149]]

    The OIE provides annual reports on the global distribution of 
animal diseases, recognizes disease-free status of member countries, 
categorizes animal diseases with respect to their international 
significance, publishes bulletins on global disease status and timely 
reviews of pertinent animal health issues, and provides animal disease 
control guidelines to member countries.
    Positions, policies, and standards established by the OIE can be 
adopted by consensus or by vote of the delegates upon recommendations 
from various commissions and working groups within the OIE. The 
following is a list of those commissions and groups. Each listing 
contains a description of the general purpose of the commission or 
group, the items on its current agenda, and the dates and locations of 
its meetings. Also listed are the U.S. agencies represented or serving 
as contact points on each commission or group. Commission and working 
group members are drawn from the five OIE regional commissions and are 
selected based on their expertise; each commission is made up of three 
to six members. The scientific community of the United States has the 
honor of being represented on most, but not all, of the commissions.

OIE Commissions and Working Groups

    1. Committee/Working Group: General Session.
    U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS; Alternate--
International Services, USDA-APHIS.
    General Purpose: Establish, review, and adopt international 
standards dealing with animal health.
    Date of Meeting: May (annually).
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Animal health standards related to trade, 
including risk assessment standards, global disease control procedures, 
regionalization, specific disease issues, and quality assurance of 
veterinary services.
    2. Committee/Working Group: Regional Commission for the Americas.
    U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS.
    General Purpose: The Regional Commission for the Americas is one of 
five OIE Regional Commissions. Regional Commissions nominate candidates 
for election to the expert commissions and working groups, discuss 
regional animal health issues, and propose topics of regional concern 
as agenda items or for scientific review at upcoming meetings of the 
OIE General Session.
    Date of Meeting: May (annually) and March or April (every 2 years).
    Location of Meeting: Variable.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Location of regional office for the 
Americas, animal health disease control issues of regional concern.
    3. Committee/Working Group: Standards Commission.
    U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS.
    General Purpose: The Standards Commission recommends new standards 
and changes in existing international standards for diagnostic tests 
and vaccines. These changes, when approved by the General Session, are 
published in the OIE Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and 
Vaccines.
    Dates of Meetings: February and September (twice annually).
    Location of Meetings: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Review and recommend revisions to 
international diagnostic test standards published in the OIE Manual of 
Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines; review OIE reference 
laboratories, OIE reference sera, and laboratory quality assurance, and 
make recommendations to the OIE International Animal Health Code 
Commission; discuss the most appropriate diagnostic procedures for 
specific animal and poultry diseases.
    4. Committee/Working Group: International Animal Health Code 
Commission.
    U.S. Participant: International Services, USDA-APHIS.
    General Purpose: The International Animal Health Code Commission 
develops and updates disease-specific international standards regarding 
the movement of animals and animal products and generic standards for 
animal transport, regionalization and risk assessment procedures, 
surveillance and monitoring guidelines, and evaluation of animal health 
infrastructures. The Director General appoints ad-hoc groups of experts 
to assist the Commission in the drafting and review of disease 
standards. When adopted by the General Session, these standards are 
published in the OIE International Animal Health Code, the WTO-
recognized manual of standards for international movement of animals 
and animal products.
    Date of Meeting: January and September (twice annually).
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: The International Animal Health Code 
Commission reviews and updates the Code. Proposed changes are 
circulated twice yearly to member countries for comments, and are then 
submitted for adoption at the General Session.
    5. Committee/Working Group: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Other 
Epizootics Commission.
    U.S. Participant: None.
    General Purpose: The FMD and Other Epizootics Commission monitors 
the world status of FMD and other major animal diseases and prepares 
epidemiological recommendations for adoption by the General Assembly.
    Date of Meeting: January and September (twice annually).
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Current issues facing the Commission: 
International standards for FMD serological testing, protocols for 
endorsement of FMD-free areas, standards for epidemiological 
surveillance for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, surveillance and 
monitoring standards for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and 
criteria for recognition of BSE-free status.
    6. Committee/Working Group: Fish Diseases Commission.
    U.S. Participant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of 
Interior.
    General Purpose: The Fish Diseases Commission drafted an Aquatic 
Animal Health Code and a Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases 
that contain international standards for fish diseases. These manuals 
have been approved by the General Session.
    Date of Meeting: September (annually).
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Current activities of the Fish Diseases 
Commission: Continual updating of the OIE fish disease manuals, 
preparation of the annual OIE report on the worldwide status of fish 
diseases, and planning and hosting international conferences on current 
topics in aquatic animal health.
    7. Committee/Working Group: Ad Hoc Working Group on Biotechnology.
    U.S. Participant: Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural 
Research Service, USDA.
    General Purpose: The Ad Hoc Working Group on Biotechnology reviews 
the biotechnological aspects of each chapter of the OIE Manual for 
Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines and prepares an annual report and 
recommendations dealing with biotechnology for consideration by the 
General Session. The Working Group has also developed an international 
database on sources of biotechnologically engineered vaccines and 
diagnostic reagents.
    Date of Meeting: The working group meets when called by the 
Director General.

[[Page 38150]]

    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Current issues facing the working group: 
Ongoing reviews of diagnostic test kits, applications of genetic 
engineering to animal health, veterinary products developed using 
biotechnology, and possible uses of new biotechnological techniques in 
veterinary medicine.
    8. Committee/Working Group: Working Group on Veterinary Drug 
Registration.
    U.S. Participant: Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug 
Administration, in cooperation with USDA-APHIS.
    General Purpose: Prepares recommendations for the General Session.
    Date of Meeting: Every 2 years.
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Current issues facing the working group: 
Developing training programs for veterinary drug registration officials 
of OIE member countries and assisting an OIE ad hoc group in developing 
draft international guidelines for veterinary drug registration.
    9. Committee/Working Group: Working Group on Informatics and 
Epidemiology.
    U.S. Participant: USDA-APHIS is a consultant to the working group.
    General Purpose: The Working Group on Informatics and Epidemiology 
develops programs to increase the efficiency of OIE communications and 
to assist animal health officials of member countries to more 
effectively utilize contemporary communications technology. One project 
of the working group is HandiStatus, an information network on animal 
diseases of international importance.
    Date of Meeting: The working group meets when called by the 
Director General.
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: The working group is currently developing 
a Windows version of HandiStatus and designing and developing the OIE 
web page.
    10. Committee/Working Group: Working Group on Wildlife Diseases.
    U.S. Participant: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, 
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia.
    General Purpose: The working group addresses the relationship 
between diseases of wildlife and those of domestic animals and poultry.
    Date of Meeting: The working group meets when called by the 
Director General, usually annually in the summer or fall.
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Some issues currently facing the working 
group are: development of reporting methods for wildlife diseases 
(particularly those naturally transmissible between domesticated and 
wild species); facilitating worldwide wildlife disease surveillance and 
the applicability of routine diagnostic tests to wildlife species; and 
problems related to propagation of wildlife species in captivity and 
the disease hazards associated with their release from zoos or game 
farms.
    11. Committee/Working Group: Ad Hoc Group on Transmissible 
Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs): Coordination of Research and 
Epidemiological Studies
    U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS (periodically, 
depending upon expertise required at each specific meeting).
    General Purpose: The group reports its findings and research 
recommendations on TSEs and BSE to the Code Commission.
    Date of Meeting: At the request of the Director General.
    Location of Meeting: Paris, France.
    Major Discussion/Agenda: Updating information on TSEs.
    For further information on any of the OIE standards, publications, 
or commissions or working groups, contact Dr. Robert F. Kahrs, Trade 
Policy Liaison, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-6194; or e-
mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3143575a505943427150415958421f444255501f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c2b0a4a9a3aab0b182a3b2aaabb1ecb7b1a6a3eca5adb4">[email protected]</span></a>.

IPPC Standard-Setting Activities

    The IPPC is an international treaty, first ratified in 1952, aimed 
at promoting international cooperation to control and prevent the 
spread of harmful plant pests associated with the movement of people 
and commodities.
    The Convention has been, and continues to be, administered at the 
national level by plant quarantine officials whose primary objective is 
to safeguard plant resources from injurious pests. Under the IPPC, the 
understanding of plant protection has been, and continues to be, broad, 
encompassing the protection of both cultivated and noncultivated plants 
from direct or indirect injury by plant pests.
    In last year's notice, we explained that the IPPC was undergoing 
revision as a result of the WTO Agreement on the Application of 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS Agreement). Signatory 
countries agreed on the need to revise the Convention to reflect 
significant changes in international trade and plant quarantine since 
the last revision of the IPPC. New revised text was adopted by the FAO 
Conference in November 1997.
    One of the primary objectives of the revision process was to ensure 
that the IPPC was able to develop international standards, guidelines, 
and recommendations as envisioned in the SPS Agreement. The standards, 
guidelines, and recommendations developed by the IPPC are important 
within the framework of the SPS Agreement for two reasons. First, a WTO 
member is required to base its phytosanitary measures on international 
standards, guidelines, and recommendations where they exist, or justify 
a measure that achieves a higher level of protection. Second, a 
standard, guideline, or recommendation developed by the IPPC serves as 
a ``safe haven'' standard, i.e., a national phytosanitary measure that 
conforms to an IPPC standard will be presumed to be consistent with the 
requirements set forth in the WTO SPS Agreement and in the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
    Member countries agreed that in order for the IPPC to fulfill its 
role as a standard-setting body, the IPPC would have to strengthen its 
capability to develop phytosanitary standards. Although the IPPC began 
developing and adopting standards following the establishment of the 
Secretariat in 1993, it had not formalized the institutional capability 
for producing phytosanitary standards in the Convention. The revision 
of the IPPC began with the primary intent to (1) Institutionalize a 
standard-setting capability within the IPPC and (2) ensure consistency 
between the IPPC and the WTO SPS Agreement by incorporating and 
clarifying within the IPPC a number of phytosanitary concepts contained 
in the WTO SPS Agreement. The revised IPPC established the Commission 
on Phytosanitary Measures as the body responsible for carrying out the 
objectives of the revised IPPC. However, the revised IPPC will not be 
in force until two-thirds of the member countries accept the revisions. 
Until this happens, FAO has approved the meeting of an Interim 
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, which will serve in the role 
designed for the Commission in the revised IPPC, but actions will not 
receive official recognition without FAO council action.
    The revised IPPC also formalized the role of the IPPC Secretariat, 
which is responsible for implementing the policies and activities of 
the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. The Secretariat is appointed 
by the

[[Page 38151]]

Director General of FAO and is responsible for the dissemination of 
information to IPPC member countries regarding (1) Proposed and 
approved standards; (2) lists of regulated pests; (3) phytosanitary 
requirements, restrictions, and prohibitions; and (4) translations of 
all standards and meeting documentation into the official languages of 
FAO.

The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures

    The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures actively examines the 
state of plant protection in the world and proposes and establishes 
standards that help to eliminate plant pests and control their spread. 
The Commission is composed of technically competent officials from 
member countries who are ultimately responsible for implementing IPPC 
standards and policies in their countries. The Commission provides 
member countries with a forum in which to propose international 
standards and discuss and exchange information on phytosanitary 
measures, standards, and other issues of concern.
    IPPC standards are proposed in a number of ways. The IPPC 
Secretariat may initiate development of a draft standard by forming a 
working group to develop a standard deemed a priority by IPPC members. 
Draft standards or discussion papers may also be submitted to the 
Secretariat for IPPC consideration by regional or national plant 
protection organizations or other interested parties. The IPPC 
Secretariat refers draft standards to the Committee of Experts on 
Phytosanitary Measures (CEPM), which considers the drafts and 
recommends action. Drafts approved by the CEPM are then submitted to 
member countries for consultation and comment (country consultation). 
Comments made during country consultation are then considered by the 
Secretariat, which revises the standard before resubmitting it to the 
CEPM.
    If the CEPM approves the revised draft, it is submitted to the 
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures for adoption.
    Each member country is represented on the Commission by a single 
delegate. Although experts and advisers may accompany the delegate to 
meetings of the Commission, only the delegate or an authorized 
alternate may vote on proposed standards or other initiatives. Parties 
involved in a vote by the Commission are to make every effort to reach 
agreement on all matters by consensus. Only after all efforts to reach 
a consensus have been exhausted may a decision on a standard be passed 
by a vote of two-thirds of delegates present and voting.
    Technical experts from the United States have participated directly 
in working groups and indirectly as reviewers of all IPPC draft 
standards. In addition, documents and positions developed by APHIS and 
NAPPO have served as the basis for many of the standards adopted to 
date.

Scheduled IPPC Meetings

    The first meeting of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary 
Measures will be held in Rome, November 3-6, 1998.
    The 10th Technical Consultation of Regional Plant Protection 
Organizations will be held in Rome, November 9-10, 1998.
    The Regulated Non-quarantine Pest Working Group will convene during 
the first week of October 1998 (tentative), at a location to be 
determined.
    The next meeting of the Committee of Experts on Phytosanitary 
Measures (CEPM) is tentatively scheduled for the second week in May, 
1999.

Status of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures

    Various formal documents and standards are currently moving through 
different stages of development, review, and approval. The status of 
all IPPC formal documents and standards (existing, drafted, and 
proposed) is listed below.
    Existing Standards (subject to revision):
    <bullet> The International Plant Protection Convention (existing, 
and new revised text), revised November 1997.
    <bullet> Principles of Plant Quarantine as Related to International 
Trade (reference standard), adopted in 1993.
    <bullet> Code of Conduct for the Import and Release of Biological 
Control Agents, adopted November 1995.
    <bullet> Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis, adopted November 1995.
    <bullet> Requirements for the Establishment of Pest Free Areas, 
adopted November 1995.
    <bullet> Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms (reference standard), 
revised in September 1995.
    <bullet> Guidelines for Surveillance.
    <bullet> Export Certification System. Proposed standards to be 
submitted to the Commission for final approval in November 1998:
    <bullet> Determination of pest status.
    <bullet> Guidelines for pest eradication programs. Draft standards 
undergoing country consultation prior to meeting of regional plant 
protection organizations in November 1998:
    <bullet> Requirements for the establishment of pest-free places of 
production.
    <bullet> Inspection methodology.
    <bullet> Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests. Draft standards 
to be reviewed by the Council of Experts on Phytosanitary Measures in 
May 1999:
    <bullet> Guidelines for an import regulatory system.
    <bullet> Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates.
    <bullet> Guidelines for surveillance for specific pests: Citrus 
canker.
    Existing standards being updated for alignment with the revised 
IPPC (1997):
    <bullet> Principles of Plant Quarantine as Related to International 
Trade (first draft prepared by the Secretariat).
    <bullet> Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis (first draft prepared by 
the Secretariat).
    Standards under development by the IPPC. The following standards 
will be prioritized at the November 1998 meeting:
    <bullet> Guidelines for the preparation of regulated pest lists (no 
draft or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Technical justification for regulating nonquarantine pests 
(draft discussion paper by the IPPC Secretariat; working group for fall 
1998).
    <bullet> Guidelines for notification--interceptions and 
noncompliance (no draft or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Systems approaches for risk management (discussion paper 
in preparation).
    <bullet> Low pest prevalence (no draft or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Quarantine nomenclature for plants and plant products (no 
draft or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Dispute settlement (draft in preparation).
    <bullet> Procedures for the preparation of a standard (pending 
discussion by the Commission).
    <bullet> Pest-specific monitoring and testing requirements (no 
draft or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Training and accreditation of inspectors (no draft or 
discussion paper).
    <bullet> Pest control procedures (no draft or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Procedures for post-entry quarantine (no draft or 
discussion paper).
    <bullet> Systems for approving phytosanitary treatments (no draft 
or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Guidelines for research requirements for treatment 
efficacy (no draft or discussion paper).
    <bullet> Commodity-specific standards (no draft or discussion 
paper).
    Further information on the IPPC standards is available from the FAO 
web page at: <a href="http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agp/agpp/PQ/
Default.htm">http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agp/agpp/PQ/
Default.htm</a>. This page may contain outdated information but is 
tentatively

[[Page 38152]]

scheduled to be updated by July 31, 1998.
    Information on U.S. participation in IPPC standard setting, as well 
as up-to-date information on activities and meetings, is also available 
by contacting Mr. Alfred Elder, Acting Deputy Administrator, APHIS, 
USDA, room 302-E, Whitten Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250.

NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities

    NAPPO was created in 1976 to coordinate plant protection activities 
in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. NAPPO provides a mechanism by 
which the three countries can exchange information related to plant 
pest control. NAPPO cooperates with other regional plant protection 
organizations and the FAO to achieve the objectives of the IPPC.
    NAPPO conducts its business through permanent and ad hoc panels and 
annual meetings of the three member countries. The NAPPO Executive 
Committee charges individual panels with the responsibility for drawing 
up proposals for NAPPO positions, policies, and standards. These panels 
are made up of representatives from each member country who have 
scientific expertise related to the policy or standard being 
considered.
    Proposals drawn up by the individual panels are then circulated for 
review to government and industry by Canada, Mexico, and the United 
States, which may suggest revisions. Once revisions are made, the 
proposal is then sent to the NAPPO Working Group and the NAPPO 
Standards Panel for technical reviews, and finally to the Executive 
Committee for final approval, which is made by consensus.
    The following is a summary of panel charges as they relate to the 
development of standards (see the NAPPO web page for more information, 
including a list of U.S. participants on the panels, at <a href="http://
www.nappo.org">http://
www.nappo.org</a>):

NAPPO Standards Panel

    The NAPPO Standards Panel handles or supports development of NAPPO 
standards and other cross-commodity issues, reviews proposed 
international standards, and recommends NAPPO positions on proposed 
international standards. This panel reviews the standards proposed by 
the other panels before they are sent out for full review, with a focus 
on modifying such proposed standards where necessary to clarify whether 
NAPPO or FAO definitions and standards will apply to particular NAPPO 
activities.
    Other current charges to the Standards Panel include:
    <bullet> Proposing elements for an international standard on 
regulated nonquarantine pests to submit to the FAO.
    <bullet> Providing updates to the International Standards for 
Phytosanitary Measures and NAPPO Standards for the NAPPO Newsletter.

Accreditation Panel

    The panel will continue the development of the draft NAPPO Standard 
for Laboratory Accreditation for consideration by the NAPPO Working 
Group in July 1998 and approval by the Executive Committee in October 
1998.

Biological Control Panel

    No charges are currently available for this panel.

Biotechnology Panel

    The panel will continue working on issues related to transgenic 
crops in their centers of origin. This includes completion of the 
report of the workshop on transgenic maize held in Mexico City in 
October 1997.

Citrus Panel

    The panel will develop a draft NAPPO Standard for Phytosanitary 
Measures establishing requirements for the importation of citrus into a 
NAPPO member country.

Forestry Panel

    The panel will:
    <bullet> Incorporate comments from the Standards Panel into the 
draft NAPPO Dunnage Standard, circulate the draft for review, and 
revise it by June 30, 1998, for consideration by the NAPPO Working 
Group in July 1998. This draft standard is expected to require 
extensive review, and action may be suspended until each of the three 
countries has an opportunity for consultation with and input from 
affected parties.
    <bullet> Develop a glossary of phytosanitary terms unique to the 
forestry sector by June 30, 1998, for consideration by the NAPPO 
Working Group in July 1998 and approval by the Executive Committee in 
October 1998.

Fruit Fly Panel

    The panel will incorporate comments from the Standards Panel, 
circulate the draft Surveillance for Fruit Flies Standard for full 
review, and revise by June 30, 1998, for consideration by the Working 
Group in July 1998 and Executive Committee approval in October 1998.

Fruit Tree and Grapevine Nursery Stock Certification Panel

    The panel will:
    <bullet> Incorporate comments from the Standards Panel and 
circulate the draft Grapevine Standard for full review by June 30, 
1998, for consideration by the NAPPO Working Group in July 1998. The 
policy of this draft standard is being carefully reviewed to determine 
its impact on current industry practice. The review period will be 
extended as necessary to accommodate further consultation and review.
    <bullet> Continue work on development of Citrus, Prunus, and Malus 
standards; draft citrus standard for initial review by Standards Panel 
in July 1998, and circulate for full review in August 1998.

Grains Panel

    The panel will:
    <bullet> Review the treatment options available for risk management 
of Tilletia indica (Karnal bunt) and recommend treatments for 
endorsement by NAPPO.
    <bullet> Identify whether there are phytosanitary or commercial 
problems associated with weed seeds imported into, or shipped within, 
North America.
    <bullet> Develop harmonized procedures to deal with contaminated 
grain shipments.
    <bullet> Develop a harmonized regulatory approach to deal with 
shipments of grain contaminated with Tilletia species of ryegrass.

Pest Risk Analysis Panel

    The panel will classify areas within North America (as requested by 
the Grains Panel) according to the relative risk of the introduction 
(entry and establishment) of Tilletia indica.

Potato Panel

    The panel will begin work with the European Plant Protection 
Organization on a global standard for potatoes.

Training Panel

    The panel will develop criteria to assess the proficiency of 
persons to perform tasks described in the NAPPO Standard for the 
Accreditation of Individuals to Issue Phytosanitary Certificates by 
July 1998.
    The current NAPPO meeting schedule is as follows:

NAPPO Annual Meetings

    July 19-23, 1998, Halifax, Canada.
    October 18-22, 1998, Guanajuato, Mexico.

NAPPO Working Group

    July 20-22, 1998, Ottawa, Canada.
    October 18, 1998, Halifax, Canada.

[[Page 38153]]

NAPPO Executive Committee

    August 18, 1998, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.
    October 19, 1998, Halifax, Canada.
    Up-to-date information on NAPPO policies, standard setting 
activities, U.S. participants, and meeting agendas and dates is 
available on the NAPPO web page at http://www.nappo.org. Interested 
individuals may also contact Mr. Alfred Elder, Acting Deputy 
Administrator, PPQ, APHIS, room 302-E, Whitten Building, 14th Street 
and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.
    Comments on standards being considered or to be considered by any 
of the OIE, IPPC, or NAPPO committees or working groups listed above 
may be sent to APHIS as directed under the heading ADDRESSES.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of July, 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-18839 Filed 7-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P


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