[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53482-53483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26774]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


North American Free Trade Agreement: Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Committee

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with legislation implementing the North American 
Free Trade Agreement, we are informing the public of a meeting to be 
held Thursday, October 15, 1998 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) in Washington, D.C. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit 
public comment on proposed agenda items for the next scheduled meeting 
of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee, November 4-5, 1998, in Mexico City, 
Mexico. It is also to seek public input in identifying any new issues 
of concern that should be considered for the agenda. Representatives 
from each of the SPS Committee's eight Technical Working Groups (TWGs) 
will also be present to apprise the public of each TWG's progress and 
to respond to questions.
    The November meeting will be the Seventh Meeting of the NAFTA SPS 
Committee and will include the co-chairs from the TWGs that report to 
the Committee. The purpose of the NAFTA SPS Committee is to address 
sanitary and phytosanitary trade issues affecting the entry of 
agricultural products among the three member countries.

DATES: The public meeting date is Thursday, October 15, 1998, 2:00 p.m. 
to 4:00 p.m., Washington, DC. Written comments should be submitted by 
October 12, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lisa Anderson, Foreign Agricultural Service, International Trade 
Policy, Food Safety and Technical Services Division, Room 5545, South 
Building, 14th Street the Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 
20250, (202) 720-1301; or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Article 722 of NAFTA, the 
NAFTA SPS Committee is responsible for facilitating: (a) the 
enhancement of food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary conditions in 
the territories of the part is; (b) activities of the Parties pursuant 
to Articles 713 and 714 relating respectively to international 
standards and equivalence; (c) technical cooperation; and (d) 
consultation on specific bilateral issues. An SPS issue can be raised 
by any party and is sent to the Committee for consideration. The 
Committee will either consider the matter itself or refer the issue to 
an individual, working group or relevant standard setting organization 
for technical advice.
    Since the entry into force of NAFTA on January 1, 1994, the NAFTA 
SPS Committee has met on six separate occasions: March 24, 1994 in 
Washington, DC; October 6, 1994 in Washington, DC; September 21, 1995 
in Mexico City, February 14, 1996 in Mexico City; June 20, 1996 in 
Ottawa; and November 18-19, 1997 in Washington, DC. The Committee meets 
at least once a year with meetings rotating among the three countries. 
Starting in 1998, the dates for meetings of the NAFTA SPS Committee are 
fixed for the first week in November. Each TWG is to send at least one 
representative to the annual Committee meeting to report on its 
progress and activity. The eight TWGS under the NAFTA SPS Committee and 
their points of contact (POC) are as follows:

1. Animal Health,
    POC: Dr. Tom Walton, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS)
2. Dairy, Fruits, Vegetables and Processed Foods
    POC: Dr. Terry Troxell, Office of Plant & Dairy Foods & Beverages, 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
3. Food Additives and Contaminants
    POC: Dr. Alan Rulis, Office of Pre-Market Approval, FDA
4. Fish & Fishery Product Inspection
    POC: Dr. Philip Spiller, Office of Seafood, FDA
5. Meat, Poultry & Egg Inspection
    POC: Dr. John Prucha, Food Safety Inspection Service, USDA
6. Pesticides
    POC: Ms. Marcia Mulkey, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency
7. Plant Health, Seeds & Fertilizers
    POC: Mr. Alan Green, Phytosantiary Issues Management Team, APHIS/
USDA
8. Veterinary Drugs & Feed.
    POC: Dr. Robert Livingstone, Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA

    Note: At present, the Technical Working Group on Labeling, 
Packaging and Standards is an independent working group which 
provides reports to the NAFTA SPS as well as other committees.

PUBLIC MEETING: The public meeting will take place at the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C., 
(at the back of USDA cafeteria, 1st floor).
WRITTEN COMMENTS: Those persons wishing to submit written comments 
should provide five (5) typed copies to John Payne, Director for SPS 
Affairs, Office of the United States Trade Representatives, 600 17th 
St., NW, Room 421; Washington, DC 20508. If the submission contains 
business confidential information, five copies of a confidential 
version must also be submitted. A justification as to why the 
information contained in the submission should be treated 
confidentially must be included in the submission. In addition, any 
submissions containing business confidential information must be 
clearly marked ``Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page 
(or letter) and of each succeeding page of the submission. The version 
that does not contain confidential information should also be clearly 
marked, at the top and bottom of each page, ``public version'' or 
``nonconfidential.''
    Written comments submitted in connection with this request, except 
for information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 
CFR 20003.6, will be available for public inspection in the USTR 
Reading Room, Room 101, Office of the United States Trade 
Representatives, 600 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. An appointment 
to review the file may be made by calling Brenda Webb (202) 395-6186. 
The Reading Room is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon,

[[Page 53483]]

and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-26774 Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M