[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 191 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53657-53661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25722]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 191 / Monday, October 4, 1999 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-046-1]
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 your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 99-
046-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03,
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 99-046-1.
You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you,
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who
have commented on APHIS rules, are available on the Internet at http://
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Greifer, Director, Trade
Support Team, International Services, APHIS, room 1132, South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250; (202)
720-7677; or e-mail: John.K.G[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The World Trade Organization (WTO) was
established as the common international institutional framework for
governing 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
(Pub. L. 103-465), which was signed into law by the President on
December 8, 1994. The WTO Agreements, which established the WTO,
entered into force with respect to the United States on January 1,
1995. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act amended title IV of the Trade
Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2531 et seq.). Section 491 of the
Trade Agreement Act of 1979, as amended (19 U.S.C.2578), 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 an annual notice
in the Federal Register that provides the following information: (1)
The SPS standards under consideration or planned for consideration by
the international standard-setting organization; and (2) for each SPS
standard specified, a description of the consideration or planned
consideration of that standard, a statement of whether the United
States is participating or plans to participate in the consideration of
that standard, the agenda for U. S. participation, if any, and the
agency responsible for representing the United States with respect to
that standard.
``International standard'' is defined in 19 U.S.C.2578b as any
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
the member countries of the WTO.
The President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995
(60 FR 15845), designated the Secretary of Agriculture as the official
responsible for informing the public of the SPS standard-setting
activities of Codex, OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO. This responsibility was
delegated to 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 the OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO
organizations and the standard-setting agenda for each of these
institutions. Our intent is to describe the agenda that each of these
organizations will address at their annual general sessions, including
standards that may be presented for adoption or consideration, as well
as other initiatives that may be underway at the OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO.
OIE Standard-Setting Activities
The OIE was established in Paris, France, in 1924 with the signing
of an international agreement by 28 countries. It is currently composed
of 153 member nations, each of which is represented by a delegate who,
in most cases, is the
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chief veterinary officer of that country. The WTO has recognized 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 relating to animal
health.
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 functions of the OIE
are to collect and disseminate information about distribution and
control of animal diseases and 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, vaccines, and the safe
international trade of animals and animal products.
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. These
various commissions and working groups undertake the initial analysis
and preparation of draft standards. Drafts are then circulated to
member countries for review and comment. Draft standards are revised
accordingly and then presented to the OIE General Session, which meets
annually every May, for review and adoption. Adoption, as a general
rule, is based on consensus of the OIE membership.
The next OIE General Session is scheduled for Paris, France, May
22-26, 2000. The Deputy Administrator for APHIS' Veterinary Services is
the U.S. delegate to the OIE. The Deputy Administrator intends to
participate in the proceedings. The agenda is expected to include the
following items:
Election of Officers
Current officers of the various OIE commissions and the current
Director General will have completed their respective terms of office.
OIE members will elect new officers. The Director General serves for 5
years while other officers serve for 3 years.
Standards up for Adoption or Consideration
Scrapie: Revisions to the OIE Code, Chapter 3.3.8, on
scrapie disease.
Bee diseases: Revisions to the OIE Code, Chapter 3.8.1--
3.8.5.
Current Work Program
Working groups will report their progress to the General Session.
For updates on meeting times and for information on the working groups
that becomes available following publication of this notice, contact
Dr. Gary Colgrove, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD
20737-1231; (301) 734-8364; or e-mail: Gary.S.C[email protected].
The following describes the current undertakings of the working
groups, it is not a list of standards up for consideration or adoption:
Zoning and regionalization: Revisions to the OIE Code,
Chapter 1.4.4, on regionalization will be prepared by the next meeting
of the Code Commission. It is uncertain whether this revised chapter
will be ready for adoption by the General Session in May 2000.
Model certificate for milk and milk products: An effort
will be made to develop guidelines for certifying milk and milk
products. The International Dairy Federation will attempt to draft such
guidelines by September 1999.
Enzootic bovine leukosis: Revisions to the OIE Code,
Chapter 3.2.4.
International trade in animals, organs, tissues, or cells
intended for xenotransplantation: The OIE working group on
biotechnology will prepare a document on this topic for consideration
by the May 2000 General Session.
Equivalence: A proposal for OIE Code language on this
topic will be developed and circulated among members for comments.
Classical swine fever: An ad hoc group will examine
possible revisions to the OIE Code, Chapter 2.1.13.
Newcastle disease: An ad hoc group will be formed to
examine possible revisions to the OIE Code, Chapter 2.1.15.
Paratuberculosis: There may be revisions made to the OIE
Code, Chapter 3.1.6.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Each spring, the chapter of the OIE Code concerning BSE
(3.2.13) is modified, clarified, and improved. However, major questions
remain. Expert groups will continue to evaluate the chapter. Portions
still under study include:
Criteria for meeting the OIE definition of a ``BSE
Provisionally Free Country.''
Procedures and measures for importing cattle from a ``BSE
Provisionally Free Country or Zone.''
Procedures and measures for importing cattle from a
country or zone with a ``high incidence of BSE.''
Criteria for importing fresh meat (boned or deboned) and
other meat products from cattle from a country or zone with a ``low
incidence of BSE.''
Criteria for importing tallow intended for food, feed,
fertilizers, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or medical devices from
countries ``not affected by BSE.'' Specifically, rendering procedures
are under study.
Other Major OIE Topics
The May 2000 General Session will address two other major topics,
for which additional standards are not expected to be developed and
presented for adoption at the May 2000 General Session:
Principles of prevention and management of aquatic animal
diseases.
Advances in the control and eradication of tuberculosis in
domestic and wild animals.
More information on OIE standards is available on the OIE web page
at http://www.oie.int.
The information in this notice includes all the information
available to us on OIE standards currently under development or
consideration. For updates on meeting times and for information on the
working groups that becomes available to us following the publication
of this notice, contact Dr. Gary Colgrove, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8364; or e-mail:
Gary.S.C[email protected].
IPPC Standard-Setting Activities
The IPPC is a multilateral convention adopted in 1952 for the
purpose of securing common and effective action to prevent the spread
and introduction of pests of plants and plant products and to promote
appropriate measures for their control. 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. Activities addressed by
the IPPC include the development and establishment of international
plant health standards, the harmonization of phytosanitary activities
through emerging standards, the facilitation of the exchange of
official and scientific information among countries, and the
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furnishing of technical assistance to developing countries that are
signatories to the IPPC.
The IPPC is placed under the authority of the FAO, and the members
of the Secretariat of the IPPC are appointed by the FAO. The IPPC is
implemented by national plant protection organizations in cooperation
with regional plant protection organizations, the Interim Commission on
Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM), and the Secretariat of the IPPC. The
United States plays a major role in all standard-setting activities
under the IPPC and has representation on FAO's highest governing body,
the FAO Conference.
The United States became a contracting party to the IPPC in 1972
and has been actively involved in furthering the work of the IPPC ever
since. The IPPC was amended in 1979, and the amended version entered
into force in 1991 after two-thirds of the contracting countries
accepted the amendment. More recently, in 1997, contracting parties
completed negotiations on further amendments that were approved by the
FAO Conference and submitted to the parties for acceptance. This 1997
amendment updated phytosanitary concepts and formalized the standard-
setting structure within the IPPC. The 1997 amended version of the IPPC
will enter into force once two-thirds of the current contracting
parties notify the Director General of FAO of their acceptance of the
amendment. It is projected that the amended IPPC will enter into force,
replacing the existing text, by the year 2000.
The IPPC 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. In the United
States, the national plant protection organization is USDA's Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and
Quarantine (PPQ) unit.
Currently, IPPC standards may be proposed in a number of ways. The
IPPC Secretariat may initiate the development of a draft standard by
forming a working group to develop a standard deemed a priority by ICPM
members. Draft standards or discussion papers may also be submitted to
the IPPC Secretariat for 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. 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
ICPM, the governing body of the IPPC, for adoption. Each member country
is represented on ICPM by a single delegate. Although experts and
advisers may accompany the delegate to meetings of the ICPM, only the
delegate or an authorized alternate may vote on proposed standards or
other initiatives. Parties involved in a vote by the ICPM 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. This notice describes each of the IPPC standards currently under
consideration or up for adoption. Access to the full text of each
standard will be available electronically on the APHIS Internet web
page at http://is.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/standard/#TOP. Interested
individuals may review and provide comments on the standards found on
this web page.
The next ICPM meeting is scheduled for October 4-8,1999. The Deputy
Administrator for APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine is the U.S.
delegate to the ICPM. The Deputy Administrator intends to participate
in the proceedings. The agenda is expected to include the following
items:
Report of the Chair
The ICPM chairman will summarize IPPC activities from the past year
(e.g., working group activities and meetings), report on outstanding
issues, and highlight areas of particular interest confronting members
of the ICPM.
Standard-Setting Priorities
The Secretariat will report on topics and priorities for standards
identified by ICPM members and regional plant protection organizations.
Other topics identified by the Secretariat will also be noted. A
working group will be formed to review the information and recommend a
work program for the ICPM to give to the Secretariat.
Standards up for Adoption or Consideration
Requirements for the establishment of pest-free places of
production and pest-free production sites: This standard describes the
requirements for the establishment and use of pest-free places of
production and pest-free production sites as pest risk management
options for meeting phytosanitary requirements for the importation of
plants, plant products, and other regulated articles.
Revised Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms: The Glossary of
Phytosanitary Terms has been updated and new terms have been added
after thorough review by a special working group and the CEPM. The
revised glossary represents the first revision of an established IPPC
standard returned for approval by the ICPM.
Reports From Various Working Groups
Standard-setting procedures: A working group was formed at
the first ICPM meeting in November 1998 to analyze the current
standard-setting procedure to determine whether it requires revision
and, if so, to propose a revised procedure to the second ICPM meeting
scheduled for October 1999. The chairman of this working group is
expected to report on the outcome of those deliberations. A report will
be distributed for review, discussion, and approval. If agreed,
procedures for standard setting will be annexed to the Rules of
Procedure for the ICPM.
Dispute settlement provisions: A working group was formed
at the first ICPM meeting in November 1998 to develop rules and
procedures for the operation of the nonbinding dispute resolution
procedures contained in the IPPC. A report will be distributed for
review, approval, and discussion of further steps.
Pest reporting requirements: The Secretariat will report
on the mechanisms in place, or proposed, that facilitate pest reporting
obligations.
Strength of measures: The Secretariat will report on
issues associated with the understanding and implementation of the
concept of strength of measures.
Work Program for Harmonization
Standard-setting: The Secretariat will report on the
status of standard-setting activities and the working group will report
on topics and priorities for the upcoming work program.
Information exchange: The Secretariat will report on the
status of information exchange activities.
Technical assistance: The ICPM chairman has held
discussions with
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interested delegations on the subject of technical assistance for
developing countries. The chairman will report on initiatives aimed at
developing a technical assistance program in line with the technical
cooperation aspects of the IPPC.
Status of IPPC
Acceptance of the new revised text: Update and report by
members
Interim measures:
--Members designate their official contact points.
--Members report on the voluntary use of the new phytosanitary
certificate.
More information on IPPC standards is available on the FAO web page
at http://www.ippc.int.
The information in this notice includes all the information
available to us on IPPC standards currently under development or
consideration. For updates on meeting times and for information on the
working groups that becomes available following publication of this
notice, contact Dr. Richard Dunkle, Deputy Administrator, PPQ, APHIS,
USDA, room 302-E, Whitten Building, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities
NAPPO, a regional plant protection organization created in 1976
under the IPPC, coordinates the efforts among Canada, the United
States, and Mexico to protect their plant resources from the entry,
establishment, and spread of harmful plant pests, while facilitating
intra- and inter-regional trade.
NAPPO conducts its business through panels and annual meetings held
among 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 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 sent to the NAPPO Working Group and the NAPPO Standards
Panel for technical reviews and then to the Executive Committee for
final approval, which is granted by consensus.
The annual NAPPO meeting is scheduled for October 19-21, in Cancun,
Mexico. The Executive Committee meeting will take place on October 17,
and a special session will be held on October 18, where industry groups
can bring issues to the attention of the Executive Committee. The
Deputy Administrator for APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine is the
U.S. delegate to NAPPO. The Deputy Administrator intends to participate
in the proceedings. The agenda will include the following items:
Standards up for Adoption or Consideration
A revised laboratory accreditation standard will be
presented to the Executive Committee for consideration and adoption.
A paper entitled, ``A Harmonized Procedure for
Morphologically Distinguishing Karnal Bunt and the Ryegrass Bunt,''
which has been prepared by the NAPPO Grains Panel, will be presented
for Executive Committee approval.
Updates on NAPPO Panel Activities
Working panels will report their progress to the General Committee.
For updates on meeting times and for information on the working panels
that becomes available following publication of this notice, contact
Dr. Richard Dunkle, Deputy Administrator, PPQ, APHIS, USDA, Room 302-E,
Whitten Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20250.
The following is a summary of current panel charges as they relate
to the ongoing development of standards and does not include standards
up for consideration or adoption:
Accreditation Panel (Laboratory Accreditation)
Develop an inventory of laboratory tests, analyses, and
identification done in support of plant health regulatory activities.
Biological Control Panel
Develop NAPPO guidelines for the release of non-native
entomophagous agents for the biological control of weeds.
Biotechnology Panel
Develop a NAPPO standard for the review of products of
biotechnology which focuses on the assessment of the potential impact
on plant resources, including risk assessments, environmental
assessments, and whether the product itself can become a pest of
plants.
Citrus Panel
Continue development of a NAPPO citrus standard.
Forestry Panel
Continue development of a NAPPO dunnage standard.
Fruit Fly Panel
Describe pest free areas for the Mexican fruit fly
(Anastrepha ludens) in the NAPPO region and identify areas of low
presence and susceptible areas for the establishment of the pest.
Grapevine Panel
Continue development of a NAPPO grapevine standard.
Fruit Tree Panel
Initiate development of a NAPPO malus and prunus standard.
Pest Risk Analysis Panel
Provide PRA support to the NAPPO Forestry and Grains
Panels, as requested.
Work with other plant protection organizations to develop
a global potato standard.
Standards Panel
Coordinate responses to the North American member on the
Committee for Experts for Phytosanitary Measures on draft international
standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPM's) and contribute to the
development of a draft ISPM on regulated nonquarantine pests.
Provide updates on standards in the NAPPO newsletter.
Presentations
Biodiversity convention: Speakers will provide an overview
of the objectives of the biodiversity convention.
Biosafety protocol: Speakers will explain the process
involved in developing the biosafety protocol. Various countries'
positions and approaches will be discussed. An environmental
spokesperson will talk about the environmental aspects of the biosafety
protocol.
Risk management: A speaker from academia will explore
various societal values and expectations, as well as other factors that
are considered in risk management.
WTO dispute settlement: Speakers will review outcomes of
recent WTO dispute settlement cases, highlighting the panel conclusions
and lessons to be learned from these disputes.
More information on NAPPO standards is available on the NAPPO web
page at http://www.nappo.org.
The information in this notice includes all the information
available to us on NAPPO standards currently under development or
consideration. For updates on meeting times and for information on the
working panels that becomes available following publication of this
notice, contact Dr. Richard Dunkle, Deputy Administrator, PPQ, APHIS,
USDA, Room 302-E, Whitten Building, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
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Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of September 1999.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25722 Filed 10-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P