[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44152-44156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20119]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0059]


International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting 
Activities

AGENCY:  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice and request for 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 the international 
standard-setting activities of the World Organization for Animal 
Health, 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:  You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0059.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0059, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-
0059 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For general information on the topics 
covered in this notice, contact Ms. Jessica Mahalingappa, Assistant 
Deputy Administrator for Trade and Capacity Building, International 
Services, APHIS, Room 1132, USDA South Building, 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250; (202) 799-7121.
    For specific information regarding standard-setting activities of 
the World Organization for Animal Health, contact Dr. Michael David, 
Director, International Animal Health Standards Team, National Import 
Export Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 33, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 851-3302.
    For specific information regarding the standard-setting activities 
of the International Plant Protection Convention, contact Dr. Marina 
Zlotina, IPPC Technical Director, International Phytosanitary 
Standards, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 130, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 851-2200.
    For specific information on the North American Plant Protection 
Organization, contact Ms. Patricia Abad, NAPPO Technical Director, 
International Phytosanitary Standards, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, 
Unit 130, Riverdale, MD, 20737; (301) 851-2264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    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 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 Agreements 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 World Organization for Animal Health (OIE, 
formerly known as the Office International des Epizooties) regarding 
animal health and welfare and zoonoses; (3) developed under the 
auspices of the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection 
Convention (IPPC) and the North American Plant Protection Organization 
(NAPPO) regarding plant health; or (4)

[[Page 44153]]

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. The United States Department 
of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) 
informs the public of Codex standard-setting activities, and USDA's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) informs the public 
of OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO standard-setting activities.
    FSIS publishes 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 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 an annual notice of OIE, IPPC, 
and NAPPO activities related to international standards for plant and 
animal health 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 
organizations. We have described 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.
    The agendas for these meetings are subject to change, and the draft 
standards identified in this notice may not be sufficiently developed 
and ready for adoption as indicated. Also, while it is the intent of 
the United States to support adoption of international standards and to 
participate actively and fully in their development, it should be 
recognized that the U.S. position on a specific draft standard will 
depend on the acceptability of the final draft. Given the dynamic and 
interactive nature of the standard-setting process, we encourage any 
persons who are interested in the most current details about a specific 
draft standard or the U.S. position on a particular standard-setting 
issue, or in providing comments on a specific standard that may be 
under development, to contact APHIS. Contact information is provided at 
the beginning of this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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 181 Members, each of which is represented by a delegate who, in most 
cases, is the chief veterinary officer of that country or territory. 
The WTO has recognized the OIE as the international forum for setting 
animal health standards, reporting global animal disease events, 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 by sharing scientific research 
among its Members. The major functions of the OIE are to collect and 
disseminate information on the distribution and occurrence of animal 
diseases and to ensure that science-based standards govern 
international trade in animals and animal products. The OIE aims to 
achieve these 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 the free status of Members for certain 
diseases, categorizes animal diseases with respect to their 
international significance, publishes bulletins on global disease 
status, and provides animal disease control guidelines to Members. 
Various OIE commissions and working groups undertake the development 
and preparation of draft standards, which are then circulated to 
Members for consultation (review and comment). Draft standards are 
revised accordingly and are then presented to the OIE World Assembly of 
Delegates (all the Members) for review and adoption during the General 
Session, which meets annually every May. Adoption, as a general rule, 
is based on consensus of the OIE membership.
    The next OIE General Session is scheduled for May 20 to May 25, 
2018, in Paris, France. The Chief Trade Advisor for APHIS' Veterinary 
Services program serves as the official U.S. Delegate to the OIE at 
this General Session. The Deputy Administrator for APHIS' Veterinary 
Services program serves as the Alternate Delegate. Information about 
OIE draft Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Code chapters may be 
found on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/export-animals-oie or by contacting Dr. Michael David (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT above).

OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Code Chapters Adopted During 
the May 2017 General Session

    Sixteen Code chapters were amended, rewritten, or newly proposed 
and presented for adoption at the General Session. The following Code 
chapters are of particular interest to the United States:
1. Glossary
    Several definitions, including the definitions for infection, 
infestation and animal health were updated and adopted.
2. Chapter 1.2., Criteria for the Inclusion of Diseases, Infections and 
Infestations in the OIE List
    Text in this existing chapter was modified for clarity and 
consistency and was adopted by the Members.
3. Chapter 1.3., Diseases, Infections and Infestations Listed by the 
OIE
    Text in this Code chapter had a minor modification for clarity.
4. Chapter 2.X., Criteria Applied by the OIE on Assessing the Safety of 
Commodities
    This is a new Code chapter that was adopted this year. It provides 
clear guidance for determining general treatments and procedures for 
the safe trade of animal products.
5. Chapter 4.16., High Health Status Horse Subpopulation
    A minor change was made in this existing chapter that was adopted 
and supported by the Members.
6. Chapter 5.3., OIE Procedures Relevant to the Agreement on the 
Application of SPS Measures of the World Trade Organization
    Text in this existing Code chapter was modified for clarity and 
consistency.
7. Chapter 6.X., Prevention and Control of Salmonella in Bovines and 
Chapter 6.Y., Prevention and Control of Salmonella in Pigs
    These two chapters are new Code chapters that were adopted this 
year and are intended to provide Member countries with guidance for 
preventing and controlling Salmonella in cattle and pig herds.

[[Page 44154]]

8. Chapter 7.11., Animal Welfare and Dairy Cattle Production Systems
    This chapter was adopted in 2015. Some additional changes were made 
and adopted that clarified the space requirement recommendations.
9. Chapter 7.12., Welfare of Working Equids
    This chapter was adopted in 2016. Changes were made this year to 
further clarify the influencing factors that determine work and resting 
requirements for working equids.
10. Chapter 8.X., Infection With Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex
    This chapter was completely revised to bring the recommendations up 
to date with current scientific knowledge.
11. Chapter 10.4., Infection With Avian Influenza
    The text in this existing chapter was changed to update the heat 
treatment parameters for inactivating the virus in certain egg 
products. The modified text was accepted and adopted.
12. Chapter 11.11., Infection With Lumpy Skin Disease Virus
    The text in this existing chapter was updated to reflect current 
control and testing methods. The updated chapter was accepted and 
adopted.
13. Chapter 15.1., Infection With African Swine Fever Virus
    The text in this existing chapter was updated to incorporate state 
of the art science and terminology for clarity and consistency. The 
modified text was accepted and adopted.
14. Chapter 15.X., Infection With Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory 
Syndrome (PRRS) Virus
    This is a newly adopted chapter and includes recommendations for 
the safe trade of meat, as well as a listing of safe commodities that 
can be traded regardless of the PRRS situation in a country.
    The following Aquatic chapters were revised and adopted, and are of 
particular interest to the United States:
     Chapter 1.5., Criteria for Listing Species as Susceptible 
to Infection with a Specific Pathogen.
     Chapter 2.2.7., Infection for White Spot syndrome Virus.

OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapters for Upcoming and Future 
Review

     Glossary.
     Chapter 4.3., Zoning and Compartmentalization.
     Chapter 4.8., Collection and Processing of In Vitro 
Embryos from Livestock and Equids.
     Chapter 4.X., Vaccination.
     Chapter 4.Y., Management of Outbreaks of Listed Diseases.
     Chapter 6.1., The Role of Veterinary Services in Food 
Safety.
     Chapter 6.7., Harmonization of National AMR Surveillance 
and Monitoring Program.
     Chapter 6.Z., Introduction Veterinary Public Health.
     Chapter 7.1., Guiding Principle on the Use of Animal-Based 
Measures.
     Chapter 7.X., Animal Welfare and Pig Production Systems.
     Chapter 8.3., Infection with Bluetongue Virus.
     Chapter 8.4., Infection with Brucella abortus, B. 
melitensis and B. suis.
     Chapter 8.8., Infection with Foot and Mouth Disease.
     Chapter 8.15., Infection with Rinderpest Virus.
     Chapter 15.1., Infection with African Swine Fever Virus.
     Chapter 15.2., Infection with Classical Swine Fever Virus.

IPPC Standard-Setting Activities

    The IPPC is a multilateral convention adopted in 1952 to prevent 
the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products and 
to promote appropriate measures for their control. The WTO recognizes 
the IPPC as the standard setting body for plant health. Under the IPPC, 
the understanding of plant protection encompasses the protection of 
both cultivated and non-cultivated plants from direct or indirect 
injury by plant pests. The IPPC addresses the following activities: 
Developing, adopting, and implementing international standards for 
phytosanitary (plant health) measures (ISPMs); harmonizing 
phytosanitary activities through emerging standards; facilitating the 
exchange of official and scientific information among countries; and 
providing technical assistance to developing countries that are 
contracting parties to the Convention.
    The IPPC is deposited within the Food and Agriculture Organization 
of the United Nations, and is an international agreement of 183 
contracting parties. National plant protection organizations (NPPOs), 
in cooperation with regional plant protection organizations, the 
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), and the Secretariat of the 
IPPC, implement the Convention. The IPPC 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 NPPO is APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 
program.
    The 12th Session of the CPM took place from April 5 to 11, 2017, in 
Incheon, Republic of Korea. The Deputy Administrator for APHIS' PPQ 
program was the U.S. delegate to the CPM.
    The CPM adopted the following standards at its 2017 meeting. The 
United States, represented by the Deputy Administrator for APHIS' PPQ 
program, participated in deliberations of these standards. The United 
States developed its position on each of these issues prior to the CPM 
session, which were based on APHIS' analyses and other relevant 
information from other U.S. Government agencies and interested 
stakeholders:

 ISPM 38: International movement of seeds
 Annex 1: Arrangements for verification of compliance of 
consignments by the importing country in the exporting country to ISPM 
20 (Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system)
 ISPM 39: International movement of wood
 ISPM 40: International movement of growing media in 
association with plants for planting
 ISPM 41: International movement of used vehicles, machinery 
and equipment
 Phytosanitary treatments (PTs) as Annexes to ISPM 28: 
Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests
    [cir] PT 22-Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation treatment for insects in 
debarked wood
    [cir] PT 23-Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation treatment for nematodes 
and insects in debarked wood
    [cir] PT 24-Cold treatment for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
sinensis
    [cir] PT 25-Cold treatment for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
reticulata x C. sinensis
    [cir] PT 26-Cold treatment for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus limon
    [cir] PT 27-Cold treatment for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
paradisi
    [cir] PT 28-Cold treatment for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
reticulata
    [cir] PT 29-Cold treatment for Ceratitis capitata on Citrus 
clementina
    [cir] PT 30-Vapour heat treatment for Ceratitis capitata on 
Mangifera indica
    [cir] PT 31-Vapour heat treatment for Bactrocera tryoni on 
Mangifera indica
 Diagnostic protocols (DPs) as Annexes to ISPM 27: Diagnostic 
protocols for regulated pests

[[Page 44155]]

    [cir] DP 13: Erwinia amylovora
    [cir] DP 14: Xanthomonas fragariae
    [cir] DP 15: Citrus tristeza virus
    [cir] DP 16: Genus Liriomyza Mik
    [cir] DP 17: Aphelenchoides besseyi, A. ritzemabosi and A. 
fragariae
    [cir] DP 18: Anguina spp.
    [cir] DP 19: Sorghum halepense
    [cir] DP 20: Dendroctonus ponderosae
    [cir] DP 21: Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum
    [cir] DP 22: Fusarium circinatum

    In addition to adopting 25 plant health standards, the 2017 
Commission meeting also progressed a number of plant health initiatives 
strategically important to the United States. These initiatives include 
advancing the development of a new IPPC strategic framework for 2020-
2030 to set the top priorities for plant health and trade, launching a 
pilot of a global electronic certification system to support trade 
(ePhyto), developing programs aimed at improving the use and 
implementation of standards around the world, and creating a task force 
for addressing pests issues associated with the international movement 
of sea containers.

New IPPC Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development

    A number of expert working group (EWG) meetings or other technical 
consultations took place during 2017 on the topics listed below. These 
standard-setting initiatives are under development and may be 
considered for future adoption. APHIS intends to participate actively 
and fully in each of these working groups. APHIS developed its position 
on each of the topics prior to the working group meetings. The APHIS 
position was based on technical analyses, information from other U.S. 
Government agencies, and relevant scientific information from 
interested stakeholders:

 EWG meeting on the Authorization of Entities to Perform 
Phytosanitary Actions
 EWG meeting on the Revision of ISPM 8: Determination of pest 
status in an area
 Technical Panel for the Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms
 Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols
 Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments

    For more detailed information on the above, contact Dr. Marina 
Zlotina (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
    PPQ actively works to achieve broad participation by States, 
industry, and other stakeholders in the development and use of 
international and regional plant health standards. Plant health 
stakeholders are strongly encouraged to comment on draft standards, 
documents, and specifications during the consultation periods. In 2017, 
13 standards (including phytosanitary treatments and pest diagnostic 
protocols) and 3 draft specifications were open for first and second 
consultation. APHIS posts links to draft standards on the Internet as 
they become available and provides information on the due dates for 
comments.\1\ Additional information on IPPC standards (including the 
IPPC work program (list of topics), \2\ standard- setting process, and 
adopted standards) is available on the IPPC Web site.\3\ For the most 
current information on official U.S. participation in IPPC activities, 
including U.S. positions on standards being considered, contact Dr. 
Marina Zlotina (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). Those 
wishing to provide comments on any of the areas of work being 
undertaken by the IPPC may do so at any time by responding to this 
notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by providing comments through Dr. 
Zlotina.
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    \1\ For more information on the IPPC draft ISPM consultation: 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/sa_international/sa_phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
    \2\ IPPC List of topics: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/list-topics-ippc-standards/.
    \3\ IPPC Web site: https://www.ippc.int/.
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NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities

    NAPPO, a regional plant protection organization created in 1976 
under the IPPC, coordinates the efforts among the United States, 
Canada, and Mexico to protect their plant resources from the entry, 
establishment, and spread of harmful plant pests, while facilitating 
intra- and inter-regional trade. As the NPPO of the United States, 
APHIS-PPQ is the organization officially identified to participate in 
NAPPO. Through NAPPO, APHIS works closely with its regional 
counterparts and industries to develop harmonized regional standards 
and approaches for managing pest threats. NAPPO conducts its work 
through priority-driven annual projects approved by the NAPPO Executive 
Committee and conducted by expert groups, including subject matter 
experts from each member country and regional industry representatives. 
Project results and updates are provided during the NAPPO annual 
meeting. Projects can include the development of positions, policies, 
or technical documents, or the development or revision of regional 
standards for phytosanitary measures (RSPMs). Projects can also include 
implementation of standards or other capacity development activities 
such as workshops.
    The 41st NAPPO annual meeting will be held October 16 to 19, 2017, 
in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The NAPPO Executive Committee meetings will 
take place on October 16 and 20, 2017. The Deputy Administrator for PPQ 
is the U.S. member of the NAPPO Executive Committee.
    The NAPPO expert groups (including member countries' subject matter 
experts) finalized the following regional standards, documents, or 
projects in 2016:
     Grains: Finalized a NAPPO discussion document that 
supported the development of a draft IPPC standard for the 
international movement of grain in an effort to be consistent with 
North American grain trade objectives and reviewed and updated RSPM 13: 
Guidelines to establish, maintain and verify Karnal bunt pest free 
areas in North America.
     Biological Control: Developed an English online training 
course on preparing a petition for the first release of an 
entomophagous biological control agent, based on RSPM 12. The module is 
aimed to educate stakeholders on the petition process for new 
biocontrol products and to help NAPPO member countries improve the 
quality of petitions received for consideration.
     Diversion from Intended Use: Drafted a discussion document 
on diversion from intended use aimed to inform NAPPO member countries 
on this phytosanitary concept.
     Forestry: NAPPO partnered with the Inter-American 
Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and other regional plant 
protection organizations in the Americas to hold a regional workshop in 
August 2016 aimed at enhancing global compliance with the IPPC 
international standard for wood packaging materials (ISPM 15) to 
further reduce the threat of wood and forest pests in trade.
     Potato: Revised the pest list for RSPM 3: Movement of 
potatoes into a NAPPO member country and eliminated Annex 6 of RSPM 3 
on pre-shipment testing for PVY\N\ during the 5-year review. Continued 
to review RSPM 3 in light of ISPM 33: Pest free potato (Solanum sp.) 
micropropagative material and minitubers for international trade.
     Foundational documents: Updated the NAPPO Constitution and 
By-Laws and approved the NAPPO 2016-2020 Strategic Plan.

[[Page 44156]]

New NAPPO Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development

    The 2017 work program \4\ includes the following topics being 
worked on by NAPPO expert groups. APHIS intends to participate actively 
and fully in the 2017 NAPPO work program. The APHIS position on each 
topic will be guided and informed by the best technical and scientific 
information available, as well as on relevant input from stakeholders. 
For each of the following, the United States will consider its position 
on any draft standard after it reviews a prepared draft. Information 
regarding the following NAPPO projects, assignments, activities, and 
updates on meeting times and locations may be obtained from the NAPPO 
Web site or by contacting Ms. Patricia Abad (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT above).
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    \4\ NAPPO Work Program: http://nappo.org/english/710/status-current-nappo-projects/.
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    1. Asian Gypsy Moth: Develop a NAPPO document on validation of the 
specified risk periods for Asian gypsy moth in countries of origin.
    2. Biological Control: Develop a Spanish module on preparing a 
petition for first release of entomophagous biological control agents, 
based on the English module prepared in 2016.
    3. Electronic Phytosanitary Certification: Provide assistance and 
technical support to the IPPC ePhyto Steering Group.
    4. Forestry: Work to finalize a NAPPO standard on the potential use 
of systems approaches to manage pest risks associated with the movement 
of wood, taking into account comments received from April to June 2017 
country consultation period.
    5. Grains: Develop a NAPPO discussion document on a harmonized 
approach to prevent introduction and spread of Khapra beetle 
(Trogoderma granarium).
    6. Lymantriids: Develop a NAPPO Science and Technology paper on the 
risks associated with Lymantriids of potential concern to the NAPPO 
region.
    7. Phytosanitary Alert System (PAS): Manage the NAPPO pest 
reporting system.
    8. Advancing key phytosanitary concepts: (a) Review stakeholder 
input on topic of diversion from intended use; (b) Finalize a 
discussion document on ``interpretation of existing guidance'' in 
standards on evaluation of the likelihood of establishment component of 
a pest risk analysis (PRA) for quarantine pests, taking into account 
comments received from April to May 2017 country consultation period; 
and (c) Organize an international symposium on inspection sampling to 
support proper and harmonized implementation of ISPM 23: Guidelines for 
Inspection and ISPM 31: Methodologies for sampling of consignments in 
the NAPPO region and internationally. NAPPO, with substantial APHIS-PPQ 
support, welcomed 122 participants from 27 countries to the first-ever 
International Symposium for Risk-Based Sampling, held from June 16-21, 
2017.
    9. Potato: Continue to review RSPM 3 to align it with ISPM 33: Pest 
free potato (Solanum sp.) micropropagative material and minitubers for 
international trade.
    10. Seeds: Finalize NAPPO discussion document on harmonized 
criteria for evaluating phytosanitary seed treatments, taking into 
account comments received from April to May 2017 country consultation 
period.
    11. Foundation and Procedure documents: Update various foundation 
or procedure documents.
    The PPQ Assistant Deputy Administrator, as the official U.S. 
delegate to NAPPO, intends to participate in the adoption of these 
regional plant health standards and projects, including the work 
described above, once they are completed and ready for such 
consideration.
    The information in this notice contains all the information 
available to us on NAPPO standards under development or consideration. 
For updates on meeting times and for information on the expert groups 
that may become available following publication of this notice, visit 
the NAPPO Web site or contact Ms. Patricia Abad (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT above). PPQ actively works to achieve broad 
participation by States, industry, and other stakeholders in the 
development and use of international and regional plant health 
standards. Plant health stakeholders are strongly encouraged to comment 
on draft standards, documents, and specifications. APHIS posts links to 
draft standards on the Internet as they become available and provides 
information on the due dates for comments.\5\ Additional information on 
NAPPO standards (including the NAPPO Work Program, standard setting 
process, and adopted standards) is available on the NAPPO Web site.\6\ 
Information on official U.S. participation in NAPPO activities, 
including U.S. positions on standards being considered, may also be 
obtained from Ms. Abad. Those wishing to provide comments on any of the 
topics being addressed in the NAPPO work program may do so at any time 
by responding to this notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by transmitting 
comments through Ms. Abad.
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    \5\ For more information on the NAPPO draft RSPM consultation: 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/sa_international/sa_phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
    \6\ NAPPO Web site: http://nappo.org/.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of September 2017.
Jere L. Dick,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20119 Filed 9-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P