    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [March 23, 2000]
    [Pages 524-525]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Revised International Plant
    Protection Convention With Documentation
    March 23, 2000

    To the Senate of the United States:
        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
    acceptance, I transmit herewith the revised International Plant
    Protection Convention (IPPC), adopted at the Conference of the Food and
    Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations at Rome on November
    17, 1997. In accordance with Article XIII of the existing IPPC, the
    revised text will enter into force for all contracting parties 30

    [[Page 525]]

    days after acceptance by two-thirds of the contracting parties.
        The revisions are designed to bring the IPPC into line with modern
    practices and concepts, and to establish new mechanisms to promote the
    development and adoption of international phytosanitary standards.
        It is my hope that the Senate will give prompt and favorable
    consideration to this Convention, and give its advice and consent to
    acceptance by the United States, subject to the two proposed
    understandings set forth in the accompanying report, at the earliest
    possible date.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    March 23, 2000.