[Federal Register: October 24, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 204)]
[Notices]
[Page 61423-61428]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc05-24]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 61423]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket 05-063-1]
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 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 and,
in the ``Search for Open Regulations'' box, select ``Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click
on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2005-0097 to
submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related
materials available electronically. After the close of the comment
period, the docket can be viewed using the ``Advanced Search'' function
in Regulations.gov.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 05-063-1,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. 05-063-1.
Reading Room: 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.
Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the topics
covered in this notice, 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. For specific information regarding standard-setting
activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, contact Dr.
Michael David, Director, Sanitary International Standards Team, VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 33, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
5324. For specific information regarding the standard-setting
activities of the International Plant Protection Convention or the
North American Plant Protection Organization, contact Mr. Narcy Klag,
Program Director, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8469.
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 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 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 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. 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)
[[Page 61424]]
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 (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 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 167 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 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 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 the free status of member countries 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 member
countries. Various OIE commissions and working groups undertake the
development and preparation of draft standards, which are then
circulated to member countries for consultation (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 May 21-26, 2006, in
Paris, France. Currently, the Minister-Counselor and APHIS Regional
Director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa is the official U.S.
delegate to the OIE. The Minister-Counselor and APHIS Regional Director
intends to participate in the proceedings and will discuss or comment
on APHIS' position on any standard up for adoption. Information about
current and past OIE draft Code chapters may be found on the Internet
at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/oie/ or by contacting Dr. Michael
David (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
OIE Code Chapters Up for Adoption
Existing Code chapters that may be revised and new chapters that
may be drafted in preparation for the next General Session in 2006
include the following:
1. Avian Influenza and Its Associated Appendix on Surveillance
The new proposed chapter on avian influenza introduces some
significant changes. Only minor changes were incorporated into the
chapter during the General Session. The more substantive country
comments submitted to the OIE were carefully considered by the Code
Commission during their September meeting. Any changes made during that
meeting will be provided to member countries for review during late
October or early November 2005.
2. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Its Associated Appendix on
Surveillance
This chapter and its associated appendix on FMD surveillance has
been updated to reflect current knowledge of FMD epidemiology and
surveillance.
3. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Its Associated Appendix
on Surveillance
This chapter was adopted with several amendments. There is a
commitment by the OIE to reconvene the ad hoc group to work on the Type
A and Type B surveillance models mentioned in the appendix to better
define these levels of surveillance and to clarify any sampling levels
that may be recommended. Countries classified under the five-category
system for BSE will retain their current classification for a 1-year
transition period, after which time they will be reclassified under the
new three-level classification system.
4. Zoning and Compartmentalization \1\
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\1\ This chapter was formerly known as Regionalization and
Compartmentalization. The OIE is proposing the use of the term
``zoning'' in place of the term ``regionalization'' for this chapter
to minimize confusion between member countries.
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This chapter was modified to include language on partnership
between the national veterinary services and the private sector, and to
clarify the role of the national veterinary services in ensuring the
integrity of a given compartment.
5. Criteria for Listing Diseases
This chapter is continuously being updated to reflect changes to
the list of animal diseases that are required to be reported by Member
Countries.
6. General Guidelines for Animal Health Surveillance
This is a new appendix that provides some generic guidelines for
Member Countries on the criteria to consider when embarking on animal
health surveillance programs.
7. Bluetongue
This chapter was recently updated to reflect the current knowledge
on bluetongue virus epidemiology.
[[Page 61425]]
8. Classical Swine Fever
This chapter was updated slightly to reflect current knowledge on
classical swine fever virus epidemiology.
Code Commission Future Work Program
During the next few years, the OIE Code Commission is expected to
address the following issues or establish ad hoc groups of experts to
update and/or develop standards for the following issues:
1. Companion Animal Welfare
This would be a new chapter intended to provide guidelines for the
control of feral companion animals in urban settings.
2. Wildlife and Zoo Animal Welfare
This would be a new chapter intended to provide guidelines on the
harvesting or culling of zoological and wildlife animals.
3. Laboratory Animal Welfare
This would be a new chapter intended to provide guidelines for the
housing of laboratory animals, the use of animals in regulatory
testing, and alternatives to animal use.
4. Terrestrial Animal Welfare
This would be a new chapter intended to provide general guidelines
for the housing and production of terrestrial animals.
5. Animal Identification and Traceability
This would be a new chapter intended to improve procedures for
identifying animals and animal products and monitoring their movements.
6. Johne's Disease (Paratuberculosis)
This would represent a complete redrafting of a current OIE Code
chapter that has been determined to be outdated. A draft should be
available within 1 or 2 years.
7. Brucellosis
This would represent a complete redrafting of a current OIE Code
chapter that has been determined to be outdated.
8. African Horsesickness
This would represent a complete redrafting of a current OIE Code
chapter that has been determined to be outdated.
9. Surra
This would represent a complete redrafting of a current OIE Code
chapter that has been determined to be outdated.
10. Dourine
This would represent a complete redrafting of a current OIE Code
chapter that has been determined to be outdated.
The Process
These chapters are drafted (or revised) by either the Code
Commission or by ad hoc groups composed of technical experts nominated
by the Director General of the OIE by virtue of their subject-area
expertise. Once a new chapter is drafted or an existing one revised,
the chapter is distributed to member countries for review and comment.
The OIE attempts to provide proposed chapters by late October to allow
member countries sufficient time for comment. Comments are due by early
February of the following year. The draft standard is revised by the
OIE Code Commission on the basis of relevant scientific comments
received from member countries.
The United States (i.e., USDA/APHIS) intends to review and, where
appropriate, comment on all draft chapters and revisions once it
receives them from the OIE. USDA/APHIS intends to distribute these
drafts to the U.S. livestock and aquaculture industries, veterinary
experts in various U.S. academic institutions, and other interested
persons for review and comment. Additional information regarding these
draft standards may be obtained by contacting Dr. Michael David (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
Generally, if a country has concerns with a particular draft
standard, and supports those concerns with sound technical information,
the pertinent OIE Code Commission will revise that standard accordingly
and present the revised draft for adoption at the General Session in
May. In the event that a country's concerns regarding a draft standard
are not taken into account, that country may refuse to support the
standard when it comes up for adoption at the General Session. However,
each member country is obligated to review, comment, and make decisions
regarding the adoption of standards strictly on their scientific
merits.
Other OIE Topics
Every year at the General Session, two technical items are
presented. For the May 2006 General Session, the following technical
items will be presented:
1. Future approaches needed to ensure that veterinary education
meets social demands.
2. Economic and social justification for investment in animal
health and zoonosis.
The information in this notice includes all the information
available to us on OIE standards currently under development or
consideration. Information on OIE standards is available on the
Internet at http://www.oie.int. Further, a formal agenda for the next
General Session should be available to member countries by March 2006,
and copies will be available to the public once the agenda is
published. For the most current information on meeting times, working
groups, and/or meeting agendas, including information on official U.S.
participation in OIE activities, and U.S. positions on standards being
considered, contact Dr. Michael David (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT above). Those wishing to provide comments on any areas of work
under the OIE may do so at any time by responding to this notice (see
ADDRESSES above) or by providing comments through Dr. Michael David.
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 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.
[[Page 61426]]
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 on the thirtieth day after two-thirds of the
current contracting parties notify the Director General of FAO of their
acceptance of the amendment. At this date, 87 of the required 92 member
countries have deposited their official letters of acceptance. The U.S.
Senate gave its advice and consent to acceptance of the newly revised
IPPC on October 18, 2000. The President submitted the official letter
of acceptance to the FAO Director General on October 4, 2001.
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 APHIS' Plant
Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program. The steps for developing a
standard under the revised IPPC are described below.
Step 1: Proposals for a new international standard for
phytosanitary measures (ISPM) or for the review or revision of an
existing ISPM are submitted to the Secretariat of the IPPC in a
standardized format on a 2-year cycle. Alternately, the Secretariat can
propose a new standard or amendments to existing standards.
Step 2: After review by the Standards Committee and the Strategic
Planning and Technical Assistance Working Group, a summary of proposals
is submitted by the Secretariat to the ICPM. The ICPM identifies the
topics and priorities for standard setting from among the proposals
submitted to the Secretariat and others that may be raised by the ICPM.
Step 3: Specifications for the standards identified as priorities
by the ICPM are drafted by the Secretariat. The draft specifications
are submitted to the Standards Committee for approval/amendment and are
subsequently made available to members and regional plant protection
organizations (RPPOs) for comment (60 days). Comments are submitted in
writing to the Secretariat. Taking into account the comments, the
Standards Committee finalizes the specifications.
Step 4: The standard is drafted or revised in accordance with the
specifications by a working group designated by the Standards
Committee. The resulting draft standard is submitted to the Standards
Committee for review.
Step 5: Draft standards approved by the Standards Committee are
distributed to members by the Secretariat and RPPOs for consultation
(100 days). Comments are submitted in writing to the Secretariat. Where
appropriate, the Standards Committee may establish open-ended
discussion groups as forums for further comment. The Secretariat
summarizes the comments and submits them to the Standards Committee.
Step 6: Taking into account the comments, the Secretariat, in
cooperation with the Standards Committee, revises the draft standard.
The Standards Committee submits the final version to the ICPM for
adoption.
Step 7: The ISPM is established through formal adoption by the ICPM
according to Rule X of the Rules of Procedure of the ICPM.
Step 8: Review of the ISPM is completed by the specified date or
such other date as may be agreed upon by the ICPM.
Each member country is represented on the 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 represent each member country in considering a standard up for
approval. 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. The United States also has a representative on the Standards
Committee. In addition, documents and positions developed by APHIS and
NAPPO have been sources of significant input for many of the standards
adopted to date. This notice describes each of the IPPC standards
currently under consideration or up for adoption. The full text of each
standard will be available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.gov/ppq/pim/standards/.
Interested individuals may review the standards posted
on this Web site and submit comments via the Web site.
The next ICPM meeting is scheduled for April 3-7, 2006, at FAO
Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Deputy Administrator for APHIS' PPQ
program is the U.S. delegate to the ICPM. The Deputy Administrator
intends to participate in the proceedings and will discuss or comment
on APHIS' position on any standards up for adoption. The provisional
agenda for the Eighth Session of the Interim Commission on
Phytosanitary Measures is as follows:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Adoption of the agenda.
3. Report by the chairperson.
4. Report by the Secretariat.
5. Standards up for adoption in 2006.
6. Items arising from the Seventh Session of the ICPM (see section
below entitled ``New Standard Setting Initiatives'' for details).
7. Work program for harmonization.
8. Status of the 1997 revised IPPC.
9. Other business.
10. Date and venue of the next meeting.
11. Adoption of the report.
IPPC Standards Up for Adoption in 2006
It is expected that the following standards will be sufficiently
developed to be considered by the ICPM for adoption at its April 2006
meeting. The United States, represented by APHIS' Deputy Administrator
for PPQ, will participate in the consideration of these standards. The
U.S. position on each of these issues will be developed prior to the
ICPM session and will be based on APHIS' analysis, information from
other U.S. Government agencies, and relevant scientific information
from interested stakeholders. The standards that are most likely to be
considered for adoption include:
1. Revision of ISPM 1, Principles for the Protection of Plant Health
This standard describes principles and concepts for the protection
of plant health that are embodied in the New Revised Text of the IPPC
(1997). It covers principles related to the protection of plants,
including cultivated and non-cultivated/unmanaged plants and wild
flora, principles regarding the application of phytosanitary measures
to the international movement of people, commodities, and conveyances,
as well as other principles and concepts inherent in the objectives of
the IPPC (1997).
[[Page 61427]]
2. Guidelines for Consignments in Transit
This standard describes procedures to identify, assess, and manage
phytosanitary risks associated with consignments of regulated articles
passing through, but not destined for, the territory of a country, in
such manner that any phytosanitary measures applied in the country of
transit are technically justified and necessary to prevent the
introduction into and/or spread of pests within that country.
3. Requirements for the Establishment and Maintenance of Pest-Free
Areas for Tephritid Fruit Flies
This standard provides the guidelines to establish, maintain, and
verify pest-free areas for tephritid fruit flies. This standard applies
to all fruit flies of economic importance.
4. Diagnostic Protocols for Regulated Pests
This standard provides specific guidance on the structure and
content of diagnostic protocols. It also provides guidance on how these
protocols will be initiated, reviewed, and published. These protocols
describe procedures and methods for the detection and identification of
pests that are regulated by contracting parties and relevant for
international trade. They are addressed to diagnosticians/diagnostic
laboratories performing official tests as part of phytosanitary
measures. They provide at least the minimum requirements for reliable
diagnosis of the relevant pests.
5. Requirements for the Submission of Phytosanitary Treatments
This standard describes the criteria for a phytosanitary treatment
and the requirements for submitting a proposed phytosanitary treatment
for inclusion in the ISPM under development on phytosanitary
treatments. Treatments considered in this standard are applied to
commodities or to regulated articles. Pesticide registration is the
responsibility of each contracting party and is not part of this
standard.
New Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development
A number of expert working group meetings or other technical
consultations will take place during 2005 and 2006 on the topics listed
below. These standard-setting initiatives are not expected to be
completed prior to April 2006 and, therefore, will not be ready for
adoption at the 2006 ICPM session. Nonetheless, APHIS intends to
participate actively and fully in each of these working groups. The
U.S. position on each of the topics to be addressed by these various
working groups will be developed prior to these working group meetings
and will be based on APHIS' technical analysis, information from other
U.S. Government agencies, and relevant scientific information from
interested stakeholders.
1. Classification of Commodities by Phytosanitary Risk to Level of
Processing and Intended Use
This will be developed as a concept standard and provide guidance
for NPPOs for facilitating the classification of different types of
commodities into phytosanitary risk categories, taking into account the
level of processing and the intended use. It will also provide guidance
for determining risk management measures expressed as import
phytosanitary requirements for plants, plant products, and regulated
articles.
2. Guidelines for Formatting/Drafting Pest and Commodity Specific ISPMs
These standards will provide guidelines for formatting a list of
pests associated with commodities and phytosanitary measures related to
the commodity and for formatting aspects of a data sheet of a pest and/
or a phytosanitary measure related to that specific pest.
3. Debarking of Wood and Bark Freedom
This standard will provide a practical and useful description of
what constitutes debarked and bark-free wood. This standard, therefore,
will propose tolerances for bark in relation to the definitions of
debarked and bark-free wood.
4. Guidelines on Sampling of Consignments
This standard will provide guidelines on sampling for import,
export, and transit of consignments.
5. Post-Entry Quarantine Facilities
This standard will provide information on the design and operation
of containment facilities at different security levels where organisms,
including plants and biocontrol agents, can be grown in an environment
where there is minimal potential for the escape of pests.
For more detailed information on the above topics, which will be
addressed by various working groups established by the ICPM, contact
Mr. Narcy Klag (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
APHIS posts draft standards on the Internet (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/pim/standards/
) as they become available and
provides information on when comments on standards are due. Additional
information on IPPC standards is available on the FAO's Web site at
http://www.ippc.int/IPP/En/default.htm. For the most current
information on official U.S. participation in IPPC activities,
including U.S. positions on standards being considered, contact Mr.
Narcy Klag (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 Mr. Klag.
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 officials in
Canada, Mexico, and the United States, who may suggest revisions. In
the United States, draft standards are circulated to industry, States,
and various Government agencies for consideration and comment. The
draft standards are posted on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/pim/standards/
; interested persons may submit
comments via that Web site. 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 17-21, 2005, in
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The NAPPO Executive Committee meeting will
take place on October 16, 2005, and a special session will be held on
October 17, 2005, to solicit comment from industry groups so that
suggestions can be incorporated into the NAPPO work plan for the 2006
NAPPO year. The Deputy Administrator for PPQ is a member of the NAPPO
Executive Committee. The
[[Page 61428]]
Deputy Administrator intends to participate in the proceedings and will
discuss or comment on APHIS' position on any standard up for adoption
or any proposals to develop new standards.
The work plan for 2005 was established after the October 2004
Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada. The Deputy Administrator for PPQ
participated in establishing this NAPPO work plan (see panel
assignments below). Below is a summary of current panel assignments as
they relate to the ongoing development of NAPPO standards. The United
States (i.e., USDA/APHIS) intends to participate actively and fully in
the work of each of these panels. The U.S. position on each topic will
be guided and informed by the best scientific information available on
each of these topics. For each of the following panels, the United
States will consider its position on any draft standard after it
reviews a prepared draft. Information regarding the following NAPPO
panel topics, assignments, activities, and updates on meeting times and
locations may be obtained from the NAPPO homepage at http://www.nappo.org
or by contacting Mr. Narcy Klag (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above).
1. Accreditation Panel
The panel will develop an audit protocol for reviewing compliance
with the NAPPO laboratory accreditation standard (RSPM No. 9). They
will then use this protocol to audit the programs in the three NAPPO
countries starting with the United States. They will review and update
the current NAPPO laboratory accreditation standard (RSPM No. 9).
2. Biological Control Panel
This panel will complete the Taxonomic Resources Position Paper,
develop guidelines for the movement of commercial shipments of
arthropod biological control agents among NAPPO member countries, and
exchange information on biological control programs in the NAPPO
countries.
3. Biotechnology Panel
This panel will continue to develop a NAPPO standard for the review
of products of biotechnology that focuses on the assessment of the
potential to present a plant pest risk. The final module, importation
for uses other than propagation, will be developed.
4. Citrus Panel
The panel will update the pest lists in the Citrus Standard, based
on new pest information.
5. Electronic Phytosanitary Certification Panel
This panel will develop guidelines for the electronic transmission
of phytosanitary certificates.
6. Forestry Panel
This panel will coordinate the implementation of ISPM 15 by NAPPO
member countries.
7. Fruit Panel
The panel will coordinate with other appropriate panels to start
the development of a standard for the use of genetically modified fruit
flies in North America.
8. Grapevine Panel
The panel will provide direction and support to the Technical
Advisory Group to include insects and nematodes in the NAPPO standard
for grapevines (RSPM No. 15). They will participate in the development
of the NAPPO standard on plants for planting.
9. Potato Panel
The panel will develop an appendix to RSPM No. 3 on nematode
identification and update appendix 5 based on the latest molecular
information for potato virus YN (PVYn).
10. Propagative Material Panel
The panel will complete the standard on plants for planting.
11. Standards Panel
The panel will continue to provide updates on standards for the
NAPPO newsletter, coordinate the review of new and amended NAPPO
standards and ensure that comments received during the country
consultation phase are incorporated as appropriate, organize conference
calls and prepare NAPPO discussion documents for possible use at the
IPPC, and promote implementation of recently adopted standards.
The PPQ Deputy Administrator, as the official U.S. delegate to
NAPPO, intends to participate in the adoption of these regional plant
health standards, including the work described above, once they are
completed and ready for such consideration.
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 may become available following publication of this
notice, check the NAPPO Web site on the Internet at http://www.nappo.org
or contact Mr. Narcy Klag (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT above). Information on official U.S. participation in NAPPO
activities, including U.S. positions on standards being considered, may
also be obtained from Mr. Klag. Those wishing to provide comments on
any of the topics being addressed by any of the NAPPO panels may do so
at any time by responding to this notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by
transmitting comments through Mr. Klag.
Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of October 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5-5853 Filed 10-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P