[Federal Register: September 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 185)]
[Notices]
[Page 54420-54426]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25se07-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0085]
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, select
``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-
down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select
APHIS-2007-0085 to submit or view public comments and to view
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips''
link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0085,
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. APHIS-2007-0085.
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, SPS
Management 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, National Center for
Import and Export, 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 Ms. Julie E. Aliaga, Program
Director, International Phytosanitary Standards, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-0763.
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) 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
[[Page 54421]]
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 169 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 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 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 are then presented to the
OIE International Committee (all the Member countries) during the
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 25-30, 2008, in
Paris, France. Currently, the Deputy Administrator of APHIS Veterinary
Services is the official U.S. Delegate to the OIE. The Deputy
Administrator of APHIS intends to participate in the proceedings and
will discuss or comment on APHIS' position on any standard up for
adoption. Information about OIE draft Terrestrial Animal Health Code
and Aquatic Animal Health 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 Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapters and Appendices Adopted
1. Chapter 2.2.10, Foot and Mouth Disease
Guidelines for quicker recovery of status after an outbreak, and
the concept of ``containment zone'' were added.
2. Chapter 2.2.12, Rinderpest, and Appendix 3.8.2, Surveillance for
Rinderpest
The Code Chapter and surveillance appendix were adopted as proposed
in order to assist several African countries.
3. Chapter 2.2.13, Bluetongue
Minor updates were made to this chapter.
4. Chapter 2.3.13., Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
This chapter received only minor changes this year. Specifically,
for countries that are classified as ``negligible'' risk for BSE, but
which have had an indigenous case, live cattle and meat-and-bone meal
(MBM) should not be traded if the cattle were born or the MBM was
produced prior to the implementation of an effective ruminant-to-
ruminant feed ban.
5. Section 2.5, Equine Disease
The following Code chapters were updated:
Chapter 2.5.4, Equine infectious anemia; Chapter 2.5.5, Equine
influenza; Chapter 2.5.6, Equine piroplasmosis; Chapter 2.5.7, Equine
rhinopneumonitis; Chapter 2.5.8, Glanders; and Chapter 2.5.10, Equine
viral arteritis.
6. Chapter 2.7.12, Avian Influenza
This chapter received only a few changes this year. Backyard
poultry and fighting cocks were included in the definition of
``poultry.'' In addition, the OIE made it explicit that countries
should not impose immediate trade bans when a country reports the
detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds.
7. Appendix 3.2.1, Bovine and small ruminant semen
The requirement to test for Border disease in sheep was
reinstituted.
8. Appendix 3.6.6, General guidelines for the disposal of dead animals
Minor changes were made to this appendix.
9. Appendix 3.7.2, Guidelines for the transport of animals by sea;
Appendix 3.7.3, Guidelines for the transport of animals by land;
Appendix 3.7.5, Guidelines for the slaughter of animals; and Appendix
3.7.6, Guidelines for the killing of animals for disease control
These guidelines were updated.
OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapters Up for Adoption
Existing Terrestrial Animal Health Code chapters that may be
revised and new chapters that may be drafted in preparation for the
next General Session in 2008 include the following:
1. Chapter 1.3.5, Zoning and compartmentalization
These guidelines were refined to clarify some of the basic criteria
required to ensure the integrity of a compartment. A checklist on the
practical application of compartmentalization for avian influenza and
Newcastle diseases was distributed.
2. Chapter 2.5.14, African horse sickness
This is a new chapter that contains draft guidelines provided by
the Scientific Commission. It is being circulated to Member countries
for comment.
3. Chapter 2.6.6, African swine fever
This new chapter replaces the existing Chapter.
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4. Chapter 2.6.7, Classical swine fever; and Appendix 3.8.8, Guidelines
for the surveillance of classical swine fever
This chapter and appendix have been extensively rewritten, are
being circulated for comment, and will be submitted for adoption in
2008.
5. Chapter 2.7.13, Newcastle disease, and Appendix 3.8.X, Guidelines
for the surveillance of Newcastle disease
This draft appendix defines the principles and provides a guide for
the surveillance of Newcastle disease.
6. Appendix 3.10.2, Guidelines for the detection, control, and
prevention of Salmonella enteritidis and S. typimurium in poultry
producing eggs for human consumption
This appendix represents an ongoing complete redrafting of a
current OIE Code Chapter. It is being circulated for comment.
7. Draft Appendix, General principles of identification and
traceability of live animals
This is a new appendix that provides that animals and products of
animal origin should be traceable throughout the animal production and
food chain, within the scope of relevant OIE and Codex Alimentarius
standards.
8. Draft Guidelines for the control of biological hazards of animal
health and public health importance through ante- and post-mortem meat
inspection
These new guidelines provide guidance on animal feeding in relation
to animal health. They complement the guidance provided by the Codex
Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding (CAC/RCP 54-2004), which deals
primarily with food safety.
9. Draft Guidelines on dog population control
These guidelines will form a new chapter that provides for control
of stray and feral dog populations.
Code Commission Future Work Program
During the next year, 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. The harvesting and culling of wildlife.
2. Laboratory animal welfare.
3. Bovine brucellosis.
OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code Chapters and Appendices up for Adoption
Existing Aquatic Animal Health Code chapters that may be revised
and new chapters and appendices that have been drafted in preparation
for the 2008 General Session include:
Chapter 2.3.7, Crayfish Plague; Chapter 2.3.9, Infectious
Myonecrosis; Chapter 2.3.10, Necrotising Hepatopancreatitis; Chapter
2.3.11, White Tail Disease; Chapter 2.3.12, Hepatopancreatic Parvovirus
Disease; Chapter 2.3.13, Mourilyan Virus Disease; General Guidelines
for Aquatic Animal Health Surveillance; and Guidelines for the Control
of Aquatic Animal Health Hazards in Aquatic Animal Feeds.
OIE Aquatic Animal Commission Future Work Program
During the next few years, the OIE Aquatic Animal 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. Diseases of amphibians.
2. Biosecurity procedures.
The Process
The OIE Code 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 is 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 and comment on proposed
standards, and make decisions regarding the adoption of those
standards, strictly on their scientific merits.
Other OIE Topics
Every year at the General Session, at least one technical item is
presented. For the May 2008 General Session, the following technical
item will be presented:
1. Integrating small farmers in animal health programs.
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 2008,
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
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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 under the authority of the Food and Agriculture
Organization (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 Commission on Phytosanitary Measures ((CPM),
formerly referred to as the International 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
entered into force after two-thirds of the contracting parties notified
the Director General of FAO of their acceptance of the amendment. 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. Alternatively, 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 CPM. The CPM identifies the
topics and priorities for standard setting from among the proposals
submitted to the Secretariat and others that may be raised by the CPM.
Step 3: Specifications for the standards identified as priorities
by the CPM 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 CPM for
adoption.
Step 7: The ISPM is established through formal adoption by the CPM
according to Rule X of the Rules of Procedure of the CPM.
Step 8: Review of the ISPM is completed by the specified date or
such other date as may be agreed upon by the CPM.
Each member country is represented on the CPM by a single delegate.
Although experts and advisers may accompany the delegate to meetings of
the CPM, 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 CPM 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 CPM meeting is scheduled for April 7-11, 2008, at FAO
Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Deputy Administrator for APHIS' PPQ
program is the U.S. delegate to the CPM. 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 Third 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 2008.
6. Items arising from the Second Session of the CPM (see section
below entitled ``New Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in
Development'' for details).
7. Work program for harmonization.
8. Other business.
9. Date and venue of the next meeting.
10. Adoption of the report.
IPPC Standards Up for Adoption in 2008
It is expected that the following standards will be sufficiently
developed to be considered by the CPM for adoption at its 2008 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 CPM
session and will be based on APHIS' analysis, information from other
U.S. Government agencies, and relevant scientific information from
interested stakeholders.
1. Developing a Strategy To Reduce or Replace the Use of Methyl Bromide
for Phytosanitary Purposes
This standard provides guidance to national plant protection
organizations
[[Page 54424]]
(NPPOs) and regional plant protection organizations (RPPOs) in the
development of a strategy to reduce or replace the use of methyl
bromide as a phytosanitary measure in order to reduce emissions of
methyl bromide. The standard outlines areas for action for developing
and implementing a national strategy on the use of methyl bromide as a
phytosanitary measure.
2. Establishment of Areas of Low Pest Prevalence for Fruit Flies
(Tephritidae)
This standard provides guidelines for the establishment and
maintenance of areas of low pest prevalence for fruit flies of economic
importance (including places and sites of production of low pest
prevalence) for use as a risk mitigation measure to facilitate trade of
fruits and vegetables. The decision to create a fruit fly area of low
pest prevalence (FF-ALPP) for export of a particular host of fruit fly
is closely linked to trade opportunities and to economic and
operational feasibility.
3. Sampling of Consignments
This standard provides guidance in developing sampling design and
determining sampling frequency that may be used as part of the
processes used for inspection or for gathering material for testing to
ensure compliance with phytosanitary requirements.
4. Classification of Commodities into Phytosanitary Risk Categories
This standard provides guidance on categorizing plant and plant
product commodities according to their phytosanitary risk. The
categorization is based on the method and level of processing to which
a commodity has been subjected and the commodity's intended uses. The
standard also provides guidance for determining phytosanitary risk
management measures for each category, as appropriate.
5. Supplement to ISPM No. 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms): Debarked
and Bark-Free Wood
This supplement provides practical guidance to NPPOs on
differentiating between debarked wood and bark-free wood, where removal
of bark is required to reduce the risk of introduction and/or spread of
quarantine pests associated with bark. This supplement does not specify
the effectiveness or technical justification of removal of bark.
6. Amendments to ISPM No. 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms)
A. The following terms and definitions will be proposed for
addition to the glossary of phytosanitary terms in ISPM No. 5:
Prevalence (of a pest): Proportion of units in a
population of plants, plant products, or other articles that is
affected by a pest at a given time, or the level of occurrence of a
pest in an area at a given time as expressed by a defined index or a
range of values.
Tolerance level: Prevalence of a pest that is a threshold
for action to control that pest or to prevent its spread or
introduction.
B. The following term and definition will be proposed to be changed
as follows:
Beneficial organisms: Any organism directly or indirectly
advantageous to plants or plant products, including biological control
agents and sterile insects.
C. The following terms will be proposed for deletion:
Authority
Biological pesticide (biopesticide)
Classical biological control, introduction (of a
biological control agent), and establishment (of a biological control
agent)
Exotic
Import permit (of a biological control agent)
Micro-organism
Specificity
New Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development
A number of expert working group meetings or other technical
consultations will take place during 2007 and 2008 on the topics listed
below. These standard-setting initiatives were not completed before
April 2007 and, therefore, will not be ready for adoption at the 2008
CPM 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. Supplement to ISPM No. 11 (Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests
including analysis of environmental risks and living modified
organisms): Appropriate Level of Protection
The appropriate level of protection is a concept established beyond
the scope and legal competence of the IPPC. Therefore, these guidelines
focus primarily on promoting consistency in the development and use of
phytosanitary measures.
2. Draft Supplement to ISPM No. 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms):
Guidelines for the Interpretation and Application of the Term ``Not
Widely Distributed'' in Relation to Quarantine Pests
This supplement provides guidance on the interpretation and
application of the term ``not widely distributed'' in the context of
the decision on whether a pest qualifies as a quarantine pest.
3. Systems Approach(es) for Pest Risk Management of Fruit Flies
(Tephritidae)
This standard provides guidelines for the establishment and use of
systems approach(es) as an option for pest risk management of fruit
flies to facilitate trade of fruits. The standard applies to fruit
flies (Tephritidae) of economic importance.
4. Revisions of ISPMs No. 7 and 12
Currently there are two ISPMs dealing with export: ISPM No. 7
(Export certification system) and ISPM No. 12 (Guidelines for
phytosanitary certificates). These standards briefly describe the
procedure to follow in case of re-export and transit shipments
requiring phytosanitary certification. As international trade has
expanded and means of conveyance have diversified, the need has arisen
to provide clearer guidance on re-export and transit phytosanitary
certification. In addition, concepts in these standards will be made
consistent with other existing standards.
For more detailed information on the above topics, which will be
addressed by various working groups established by the CPM, contact Ms.
Julie E. Aliaga (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 the due dates for comments. 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 Ms.
Julie E. Aliaga (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 Ms.
Aliaga.
NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities
NAPPO, a regional plant protection organization created in 1976
under the
[[Page 54425]]
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 22-26, 2007, in
St. John's Newfoundland-Labrador, Canada. The NAPPO Executive Committee
meeting will take place on October 22, 2007, and a special session will
be held on October 23, 2007, to solicit comment from industry groups so
that suggestions can be incorporated into the NAPPO work plan for the
2008 NAPPO year. The Deputy Administrator for PPQ is a member of the
NAPPO Executive Committee. The 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 2007 was established after the October 2006
Annual Meeting in Fort McDowell, Arizona. 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 Ms. Julie E. Aliaga (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above).
1. Accreditation Panel
The panel will conduct an in-depth audit of the Canadian system to
comply with RSPM No. 8 (The Accreditation of Individuals to Sign
Federal Phytosanitary Certificates).
2. Biological Control Panel
The panel will complete a NAPPO discussion paper on taxonomic
expertise in biological control activities. The panel will review RSPM
No. 7 (Guidelines for Petition for Release of Exotic Phytophagous
Agents for the Biological Control of Weeds), and RSPM No. 12
(Guidelines for Petition for Release of Exotic Entomophagous Agents for
the Biological Control of Pests), to determine whether they should be
archived, in light of revisions to ISPM No. 3 (Guidelines for the
export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents and
other beneficial organisms).
3. Biotechnology Panel
This panel will continue to develop a NAPPO standard for the
importation of transgenic plants into NAPPO member countries. The
standard review of products of biotechnology focuses on the assessment
of the potential for the new trait to increase the risk the plant could
pose to other plants in agriculture or the broader environment.
4. Citrus Panel
The panel will review the citrus production programs in States
where Mexico and the United States share borders for compliance with
RSPM No. 16 (Guidelines for the Importation of Citrus Propagative
Material into a NAPPO Member Country), and RSPM No. 24 (Integrated Pest
Risk Management Measures for the Importation of Plants for Planting
into NAPPO Member Countries), with the goal of developing regionally
harmonized nursery certification programs for citrus nursery stock. The
panel is also charged with exchanging technical information on emerging
citrus pests such as citrus greening.
5. Electronic Phytosanitary Certification Panel
This panel will conduct a pilot project for electronic
phytosanitary certification within the NAPPO region.
6. Forestry Panel
This panel will draft a NAPPO standard on preventing the entry of
asian gypsy moth into North America. It will continue to provide
leadership in the design and delivery of NAPPO workshops on the
implementation of ISPM No. 15 (Guidelines for regulating wood packaging
material in international trade). The panel will investigate and report
on the technical impacts of Phytophthora ramorum on conifer forests,
and analyze collected data and report on the incidence of pests
associated with bark on wood packaging that has been marked according
to ISPM No. 15.
In addition, the panel will provide technical support to the IPPC
(International Forest Quarantine Research Group and Technical Panel on
Forest Quarantine), particularly with regard to the risks associated
with bark on treated wood packaging.
7. Fruit Panel
The panel will develop a NAPPO standard on accreditation of
laboratories for diagnostics of fruit pests and develop a NAPPO
standard on equivalence in the application of detection and
identification tools for fruit pests, including guidelines for quality
control.
8. Fruit Tree Panel
The panel will finalize the bacteria and fungi appendices for RSPM
No. 25 (Guidelines for International Movement of Pome and Stone Fruit
Trees into a NAPPO Member Country), and will begin to work on the
insect and nematode appendices. The panel will update the appendix on
viruses in RSPM No. 25 with additions or changes, host and literature
references.
9. Grains Panel
This panel, in collaboration with the Pest Risk Analysis Panel,
will review the latest scientific information on Karnal bunt, Tilletia
indica. The panel will develop recommended actions to harmonize the
management of soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrizi) in NAPPO member
countries. In addition, the panel will develop a NAPPO strategic plan
to prepare for the possible arrival of new races of black stem rust of
wheat, such as Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, race TTKS, based on the
pest risk assessment prepared by the NAPPO Pest Risk Analysis Panel.
[[Page 54426]]
10. Grapevine Panel
The panel will complete the appendices of significant arthropod and
nematode pests of grapevines for RSPM No. 15 (Guidelines for the
Importation of Grapevines into a NAPPO Member Country). The panel will
begin to work on the bacteria and fungi appendices for RSPM No. 15 and
update the appendix on viruses.
11. Invasive Species Panel
This panel will define the scope of invasive alien species in the
context of NAPPO and will begin development of a NAPPO standard for
evaluating the potential invasiveness of plants for planting. The panel
will also begin development of a NAPPO standard for identifying and
prioritizing pest introduction pathways (pathway analysis). In
addition, the panel will coordinate and clarify NAPPO's invasive
species efforts with those of the North American Commission for
Environmental Cooperation and other North American international
treaties, conventions, and trilateral activities.
This year, the panel will coordinate with the NAPPO Working Group
to develop the agenda and speakers for the Invasive Species Symposium
at the October 2007 NAPPO Annual Meeting.
12. Pest Risk Analysis Panel
The panel will prepare a NAPPO pest risk analysis on black stem
rust, UG 99, Puccinia graminis, for the NAPPO Grains panel and, in
collaboration with this panel, will review the latest scientific
information on Karnal bunt, Tilletia indica Mitra.
13. Phytosanitary Alert System Panel
This panel continuously posts timely pest alerts on the NAPPO web
site, reviews automated data surveillance technologies to streamline
data mining processes, and determines ways to improve official pest
reporting through the Phytosanitary Alert System.
14. Plants for Planting
The panel will report on progress in achieving the implementation
plan for RSPM No. 24 (Integrated Pest Risk Management Measures for the
Importation of Plants for Planting in NAPPO Member Countries). In
addition, the panel will clarify the meaning of the term ``origin'' in
ISPM No. 12 (Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates), in particular
for re-exports of seeds.
15. Potato Panel
The panel will finalize protocols for the detection and
identification of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus as
Appendix 6 to the NAPPO Potato Standard, RSPM No. 3, and finalize the
protocols for the isolation and identification of regulated nematodes
of potato as Appendix 7 to the Potato Standard. The panel will
determine the accuracy of Appendix 5, Per-Shipment Testing for PVYn,
based on the current knowledge of the North American PVY complex, and
will identify the requirements for recognition of pest freedom for
golden nematode Globodera rostochiensis and the potato cyst nematode
Globodera pallida, based on International Standards for Phytosanitary
Measures.
16. Standards Panel
The panel will coordinate and review new and amended NAPPO
standards and implementation plans; provide updates on NAPPO standards
and ISPMs for the NAPPO Newsletter; exchange and discuss comments on
draft ISPMs within NAPPO and with other RPPOs to build consensus on
draft ISPMs and other issues related to the IPPC; organize conference
calls and prepare NAPPO discussion documents where possible to confirm
positions on key issues for North American representatives to FAO
expert working groups; update the NAPPO Glossary, taking into account
new definitions and standards; and review NAPPO position papers and
policy documents to verify current relevance.
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 Ms. Julie E. Aliaga (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 Ms. Aliaga. 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 Ms. Aliaga.
Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of September 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator,Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-18877 Filed 9-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P