International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 98-027-1]

International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting

Activities

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with legislation implementing the results of the

Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs

and Trade, we are informing the public of international standard-

setting activities of the Office International des Epizooties, the

Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the

North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting

public comment on the standards to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to

Docket No. 98-027-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,

Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please

state in your letter that your comments refer to Docket No. 98-027-1,

and state the name of the committee or working group to which your

comments are addressed. Comments received may be inspected at USDA,

room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,

except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested to

call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment

reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Greifer, Acting Director,

Trade Support Team, International Services, APHIS, room 1128, South

Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC,

20250, (202) 720-7677; or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The World Trade Organization (WTO) was

established on January 1, 1995, as the common international

institutional framework for the conduct of 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, which was signed into law

(Public Law 103-465) by the President on December 8, 1994. The Uruguay

Round Agreements Act amended title IV of the Trade Agreements Act of

1979 (19 U.S.C. 2531 et seq.) by adding a new subtitle F,

``International Standard-Setting Activities.'' Subtitle F 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 a notice in the

Federal Register that provides the following information: (1) The

sanitary or phytosanitary standards under consideration or planned for

consideration by the international standard-setting organization; and

(2) for each sanitary or phytosanitary (SPS) standard specified: a

description of the consideration or planned consideration of the

standard; whether the United States is participating or plans to

participate in the consideration of the standard; the agenda for United

States participation, if any; and the agency responsible for

representing the United States with respect to the standard.

Subtitle F defines ``international standard'' as a standard,

guideline, or recommendation: (1) Adopted by the Codex Alimentarius

Commission (Codex) regarding food safety; (2) developed under the

auspices of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) regarding

animal health and zoonoses; (3) developed under the auspices of the

Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in

cooperation with the North American Plant Protection Organization

(NAPPO) regarding plant health; or (4) established by or developed

under any other international organization agreed to by the member

countries of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or by

member countries of the WTO.

The President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995

(60 FR 15845), designated the United States Department of Agriculture

as the agency responsible for informing the public of the SPS standard-

setting activities of Codex, OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO. This responsibility

was delegated to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's)

Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for Codex activities and

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for OIE, IPPC, and

NAPPO activities.

FSIS is responsible for publishing an annual notice in the Federal

Register to inform the public of SPS standard-setting activities for

Codex. Codex was created in 1962 by two United Nations organizations,

the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health

Organization. It is the major international organization for

encouraging international trade in food and protecting the health and

economic interests of consumers.

APHIS is responsible for publishing notice of OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO

activities related to international standards and representing the

United States with respect to these standards.

Following are descriptions of OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO scheduled

activities for the coming year. In some cases, working groups and

committees have not yet set meeting dates and locations or determined

specific standards to be discussed. The OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO sanitary

and phytosanitary standard-setting activities for the coming year may

be modified as emergency situations may affect the agenda of each

standard-setting body.

OIE Standard-Setting Activities

The OIE was created in Paris, France, in 1924 with the signing of

an international agreement by 28 countries. It is currently composed of

151 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 designated the OIE as the international forum for

setting animal health standards, reporting global animal situations and

disease status, and presenting guidelines and recommendations on

sanitary measures.

The OIE facilitates intergovernmental cooperation to prevent the

spread of contagious diseases in animals through the sharing of

scientific research among its members. The major function of the OIE is

to ensure that scientifically justified standards govern international

trade in animals and animal products. The OIE aims to achieve this

through the development and revision of international standards for

diagnostic tests and vaccines for the safe international trade of

animals and animal products.

[[Page 38149]]

The OIE provides annual reports on the global distribution of

animal diseases, recognizes disease-free status of member countries,

categorizes animal diseases with respect to their international

significance, publishes bulletins on global disease status and timely

reviews of pertinent animal health issues, and provides animal disease

control guidelines to member countries.

Positions, policies, and standards established by the OIE can be

adopted by consensus or by vote of the delegates upon recommendations

from various commissions and working groups within the OIE. The

following is a list of those commissions and groups. Each listing

contains a description of the general purpose of the commission or

group, the items on its current agenda, and the dates and locations of

its meetings. Also listed are the U.S. agencies represented or serving

as contact points on each commission or group. Commission and working

group members are drawn from the five OIE regional commissions and are

selected based on their expertise; each commission is made up of three

to six members. The scientific community of the United States has the

honor of being represented on most, but not all, of the commissions.

OIE Commissions and Working Groups

1. Committee/Working Group: General Session.

U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS; Alternate--

International Services, USDA-APHIS.

General Purpose: Establish, review, and adopt international

standards dealing with animal health.

Date of Meeting: May (annually).

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Animal health standards related to trade,

including risk assessment standards, global disease control procedures,

regionalization, specific disease issues, and quality assurance of

veterinary services.

2. Committee/Working Group: Regional Commission for the Americas.

U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS.

General Purpose: The Regional Commission for the Americas is one of

five OIE Regional Commissions. Regional Commissions nominate candidates

for election to the expert commissions and working groups, discuss

regional animal health issues, and propose topics of regional concern

as agenda items or for scientific review at upcoming meetings of the

OIE General Session.

Date of Meeting: May (annually) and March or April (every 2 years).

Location of Meeting: Variable.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Location of regional office for the

Americas, animal health disease control issues of regional concern.

3. Committee/Working Group: Standards Commission.

U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS.

General Purpose: The Standards Commission recommends new standards

and changes in existing international standards for diagnostic tests

and vaccines. These changes, when approved by the General Session, are

published in the OIE Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and

Vaccines.

Dates of Meetings: February and September (twice annually).

Location of Meetings: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Review and recommend revisions to

international diagnostic test standards published in the OIE Manual of

Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines; review OIE reference

laboratories, OIE reference sera, and laboratory quality assurance, and

make recommendations to the OIE International Animal Health Code

Commission; discuss the most appropriate diagnostic procedures for

specific animal and poultry diseases.

4. Committee/Working Group: International Animal Health Code

Commission.

U.S. Participant: International Services, USDA-APHIS.

General Purpose: The International Animal Health Code Commission

develops and updates disease-specific international standards regarding

the movement of animals and animal products and generic standards for

animal transport, regionalization and risk assessment procedures,

surveillance and monitoring guidelines, and evaluation of animal health

infrastructures. The Director General appoints ad-hoc groups of experts

to assist the Commission in the drafting and review of disease

standards. When adopted by the General Session, these standards are

published in the OIE International Animal Health Code, the WTO-

recognized manual of standards for international movement of animals

and animal products.

Date of Meeting: January and September (twice annually).

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: The International Animal Health Code

Commission reviews and updates the Code. Proposed changes are

circulated twice yearly to member countries for comments, and are then

submitted for adoption at the General Session.

5. Committee/Working Group: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Other

Epizootics Commission.

U.S. Participant: None.

General Purpose: The FMD and Other Epizootics Commission monitors

the world status of FMD and other major animal diseases and prepares

epidemiological recommendations for adoption by the General Assembly.

Date of Meeting: January and September (twice annually).

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Current issues facing the Commission:

International standards for FMD serological testing, protocols for

endorsement of FMD-free areas, standards for epidemiological

surveillance for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, surveillance and

monitoring standards for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and

criteria for recognition of BSE-free status.

6. Committee/Working Group: Fish Diseases Commission.

U.S. Participant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of

Interior.

General Purpose: The Fish Diseases Commission drafted an Aquatic

Animal Health Code and a Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases

that contain international standards for fish diseases. These manuals

have been approved by the General Session.

Date of Meeting: September (annually).

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Current activities of the Fish Diseases

Commission: Continual updating of the OIE fish disease manuals,

preparation of the annual OIE report on the worldwide status of fish

diseases, and planning and hosting international conferences on current

topics in aquatic animal health.

7. Committee/Working Group: Ad Hoc Working Group on Biotechnology.

U.S. Participant: Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural

Research Service, USDA.

General Purpose: The Ad Hoc Working Group on Biotechnology reviews

the biotechnological aspects of each chapter of the OIE Manual for

Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines and prepares an annual report and

recommendations dealing with biotechnology for consideration by the

General Session. The Working Group has also developed an international

database on sources of biotechnologically engineered vaccines and

diagnostic reagents.

Date of Meeting: The working group meets when called by the

Director General.

[[Page 38150]]

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Current issues facing the working group:

Ongoing reviews of diagnostic test kits, applications of genetic

engineering to animal health, veterinary products developed using

biotechnology, and possible uses of new biotechnological techniques in

veterinary medicine.

8. Committee/Working Group: Working Group on Veterinary Drug

Registration.

U.S. Participant: Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug

Administration, in cooperation with USDA-APHIS.

General Purpose: Prepares recommendations for the General Session.

Date of Meeting: Every 2 years.

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Current issues facing the working group:

Developing training programs for veterinary drug registration officials

of OIE member countries and assisting an OIE ad hoc group in developing

draft international guidelines for veterinary drug registration.

9. Committee/Working Group: Working Group on Informatics and

Epidemiology.

U.S. Participant: USDA-APHIS is a consultant to the working group.

General Purpose: The Working Group on Informatics and Epidemiology

develops programs to increase the efficiency of OIE communications and

to assist animal health officials of member countries to more

effectively utilize contemporary communications technology. One project

of the working group is HandiStatus, an information network on animal

diseases of international importance.

Date of Meeting: The working group meets when called by the

Director General.

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: The working group is currently developing

a Windows version of HandiStatus and designing and developing the OIE

web page.

10. Committee/Working Group: Working Group on Wildlife Diseases.

U.S. Participant: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study,

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia.

General Purpose: The working group addresses the relationship

between diseases of wildlife and those of domestic animals and poultry.

Date of Meeting: The working group meets when called by the

Director General, usually annually in the summer or fall.

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Some issues currently facing the working

group are: development of reporting methods for wildlife diseases

(particularly those naturally transmissible between domesticated and

wild species); facilitating worldwide wildlife disease surveillance and

the applicability of routine diagnostic tests to wildlife species; and

problems related to propagation of wildlife species in captivity and

the disease hazards associated with their release from zoos or game

farms.

11. Committee/Working Group: Ad Hoc Group on Transmissible

Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs): Coordination of Research and

Epidemiological Studies

U.S. Participant: Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS (periodically,

depending upon expertise required at each specific meeting).

General Purpose: The group reports its findings and research

recommendations on TSEs and BSE to the Code Commission.

Date of Meeting: At the request of the Director General.

Location of Meeting: Paris, France.

Major Discussion/Agenda: Updating information on TSEs.

For further information on any of the OIE standards, publications,

or commissions or working groups, contact Dr. Robert F. Kahrs, Trade

Policy Liaison, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700

River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-6194; or e-

mail: [email protected].

IPPC Standard-Setting Activities

The IPPC is an international treaty, first ratified in 1952, aimed

at promoting international cooperation to control and prevent the

spread of harmful plant pests associated with the movement of people

and commodities.

The Convention 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. 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.

In last year's notice, we explained that the IPPC was undergoing

revision as a result of the WTO Agreement on the Application of

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS Agreement). Signatory

countries agreed on the need to revise the Convention to reflect

significant changes in international trade and plant quarantine since

the last revision of the IPPC. New revised text was adopted by the FAO

Conference in November 1997.

One of the primary objectives of the revision process was to ensure

that the IPPC was able to develop international standards, guidelines,

and recommendations as envisioned in the SPS Agreement. The standards,

guidelines, and recommendations developed by the IPPC are important

within the framework of the SPS Agreement for two reasons. First, a WTO

member is required to base its phytosanitary measures on international

standards, guidelines, and recommendations where they exist, or justify

a measure that achieves a higher level of protection. Second, a

standard, guideline, or recommendation developed by the IPPC serves as

a ``safe haven'' standard, i.e., a national phytosanitary measure that

conforms to an IPPC standard will be presumed to be consistent with the

requirements set forth in the WTO SPS Agreement and in the General

Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Member countries agreed that in order for the IPPC to fulfill its

role as a standard-setting body, the IPPC would have to strengthen its

capability to develop phytosanitary standards. Although the IPPC began

developing and adopting standards following the establishment of the

Secretariat in 1993, it had not formalized the institutional capability

for producing phytosanitary standards in the Convention. The revision

of the IPPC began with the primary intent to (1) Institutionalize a

standard-setting capability within the IPPC and (2) ensure consistency

between the IPPC and the WTO SPS Agreement by incorporating and

clarifying within the IPPC a number of phytosanitary concepts contained

in the WTO SPS Agreement. The revised IPPC established the Commission

on Phytosanitary Measures as the body responsible for carrying out the

objectives of the revised IPPC. However, the revised IPPC will not be

in force until two-thirds of the member countries accept the revisions.

Until this happens, FAO has approved the meeting of an Interim

Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, which will serve in the role

designed for the Commission in the revised IPPC, but actions will not

receive official recognition without FAO council action.

The revised IPPC also formalized the role of the IPPC Secretariat,

which is responsible for implementing the policies and activities of

the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. The Secretariat is appointed

by the

[[Page 38151]]

Director General of FAO and is responsible for the dissemination of

information to IPPC member countries regarding (1) Proposed and

approved standards; (2) lists of regulated pests; (3) phytosanitary

requirements, restrictions, and prohibitions; and (4) translations of

all standards and meeting documentation into the official languages of

FAO.

The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures

The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures actively examines the

state of plant protection in the world and proposes and establishes

standards that help to eliminate plant pests and control their spread.

The Commission is composed of technically competent officials from

member countries who are ultimately responsible for implementing IPPC

standards and policies in their countries. The Commission provides

member countries with a forum in which to propose international

standards and discuss and exchange information on phytosanitary

measures, standards, and other issues of concern.

IPPC standards are proposed in a number of ways. The IPPC

Secretariat may initiate development of a draft standard by forming a

working group to develop a standard deemed a priority by IPPC members.

Draft standards or discussion papers may also be submitted to the

Secretariat for IPPC consideration by regional or national plant

protection organizations or other interested parties. The IPPC

Secretariat refers draft standards to the Committee of Experts on

Phytosanitary Measures (CEPM), which considers the drafts and

recommends action. Drafts approved by the CEPM are then submitted to

member countries for consultation and comment (country consultation).

Comments made during country consultation are then considered by the

Secretariat, which revises the standard before resubmitting it to the

CEPM.

If the CEPM approves the revised draft, it is submitted to the

Commission on Phytosanitary Measures for adoption.

Each member country is represented on the Commission by a single

delegate. Although experts and advisers may accompany the delegate to

meetings of the Commission, only the delegate or an authorized

alternate may vote on proposed standards or other initiatives. Parties

involved in a vote by the Commission are to make every effort to reach

agreement on all matters by consensus. Only after all efforts to reach

a consensus have been exhausted may a decision on a standard be passed

by a vote of two-thirds of delegates present and voting.

Technical experts from the United States have participated directly

in working groups and indirectly as reviewers of all IPPC draft

standards. In addition, documents and positions developed by APHIS and

NAPPO have served as the basis for many of the standards adopted to

date.

Scheduled IPPC Meetings

The first meeting of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary

Measures will be held in Rome, November 3-6, 1998.

The 10th Technical Consultation of Regional Plant Protection

Organizations will be held in Rome, November 9-10, 1998.

The Regulated Non-quarantine Pest Working Group will convene during

the first week of October 1998 (tentative), at a location to be

determined.

The next meeting of the Committee of Experts on Phytosanitary

Measures (CEPM) is tentatively scheduled for the second week in May,

1999.

Status of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures

Various formal documents and standards are currently moving through

different stages of development, review, and approval. The status of

all IPPC formal documents and standards (existing, drafted, and

proposed) is listed below.

Existing Standards (subject to revision):

The International Plant Protection Convention (existing,

and new revised text), revised November 1997.

Principles of Plant Quarantine as Related to International

Trade (reference standard), adopted in 1993.

Code of Conduct for the Import and Release of Biological

Control Agents, adopted November 1995.

Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis, adopted November 1995.

Requirements for the Establishment of Pest Free Areas,

adopted November 1995.

Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms (reference standard),

revised in September 1995.

Guidelines for Surveillance.

Export Certification System. Proposed standards to be

submitted to the Commission for final approval in November 1998:

Determination of pest status.

Guidelines for pest eradication programs. Draft standards

undergoing country consultation prior to meeting of regional plant

protection organizations in November 1998:

Requirements for the establishment of pest-free places of

production.

Inspection methodology.

Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests. Draft standards

to be reviewed by the Council of Experts on Phytosanitary Measures in

May 1999:

Guidelines for an import regulatory system.

Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates.

Guidelines for surveillance for specific pests: Citrus

canker.

Existing standards being updated for alignment with the revised

IPPC (1997):

Principles of Plant Quarantine as Related to International

Trade (first draft prepared by the Secretariat).

Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis (first draft prepared by

the Secretariat).

Standards under development by the IPPC. The following standards

will be prioritized at the November 1998 meeting:

Guidelines for the preparation of regulated pest lists (no

draft or discussion paper).

Technical justification for regulating nonquarantine pests

(draft discussion paper by the IPPC Secretariat; working group for fall

1998).

Guidelines for notification--interceptions and

noncompliance (no draft or discussion paper).

Systems approaches for risk management (discussion paper

in preparation).

Low pest prevalence (no draft or discussion paper).

Quarantine nomenclature for plants and plant products (no

draft or discussion paper).

Dispute settlement (draft in preparation).

Procedures for the preparation of a standard (pending

discussion by the Commission).

Pest-specific monitoring and testing requirements (no

draft or discussion paper).

Training and accreditation of inspectors (no draft or

discussion paper).

Pest control procedures (no draft or discussion paper).

Procedures for post-entry quarantine (no draft or

discussion paper).

Systems for approving phytosanitary treatments (no draft

or discussion paper).

Guidelines for research requirements for treatment

efficacy (no draft or discussion paper).

Commodity-specific standards (no draft or discussion

paper).

Further information on the IPPC standards is available from the FAO

web page at: http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agp/agpp/PQ/

Default.htm. This page may contain outdated information but is

tentatively

[[Page 38152]]

scheduled to be updated by July 31, 1998.

Information on U.S. participation in IPPC standard setting, as well

as up-to-date information on activities and meetings, is also available

by contacting Mr. Alfred Elder, Acting Deputy Administrator, APHIS,

USDA, room 302-E, Whitten Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue

SW., Washington, DC 20250.

NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities

NAPPO was created in 1976 to coordinate plant protection activities

in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. NAPPO provides a mechanism by

which the three countries can exchange information related to plant

pest control. NAPPO cooperates with other regional plant protection

organizations and the FAO to achieve the objectives of the IPPC.

NAPPO conducts its business through permanent and ad hoc panels and

annual meetings of 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 then circulated for

review to government and industry by Canada, Mexico, and the United

States, which may suggest revisions. Once revisions are made, the

proposal is then sent to the NAPPO Working Group and the NAPPO

Standards Panel for technical reviews, and finally to the Executive

Committee for final approval, which is made by consensus.

The following is a summary of panel charges as they relate to the

development of standards (see the NAPPO web page for more information,

including a list of U.S. participants on the panels, at http://

www.nappo.org):

NAPPO Standards Panel

The NAPPO Standards Panel handles or supports development of NAPPO

standards and other cross-commodity issues, reviews proposed

international standards, and recommends NAPPO positions on proposed

international standards. This panel reviews the standards proposed by

the other panels before they are sent out for full review, with a focus

on modifying such proposed standards where necessary to clarify whether

NAPPO or FAO definitions and standards will apply to particular NAPPO

activities.

Other current charges to the Standards Panel include:

Proposing elements for an international standard on

regulated nonquarantine pests to submit to the FAO.

Providing updates to the International Standards for

Phytosanitary Measures and NAPPO Standards for the NAPPO Newsletter.

Accreditation Panel

The panel will continue the development of the draft NAPPO Standard

for Laboratory Accreditation for consideration by the NAPPO Working

Group in July 1998 and approval by the Executive Committee in October

1998.

Biological Control Panel

No charges are currently available for this panel.

Biotechnology Panel

The panel will continue working on issues related to transgenic

crops in their centers of origin. This includes completion of the

report of the workshop on transgenic maize held in Mexico City in

October 1997.

Citrus Panel

The panel will develop a draft NAPPO Standard for Phytosanitary

Measures establishing requirements for the importation of citrus into a

NAPPO member country.

Forestry Panel

The panel will:

Incorporate comments from the Standards Panel into the

draft NAPPO Dunnage Standard, circulate the draft for review, and

revise it by June 30, 1998, for consideration by the NAPPO Working

Group in July 1998. This draft standard is expected to require

extensive review, and action may be suspended until each of the three

countries has an opportunity for consultation with and input from

affected parties.

Develop a glossary of phytosanitary terms unique to the

forestry sector by June 30, 1998, for consideration by the NAPPO

Working Group in July 1998 and approval by the Executive Committee in

October 1998.

Fruit Fly Panel

The panel will incorporate comments from the Standards Panel,

circulate the draft Surveillance for Fruit Flies Standard for full

review, and revise by June 30, 1998, for consideration by the Working

Group in July 1998 and Executive Committee approval in October 1998.

Fruit Tree and Grapevine Nursery Stock Certification Panel

The panel will:

Incorporate comments from the Standards Panel and

circulate the draft Grapevine Standard for full review by June 30,

1998, for consideration by the NAPPO Working Group in July 1998. The

policy of this draft standard is being carefully reviewed to determine

its impact on current industry practice. The review period will be

extended as necessary to accommodate further consultation and review.

Continue work on development of Citrus, Prunus, and Malus

standards; draft citrus standard for initial review by Standards Panel

in July 1998, and circulate for full review in August 1998.

Grains Panel

The panel will:

Review the treatment options available for risk management

of Tilletia indica (Karnal bunt) and recommend treatments for

endorsement by NAPPO.

Identify whether there are phytosanitary or commercial

problems associated with weed seeds imported into, or shipped within,

North America.

Develop harmonized procedures to deal with contaminated

grain shipments.

Develop a harmonized regulatory approach to deal with

shipments of grain contaminated with Tilletia species of ryegrass.

Pest Risk Analysis Panel

The panel will classify areas within North America (as requested by

the Grains Panel) according to the relative risk of the introduction

(entry and establishment) of Tilletia indica.

Potato Panel

The panel will begin work with the European Plant Protection

Organization on a global standard for potatoes.

Training Panel

The panel will develop criteria to assess the proficiency of

persons to perform tasks described in the NAPPO Standard for the

Accreditation of Individuals to Issue Phytosanitary Certificates by

July 1998.

The current NAPPO meeting schedule is as follows:

NAPPO Annual Meetings

July 19-23, 1998, Halifax, Canada.

October 18-22, 1998, Guanajuato, Mexico.

NAPPO Working Group

July 20-22, 1998, Ottawa, Canada.

October 18, 1998, Halifax, Canada.

[[Page 38153]]

NAPPO Executive Committee

August 18, 1998, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.

October 19, 1998, Halifax, Canada.

Up-to-date information on NAPPO policies, standard setting

activities, U.S. participants, and meeting agendas and dates is

available on the NAPPO web page at http://www.nappo.org. Interested

individuals may also contact Mr. Alfred Elder, Acting Deputy

Administrator, PPQ, APHIS, room 302-E, Whitten Building, 14th Street

and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.

Comments on standards being considered or to be considered by any

of the OIE, IPPC, or NAPPO committees or working groups listed above

may be sent to APHIS as directed under the heading ADDRESSES.

Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of July, 1998.

Craig A. Reed,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-18839 Filed 7-14-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P