International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities, 50063-50067 [2018-21577]
Download as PDF
50063
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 83, No. 193
Thursday, October 4, 2018
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2018–0053]
International Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Standard-Setting
Activities
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with legislation
implementing the results of the Uruguay
Round of negotiations under the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, we are
informing the public of the international
standard-setting activities of the World
Organization for Animal Health, the
Secretariat of the International Plant
Protection Convention, and the North
American Plant Protection Organization,
and we are soliciting public comment
on the standards to be considered.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/#!docket
Detail;D=APHIS-2018-0053.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2018–0053, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket
may be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=
APHIS-2018-0053 or in our reading
Room, which is located in Room 1141
of the USDA South Building, 14th Street
and Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC. Normal reading room
hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except holidays. To be
sure someone is there to help you,
please call (202) 799–7039 before
coming.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:23 Oct 03, 2018
Jkt 247001
For
general information on the topics
covered in this notice, contact Ms.
Jessica Mahalingappa, Assistant Deputy
Administrator for Trade and Capacity
Building, International Services, APHIS,
Room 1132, USDA South Building, 14th
Street and Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 799–7121.
For specific information regarding
standard-setting activities of the World
Organization for Animal Health, contact
Dr. Michael David, Director,
International Animal Health Standards
Team, National Import Export Services,
VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 33,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–3302.
For specific information regarding the
standard-setting activities of the
International Plant Protection
Convention, contact Dr. Marina Zlotina,
IPPC Technical Director, International
Phytosanitary Standards, PPQ, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 130, Riverdale,
MD 20737; (301) 851–2200.
For specific information on the North
American Plant Protection Organization,
contact Ms. Patricia Abad, NAPPO
Technical Director, International
Phytosanitary Standards, PPQ, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 130, Riverdale,
MD 20737; (301) 851–2264.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Background
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
was established as the common
international institutional framework for
governing trade relations among its
members in matters related to the
Uruguay Round Agreements. The WTO
is the successor organization to the
General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade. U.S. membership in the WTO
was approved by Congress when it
enacted the Uruguay Round Agreements
Act (Pub. L. 103–465), which was
signed into law on December 8, 1994.
The WTO Agreements, which
established the WTO, entered into force
with respect to the United States on
January 1, 1995. The Uruguay Round
Agreements Act amended Title IV of the
Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19
U.S.C. 2531 et seq.). Section 491 of the
Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 2578), requires the
President to designate an agency to be
responsible for informing the public of
the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
standard-setting activities of each
international standard-setting
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
organization. The designated agency
must inform the public by publishing an
annual notice in the Federal Register
that provides the following information:
(1) The SPS standards under
consideration or planned for
consideration by the international
standard-setting organization; and (2)
for each SPS standard specified, a
description of the consideration or
planned consideration of that standard,
a statement of whether the United States
is participating or plans to participate in
the consideration of that standard, the
agenda for U.S. participation, if any, and
the agency responsible for representing
the United States with respect to that
standard.
‘‘International standard’’ is defined in
19 U.S.C. 2578b as any standard,
guideline, or recommendation: (1)
Adopted by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (Codex) regarding food
safety; (2) developed under the auspices
of the World Organization for Animal
Health (OIE, formerly known as the
Office International des Epizooties)
regarding animal health and welfare and
zoonoses; (3) developed under the
auspices of the Secretariat of the
International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC or the Convention)
and 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 and
E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM
04OCN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
50064
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2018 / Notices
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 standardsetting 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.
occurrence of animal diseases and to
ensure that science-based standards
govern international trade in animals
and animal products. The OIE aims to
achieve these through the development
and revision of international standards
for diagnostic tests, vaccines, and the
safe international trade of animals and
animal products.
The OIE provides annual reports on
the global distribution of animal
diseases, recognizes the free status of
Members for certain diseases,
categorizes animal diseases with respect
to their international significance,
publishes bulletins on global disease
status, and provides animal disease
control guidelines to Members. Various
OIE commissions and working groups
undertake the development and
preparation of draft standards, which
are then circulated to Members for
consultation (review and comment).
Draft standards are revised accordingly
and are presented to the OIE World
Assembly of Delegates (all the Members)
for review and adoption during the
General Session, which meets annually
every May. Adoption, as a general rule,
is based on consensus of the OIE
membership.
The most recent OIE General Session
occurred May 20 to May 25, 2018, in
Paris, France. The Chief Trade Advisor
for APHIS’ Veterinary Services program
serves as the official U.S. Delegate to the
OIE at this General Session. The Deputy
Administrator for APHIS’ Veterinary
Services program serves as the Alternate
Delegate. Information about OIE draft
Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health
Code chapters may be found on the
internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
animal-health/export-animals-oie or by
contacting Dr. Michael David (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
OIE Standard-Setting Activities
The OIE was established in Paris,
France, in 1924 with the signing of an
international agreement by 28 countries.
It is currently composed of 181
Members, each of which is represented
by a delegate who, in most cases, is the
chief veterinary officer of that country
or territory. The WTO has recognized
the OIE as the international forum for
setting animal health standards,
reporting global animal disease events,
and presenting guidelines and
recommendations on sanitary measures
relating to animal health.
The OIE facilitates intergovernmental
cooperation to prevent the spread of
contagious diseases in animals by
sharing scientific research among its
Members. The major functions of the
OIE are to collect and disseminate
information on the distribution and
OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal
Health Code Chapters Adopted During
the May 2018 General Session
Twenty nine Code chapters were
amended, rewritten, or newly proposed
and presented for adoption at the
General Session. The following Code
chapters are of particular interest to the
United States:
1. Chapters 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11,
and 1.12., Chapters on the application
for official recognition by the OIE of
either risk status or free status for
various diseases. The United States
reminded the Code Commission to
respect the process for circulating new
and updated chapters to allow member
countries the time that is necessary to
properly review and comment on such
chapters.
2. Chapter 4.3., Zoning and
Compartmentalization. This chapter
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:43 Oct 03, 2018
Jkt 247001
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
was significantly revised and either
introduced or clarified various concepts
regarding zones.
3. Chapter 4.X., Chapter on
vaccination. This is a new chapter that
provides member countries with basic
guidelines and recommendations when
considering the use of vaccines for a
control program.
4. Chapter 6.7., Harmonization of
national antimicrobial resistance
surveillance and monitoring
programmes. References to conducting
antimicrobial surveillance on ‘‘the
animal’s immediate environment or the
wide environment’’ was deleted.
5. Articles 6.81 and 6.8.bis.,
Monitoring of the quantities and usage
patterns of antimicrobial agents used in
food producing animals. This is an
existing chapter, however definitions for
therapeutic use, non-therapeutic use,
and growth promotion were introduced.
The terms veterinary medical use and
non-veterinary medical use were
replaced with the terms therapeutic use
and non-therapeutic use, respectively.
6. Chapter 6.13., Prevention and
control of Salmonella in pigs. Several
articles were revised to improve clarity,
particularly with regards to the
definition of commercial pigs.
7. Chapter 6.X., Introduction to
recommendations for veterinary public
health. This was a newly adopted
chapter.
8. Article 7.1.1., Introduction to the
recommendations for animal welfare.
This was an amendment to an existing
chapter.
9. Article 7.1.X., Guiding principles
for the use of measures to assess animal
welfare. The phrase ‘‘and other relevant
bodies’’ was reinserted. This was
important since entities such as
universities and commodity groups
often are the ones with the capability to
collect data that can be used to set target
values.
10. Chapter 7.X., Animal welfare and
pig production systems. The United
States supported the adoption of this
new chapter, but requested that the
Code Commission consider further
comments that the United States will be
submitting related to some
inconsistencies between Articles 7.X.9
and 7.X.10 to address foraging and
feeding behavior recommendations.
OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code
Chapters for Upcoming and Future
Review
• Chapter 1.4., Animal health
surveillance.
• Chapter 4.Y., Official control of
listed disease. This will be a new
chapter.
E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM
04OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2018 / Notices
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
• Chapter 4.Z., Introduction to
recommendations for disease
prevention and control. This will be a
new introductory chapter for section 4.
• Chapter 7.Y., Killing of reptiles for
their skins, meat and other products.
This will be a new chapter.
• Articles 15.1.1.bis., 15.1.2., 15.1.3.,
and 15.1.22., Infection with African
swine fever virus.
• Articles 1.6.1. to 1.6.4., Procedures
for self-declaration and for official
recognition by the OIE.
• Chapter 8.14., Infection with rabies
virus.
IPPC Standard-Setting Activities
The IPPC is a multilateral convention
adopted in 1952 to prevent the spread
and introduction of pests of plants and
plant products and to promote
appropriate measures for their control.
The WTO recognizes the IPPC as the
standard setting body for plant health.
Under the IPPC, the understanding of
plant protection encompasses the
protection of both cultivated and noncultivated plants from direct or indirect
injury by plant pests. The IPPC
addresses the following activities:
Developing, adopting, and
implementing international standards
for phytosanitary (plant health)
measures (ISPMs); harmonizing
phytosanitary activities through adopted
standards; facilitating the exchange of
official and scientific information
among countries; and providing
technical assistance to developing
countries that are contracting parties to
the Convention.
The IPPC is deposited within the
Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, and is an
international agreement of 183
contracting parties. National plant
protection organizations (NPPOs), in
cooperation with regional plant
protection organizations, the
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures
(CPM), and the Secretariat of the IPPC,
implement the Convention. The IPPC
continues to be administered at the
national level by plant quarantine
officials, whose primary objective is to
safeguard plant resources from injurious
pests. In the United States, the NPPO is
APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine
(PPQ) program.
The 12th Session of the CPM took
place from April 16 to 20, 2018, in
Rome, Italy, at the Headquarters of the
Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations. The Deputy
Administrator for APHIS’ PPQ program
was the U.S. delegate to the CPM.
The CPM adopted the following
standards at its 2018 meeting. The
United States, represented by the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:43 Oct 03, 2018
Jkt 247001
Deputy Administrator for APHIS’ PPQ
program, participated in deliberations of
these standards. The United States
developed its position on each of these
issues prior to the CPM session, which
were based on APHIS’ analyses and
other relevant information from other
U.S. Government agencies and
interested stakeholders:
• Revision of ISPM 6: Surveillance.
• 2015 and 2016 amendments to
ISPM 5: Glossary of phytosanitary
terms.
• Revision of Annex 1 and Annex 2
to ISPM 15, for inclusion of the
phytosanitary treatment sulphuryl
fluoride fumigation and revision of the
dielectric heating section.
• ISPM 42: Requirements for the use
of temperature treatments as a
phytosanitary measures.
• Phytosanitary treatment as Annex
to ISPM 28: Phytosanitary treatments for
regulated pests: PT 32 Vapour heat
treatment for Bactrocera dorsalis on
Carica papaya.
• Diagnostic protocols (DPs) as
Annexes to ISPM 27: Diagnostic
protocols for regulated pests.
Æ DP 23: Phytophthora ramorum.
Æ DP 24: Tomato spotted wilt virus,
Impatiens necrotic spot virus, and
Watermelon silver mottle virus.
In addition to adopting these plant
health standards, the 2018 Commission
meeting also progressed a number of
plant health initiatives strategically
important to the United States. These
initiatives include advancing the
development of a new IPPC strategic
framework for 2020–2030 to set the top
priorities for plant health and trade,
launching a pilot of a global electronic
certification system to support trade
(ePhyto), developing programs aimed at
improving the use and implementation
of standards around the world, and
creating a task force for addressing pests
issues associated with the international
movement of sea containers.
New IPPC Standard-Setting Initiatives,
Including Those in Development
A number of expert working group
(EWG) meetings or other technical
consultations took place October 2017
through July 2018 on the topics listed
below. These standard-setting initiatives
are under development and may be
considered for future adoption. APHIS
intends to participate actively and fully
in each of these working groups. APHIS
developed its position on each of the
topics prior to the working group
meetings. The APHIS position was
based on technical analyses,
information from other U.S.
Government agencies, and relevant
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50065
scientific information from interested
stakeholders:
• Expert Working Group on Guidance
on Pest Risk Management.
• Technical Panel for the Glossary of
Phytosanitary Terms.
• Technical Panel on Diagnostic
Protocols.
• Technical Panel on Phytosanitary
Treatments.
For more detailed information on the
above, contact Dr. Marina Zlotina (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
above).
PPQ actively works to achieve broad
participation by States, industry, and
other stakeholders in the development
and use of international and regional
plant health standards. Plant health
stakeholders are strongly encouraged to
comment on draft standards,
documents, and specifications during
the consultation periods. In 2018, six
draft standards and one draft
specification were open for
consultation. APHIS posts links to draft
standards on its website as they become
available and provides information on
the due dates for comments.1 Additional
information on IPPC standards
(including the IPPC work program (list
of topics 2), standard-setting process,
and adopted standards) is available on
the IPPC website.3 For the most current
information on official U.S.
participation in IPPC activities,
including U.S. positions on standards
being considered, contact Dr. Marina
Zlotina (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT above). Those wishing to
provide comments on any of the areas
of work being undertaken by the IPPC
may do so at any time by responding to
this notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by
providing comments through Dr.
Zlotina.
NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities
NAPPO, a regional plant protection
organization created in 1976 under the
IPPC, coordinates the efforts among the
United States, Canada, and Mexico to
protect their plant resources from the
entry, establishment, and spread of
harmful plant pests, while facilitating
intra- and inter-regional trade. As the
NPPO of the United States, APHIS’ PPQ
is the organization officially identified
to participate in NAPPO. Through
NAPPO, APHIS works closely with its
regional counterparts and industries to
1 For more information on the IPPC draft ISPM
consultation: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/
ourfocus/planthealth/sa_international/sa_
phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
2 IPPC list of topics: https://www.ippc.int/en/coreactivities/standards-setting/list-topics-ippcstandards/.
3 IPPC website: https://www.ippc.int/.
E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM
04OCN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
50066
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2018 / Notices
develop harmonized regional standards
and approaches for managing pest
threats. NAPPO conducts its work
through priority-driven annual projects
approved by the NAPPO Executive
Committee and conducted by expert
groups, including subject matter experts
from each member country and regional
industry representatives. Project results
and updates are provided during the
NAPPO annual meeting. Projects can
include the development of positions,
policies, or technical documents, or the
development or revision of regional
standards for phytosanitary measures
(RSPMs). Projects can also include
implementation of standards or other
capacity development activities such as
workshops.
The 41st NAPPO annual meeting was
held October 16 to 19, 2017, in Merida,
Yucatan, Mexico. The meeting featured
several strategic topics, including a 1day symposium on surveillance in the
NAPPO countries and the Americas.
The NAPPO Executive Committee
meetings took place on October 16 and
20, 2017, and February 15, 2018. The
Deputy Administrator for PPQ is the
U.S. member of the NAPPO Executive
Committee.
The NAPPO expert groups, including
member countries’ subject matter
experts, finalized the following regional
standards, documents, products, and
projects in 2017–2018:
• Completed an English language
online training module on RSPM 12–
Preparation of a Petition for First
Release of a Non-indigenous
Entomophagous Biological Control
Agent.
• Organized and delivered the first
International Symposium on Risk-Based
Sampling in June 2017 in Baltimore,
MD, which included 122 government,
industry, and academic participants
from 27 countries.
• Completed a NAPPO discussion
document on Criteria for Evaluating
Phytosanitary Seed Treatments. The
NAPPO Executive Committee approved
this document during the 2017 October
NAPPO annual meeting.
• Completed a discussion document
on Likelihood of Establishment. The
NAPPO Executive Committee approved
this document during the 2017 October
NAPPO annual meeting.
• Issued via NAPPO’s Phytosanitary
Alert System (PAS): 29 Official Pest
Reports and 6 Emerging Pest Alerts for
FY 2018 (from October 2017 to July
2018).
• Conducted a review of RSPM 36
(Phytosanitary Guidelines for the
Movement of Seed) and completed the
archiving of RSPM 36 in-light of the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:43 Oct 03, 2018
Jkt 247001
newly adopted ISPM 38: International
Movement of Seeds.
New NAPPO Standard-Setting
Initiatives, Including Those in
Development
The 2018 work program 4 includes the
following topics being worked on by
NAPPO expert groups and NAPPO’s
Advisory and Management Committee.
APHIS intends to participate actively
and fully in the 2018 NAPPO work
program. The APHIS position on each
topic will be guided and informed by
the best technical and scientific
information available, as well as on
relevant input from stakeholders. For
each of the following, the United States
will consider its position on any draft
standard after it reviews a prepared
draft. Information regarding the
following NAPPO projects, assignments,
activities, and updates on meeting times
and locations may be obtained from the
NAPPO website or by contacting Ms.
Patricia Abad (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above).
1. RSPM 9: Revision of Regional
Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 9:
Authorization of Laboratories for
Phytosanitary Testing.
2. RSPM 35: Revision of Regional
Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 35:
Guidelines for the Movement of Stone
and Pome Fruit Trees and Grapevines
into a NAPPO Member Country.
3. ISPM 38 Implementation: Design
and deliver a hemispheric (Americas
focused) workshop to promote the
understanding and implementation of
ISPM 38: International Movement of
Seeds.
4. Forestry Systems Approaches:
Finalize a NAPPO Regional Standard for
Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM 41) on
the use of systems approaches to
manage pest risks associated with the
movement of wood.
5. Lymantriids: Develop a NAPPO
Science and Technology document on
the risks associated with Lymantriids of
concern to the NAPPO region,
identifying potential species and
pathways of concern.
6. Khapra Beetle: Develop a
discussion document on a harmonized
North American approach to preventing
the introduction, establishment, and
spread of khapra beetle in various
pathways.
7. Biological Control: Develop online
training module in Spanish on
preparing a petition for first release of
an entomophagous biological control
agent.
4 NAPPO work program: https://nappo.org/
english/710/status-current-nappo-projects/.
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8. Risk-Based Sampling: Complete
and publish proceedings from 2017
International Risk-Based Sampling
Symposium (organized by NAPPO) as
well as Risk-Based Sampling Manual.
9. Asian Gypsy Moth: Validate
specific risk periods for regulated Asian
gypsy moth in countries of origin.
10. Foundation and Procedure
documents: Continue to update and
finalize various foundation or procedure
documents.
11. Electronic Phytosanitary
Certification: Provide assistance and
technical support to the IPPC ePhyto
Steering Group.
12. Phytosanitary Alert System:
Continue to manage the NAPPO pest
reporting system.
13. Update to Pest List for RSPM 3:
Movement of Potatoes into a NAPPO
Member Country.
14. Regional Collaboration:
Collaboration (mainly information
exchange) with the Interamerican
Coordinating Group in Plant Protection
(GICSV), via Technical Working Groups
on ePhyto and citrus greening (HLB).
15. Stakeholder Engagement: Plan,
coordinate and execute activities for the
October 2018 NAPPO Annual Meeting
in Tucson, Arizona, and publish the
quarterly newsletter.
The PPQ Assistant Deputy
Administrator, as the official U.S.
delegate to NAPPO, intends to
participate in the adoption of these
regional plant health standards and
projects, including the work described
above, once they are completed and
ready for such consideration.
The information in this notice
contains all the information available to
us on NAPPO standards under
development or consideration. For
updates on meeting times and for
information on the expert groups that
may become available following
publication of this notice, visit the
NAPPO website or contact Ms. Patricia
Abad (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT above). PPQ actively works to
achieve broad participation by States,
industry, and other stakeholders in the
development and use of international
and regional plant health standards.
Plant health stakeholders are strongly
encouraged to comment on draft
standards, documents, and
specifications during consultation
periods. APHIS posts links to draft
standards on the internet as they
become available and provides
information on the due dates for
comments.5 Additional information on
5 For more information on the NAPPO draft
RSPM consultation: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/sa_international/sa_
phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM
04OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2018 / Notices
NAPPO standards (including the
NAPPO Work Program, standard setting
process, and adopted standards) is
available on the NAPPO website.6
Information on official U.S.
participation in NAPPO activities,
including U.S. positions on standards
being considered, may also be obtained
from Ms. Abad. Those wishing to
provide comments on any of the topics
being addressed in the NAPPO work
program may do so at any time by
responding to this notice (see
ADDRESSES above) or by transmitting
comments through Ms. Abad.
Done in Washington, DC, on September 27,
2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–21577 Filed 10–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Notice of the Advisory Committee on
Agriculture Statistics Meeting
National Agricultural Statistics
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS) announces a meeting of the
Advisory Committee on Agriculture
Statistics.
DATES: The Committee meeting will be
held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, November 14, 2018, and
from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on
Thursday, November 15, 2018. There
will be an opportunity for public
questions and comments at 8:15 a.m. on
Thursday, November 15, 2018. All times
mentioned herein refer to Central
Standard Time.
ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting
will take place at the Wyndham San
Antonio Riverwalk, 111 E Pecan St., San
Antonio, TX 78205. Written comments
may be filed before or up to two weeks
after the meeting with the contact
person identified herein at: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, National
Agricultural Statistics Service, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 5041–
A, South Building, Washington, DC,
20250–2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kevin Barnes, Associate Administrator,
National Agricultural Statistics Service,
telephone: 202–720–4333, eFax: 855–
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
493–0445, or email: HQOA@
nass.usda.gov. General information
about the committee can also be found
at https://www.nass.usda.gov/About_
NASS/index.php.
The
Advisory Committee on Agriculture
Statistics, which consists of 20 members
appointed from 7 categories covering a
broad range of agricultural disciplines
and interests, has scheduled a meeting
on November 14–15, 2018. During this
time the Advisory Committee will
discuss topics including the status of
NASS programs, Census of Agriculture
Updates, Census of Agriculture Program
Plans, and the NASS Strategic Plan.
The Committee meeting is open to the
public. The public is asked to preregister for the meeting at least 10
business days prior to the meeting. Your
pre-registration must state the names of
each person in your group, organization,
or interest represented; the number of
people planning to give oral comments,
if any; and whether anyone in your
group requires special accommodations.
Submit registrations to Executive
Secretary, Advisory Committee on
Agriculture Statistics, via eFax: 855–
493–0445, or email: HQOA@
nass.usda.gov. Members of the public
who request to give oral comments to
the Committee must arrive at the
meeting site by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday,
November 15, 2018. Written comments
by attendees or other interested
stakeholders will be welcomed for the
public record before and up to two
weeks following the meeting. The
public may file written comments by
mail to the Executive Director, Advisory
Committee on Agriculture Statistics,
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
National Agricultural Statistics Service,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room
5041–A South Building, Washington,
DC, 20250–2000. Written comments can
also be sent via eFax: 855–493–0445, or
email: HQOA@nass.usda.gov. All
statements will become a part of the
official records of the USDA Advisory
Committee on Agriculture Statistics and
will be kept on file for public review in
the office of the Executive Director,
Advisory Committee on Agriculture
Statistics, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington, DC, 20250.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Signed at Washington, DC, September 19,
2018.
Kevin Barnes,
Associate Administrator, National
Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–21611 Filed 10–3–18; 8:45 am]
6 NAPPO
website: https://nappo.org/.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:43 Oct 03, 2018
Jkt 247001
BILLING CODE 3410–20–P
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50067
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Notice of Intent To Request Revision
and Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
National Agricultural Statistics
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the intention of the
National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS) to request revision and
extension of a currently approved
information collection, the List
Sampling Frame Surveys. Revision to
burden hours will be needed due to
changes in the size of the target
population, sampling design, and
questionnaire length. Annually, NASS
obtains lists of farm and ranch operators
from different crop and livestock
organizations. Before adding these
names to our list of active operators we
will contact the individuals to
determine if they qualify as a farm or
ranch and then collect basic information
from them on the size and type of
operation they have. These data will be
used to eliminate any duplication we
may have with names already on our
list.
In addition to the names of potential
operators we receive from different crop
and livestock organizations, NASS has
been investigating the use of webscraping as a source of identifying new
farm operators to add to our List Frame.
This new approach will be conducted
under a two stage process. A short
screening form will be used first to
identify potential agricultural producers
who will then receive a more detailed
questionnaire. This approach is
designed to minimize respondent
burden on small or non-farming entities.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by December 3, 2018 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by docket number 0535–0140,
by any of the following methods:
• Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov.
Include docket number above in the
subject line of the message.
• eFax: (855) 838–6382.
• Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD–
ROM submissions to: David Hancock,
NASS Clearance Officer, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 5336
South Building, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–
2024.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM
04OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50063-50067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21577]
========================================================================
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 193 / Thursday, October 4, 2018 /
Notices
[[Page 50063]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0053]
International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting
Activities
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with legislation implementing the results of the
Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade, we are informing the public of the international standard-
setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the
Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the
North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting
public comment on the standards to be considered.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0053.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0053, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-
0053 or in our reading Room, which is located in Room 1141 of the USDA
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC.
Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you,
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the topics
covered in this notice, contact Ms. Jessica Mahalingappa, Assistant
Deputy Administrator for Trade and Capacity Building, International
Services, APHIS, Room 1132, USDA South Building, 14th Street and
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250; (202) 799-7121.
For specific information regarding standard-setting activities of
the World Organization for Animal Health, contact Dr. Michael David,
Director, International Animal Health Standards Team, National Import
Export Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 33, Riverdale, MD
20737; (301) 851-3302.
For specific information regarding the standard-setting activities
of the International Plant Protection Convention, contact Dr. Marina
Zlotina, IPPC Technical Director, International Phytosanitary
Standards, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 130, Riverdale, MD 20737;
(301) 851-2200.
For specific information on the North American Plant Protection
Organization, contact Ms. Patricia Abad, NAPPO Technical Director,
International Phytosanitary Standards, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit
130, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2264.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established as the common
international institutional framework for governing trade relations
among its members in matters related to the Uruguay Round Agreements.
The WTO is the successor organization to the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade. U.S. membership in the WTO was approved by Congress
when it enacted the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465),
which was signed into law on December 8, 1994. The WTO Agreements,
which established the WTO, entered into force with respect to the
United States on January 1, 1995. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act
amended Title IV of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2531 et
seq.). Section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended (19
U.S.C. 2578), requires the President to designate an agency to be
responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary
(SPS) standard-setting activities of each international standard-
setting organization. The designated agency must inform the public by
publishing an annual notice in the Federal Register that provides the
following information: (1) The SPS standards under consideration or
planned for consideration by the international standard-setting
organization; and (2) for each SPS standard specified, a description of
the consideration or planned consideration of that standard, a
statement of whether the United States is participating or plans to
participate in the consideration of that standard, the agenda for U.S.
participation, if any, and the agency responsible for representing the
United States with respect to that standard.
``International standard'' is defined in 19 U.S.C. 2578b as any
standard, guideline, or recommendation: (1) Adopted by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission (Codex) regarding food safety; (2) developed
under the auspices of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE,
formerly known as the Office International des Epizooties) regarding
animal health and welfare and zoonoses; (3) developed under the
auspices of the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC or the Convention) and 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 and
[[Page 50064]]
the World Health Organization. It is the major international
organization for encouraging international trade in food and protecting
the health and economic interests of consumers.
APHIS is responsible for publishing an annual notice of OIE, IPPC,
and NAPPO activities related to international standards for plant and
animal health and representing the United States with respect to these
standards. Following are descriptions of the OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO
organizations and the standard-setting agenda for each of these
organizations. We have described the agenda that each of these
organizations will address at their annual general sessions, including
standards that may be presented for adoption or consideration, as well
as other initiatives that may be underway at the OIE, IPPC, and NAPPO.
The agendas for these meetings are subject to change, and the draft
standards identified in this notice may not be sufficiently developed
and ready for adoption as indicated. Also, while it is the intent of
the United States to support adoption of international standards and to
participate actively and fully in their development, it should be
recognized that the U.S. position on a specific draft standard will
depend on the acceptability of the final draft. Given the dynamic and
interactive nature of the standard-setting process, we encourage any
persons who are interested in the most current details about a specific
draft standard or the U.S. position on a particular standard-setting
issue, or in providing comments on a specific standard that may be
under development, to contact APHIS. Contact information is provided at
the beginning of this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
OIE Standard-Setting Activities
The OIE was established in Paris, France, in 1924 with the signing
of an international agreement by 28 countries. It is currently composed
of 181 Members, each of which is represented by a delegate who, in most
cases, is the chief veterinary officer of that country or territory.
The WTO has recognized the OIE as the international forum for setting
animal health standards, reporting global animal disease events, and
presenting guidelines and recommendations on sanitary measures relating
to animal health.
The OIE facilitates intergovernmental cooperation to prevent the
spread of contagious diseases in animals by sharing scientific research
among its Members. The major functions of the OIE are to collect and
disseminate information on the distribution and occurrence of animal
diseases and to ensure that science-based standards govern
international trade in animals and animal products. The OIE aims to
achieve these through the development and revision of international
standards for diagnostic tests, vaccines, and the safe international
trade of animals and animal products.
The OIE provides annual reports on the global distribution of
animal diseases, recognizes the free status of Members for certain
diseases, categorizes animal diseases with respect to their
international significance, publishes bulletins on global disease
status, and provides animal disease control guidelines to Members.
Various OIE commissions and working groups undertake the development
and preparation of draft standards, which are then circulated to
Members for consultation (review and comment). Draft standards are
revised accordingly and are presented to the OIE World Assembly of
Delegates (all the Members) for review and adoption during the General
Session, which meets annually every May. Adoption, as a general rule,
is based on consensus of the OIE membership.
The most recent OIE General Session occurred May 20 to May 25,
2018, in Paris, France. The Chief Trade Advisor for APHIS' Veterinary
Services program serves as the official U.S. Delegate to the OIE at
this General Session. The Deputy Administrator for APHIS' Veterinary
Services program serves as the Alternate Delegate. Information about
OIE draft Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Code chapters may be
found on the internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/export-animals-oie or by contacting Dr. Michael David (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above).
OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Code Chapters Adopted During
the May 2018 General Session
Twenty nine Code chapters were amended, rewritten, or newly
proposed and presented for adoption at the General Session. The
following Code chapters are of particular interest to the United
States:
1. Chapters 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, and 1.12., Chapters on the
application for official recognition by the OIE of either risk status
or free status for various diseases. The United States reminded the
Code Commission to respect the process for circulating new and updated
chapters to allow member countries the time that is necessary to
properly review and comment on such chapters.
2. Chapter 4.3., Zoning and Compartmentalization. This chapter was
significantly revised and either introduced or clarified various
concepts regarding zones.
3. Chapter 4.X., Chapter on vaccination. This is a new chapter that
provides member countries with basic guidelines and recommendations
when considering the use of vaccines for a control program.
4. Chapter 6.7., Harmonization of national antimicrobial resistance
surveillance and monitoring programmes. References to conducting
antimicrobial surveillance on ``the animal's immediate environment or
the wide environment'' was deleted.
5. Articles 6.81 and 6.8.bis., Monitoring of the quantities and
usage patterns of antimicrobial agents used in food producing animals.
This is an existing chapter, however definitions for therapeutic use,
non-therapeutic use, and growth promotion were introduced. The terms
veterinary medical use and non-veterinary medical use were replaced
with the terms therapeutic use and non-therapeutic use, respectively.
6. Chapter 6.13., Prevention and control of Salmonella in pigs.
Several articles were revised to improve clarity, particularly with
regards to the definition of commercial pigs.
7. Chapter 6.X., Introduction to recommendations for veterinary
public health. This was a newly adopted chapter.
8. Article 7.1.1., Introduction to the recommendations for animal
welfare. This was an amendment to an existing chapter.
9. Article 7.1.X., Guiding principles for the use of measures to
assess animal welfare. The phrase ``and other relevant bodies'' was
reinserted. This was important since entities such as universities and
commodity groups often are the ones with the capability to collect data
that can be used to set target values.
10. Chapter 7.X., Animal welfare and pig production systems. The
United States supported the adoption of this new chapter, but requested
that the Code Commission consider further comments that the United
States will be submitting related to some inconsistencies between
Articles 7.X.9 and 7.X.10 to address foraging and feeding behavior
recommendations.
OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapters for Upcoming and Future
Review
Chapter 1.4., Animal health surveillance.
Chapter 4.Y., Official control of listed disease. This
will be a new chapter.
[[Page 50065]]
Chapter 4.Z., Introduction to recommendations for disease
prevention and control. This will be a new introductory chapter for
section 4.
Chapter 7.Y., Killing of reptiles for their skins, meat
and other products. This will be a new chapter.
Articles 15.1.1.bis., 15.1.2., 15.1.3., and 15.1.22.,
Infection with African swine fever virus.
Articles 1.6.1. to 1.6.4., Procedures for self-declaration
and for official recognition by the OIE.
Chapter 8.14., Infection with rabies virus.
IPPC Standard-Setting Activities
The IPPC is a multilateral convention adopted in 1952 to prevent
the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products and
to promote appropriate measures for their control. The WTO recognizes
the IPPC as the standard setting body for plant health. Under the IPPC,
the understanding of plant protection encompasses the protection of
both cultivated and non-cultivated plants from direct or indirect
injury by plant pests. The IPPC addresses the following activities:
Developing, adopting, and implementing international standards for
phytosanitary (plant health) measures (ISPMs); harmonizing
phytosanitary activities through adopted standards; facilitating the
exchange of official and scientific information among countries; and
providing technical assistance to developing countries that are
contracting parties to the Convention.
The IPPC is deposited within the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations, and is an international agreement of 183
contracting parties. National plant protection organizations (NPPOs),
in cooperation with regional plant protection organizations, the
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), and the Secretariat of the
IPPC, implement the Convention. The IPPC continues to be administered
at the national level by plant quarantine officials, whose primary
objective is to safeguard plant resources from injurious pests. In the
United States, the NPPO is APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
program.
The 12th Session of the CPM took place from April 16 to 20, 2018,
in Rome, Italy, at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations. The Deputy Administrator for APHIS'
PPQ program was the U.S. delegate to the CPM.
The CPM adopted the following standards at its 2018 meeting. The
United States, represented by the Deputy Administrator for APHIS' PPQ
program, participated in deliberations of these standards. The United
States developed its position on each of these issues prior to the CPM
session, which were based on APHIS' analyses and other relevant
information from other U.S. Government agencies and interested
stakeholders:
Revision of ISPM 6: Surveillance.
2015 and 2016 amendments to ISPM 5: Glossary of
phytosanitary terms.
Revision of Annex 1 and Annex 2 to ISPM 15, for inclusion
of the phytosanitary treatment sulphuryl fluoride fumigation and
revision of the dielectric heating section.
ISPM 42: Requirements for the use of temperature
treatments as a phytosanitary measures.
Phytosanitary treatment as Annex to ISPM 28: Phytosanitary
treatments for regulated pests: PT 32 Vapour heat treatment for
Bactrocera dorsalis on Carica papaya.
Diagnostic protocols (DPs) as Annexes to ISPM 27:
Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests.
[cir] DP 23: Phytophthora ramorum.
[cir] DP 24: Tomato spotted wilt virus, Impatiens necrotic spot
virus, and Watermelon silver mottle virus.
In addition to adopting these plant health standards, the 2018
Commission meeting also progressed a number of plant health initiatives
strategically important to the United States. These initiatives include
advancing the development of a new IPPC strategic framework for 2020-
2030 to set the top priorities for plant health and trade, launching a
pilot of a global electronic certification system to support trade
(ePhyto), developing programs aimed at improving the use and
implementation of standards around the world, and creating a task force
for addressing pests issues associated with the international movement
of sea containers.
New IPPC Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development
A number of expert working group (EWG) meetings or other technical
consultations took place October 2017 through July 2018 on the topics
listed below. These standard-setting initiatives are under development
and may be considered for future adoption. APHIS intends to participate
actively and fully in each of these working groups. APHIS developed its
position on each of the topics prior to the working group meetings. The
APHIS position was based on technical analyses, information from other
U.S. Government agencies, and relevant scientific information from
interested stakeholders:
Expert Working Group on Guidance on Pest Risk Management.
Technical Panel for the Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms.
Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols.
Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments.
For more detailed information on the above, contact Dr. Marina
Zlotina (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
PPQ actively works to achieve broad participation by States,
industry, and other stakeholders in the development and use of
international and regional plant health standards. Plant health
stakeholders are strongly encouraged to comment on draft standards,
documents, and specifications during the consultation periods. In 2018,
six draft standards and one draft specification were open for
consultation. APHIS posts links to draft standards on its website as
they become available and provides information on the due dates for
comments.\1\ Additional information on IPPC standards (including the
IPPC work program (list of topics \2\), standard-setting process, and
adopted standards) is available on the IPPC website.\3\ For the most
current information on official U.S. participation in IPPC activities,
including U.S. positions on standards being considered, contact Dr.
Marina Zlotina (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). Those
wishing to provide comments on any of the areas of work being
undertaken by the IPPC may do so at any time by responding to this
notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by providing comments through Dr.
Zlotina.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For more information on the IPPC draft ISPM consultation:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/sa_international/sa_phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
\2\ IPPC list of topics: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/list-topics-ippc-standards/.
\3\ IPPC website: https://www.ippc.int/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities
NAPPO, a regional plant protection organization created in 1976
under the IPPC, coordinates the efforts among the United States,
Canada, and Mexico to protect their plant resources from the entry,
establishment, and spread of harmful plant pests, while facilitating
intra- and inter-regional trade. As the NPPO of the United States,
APHIS' PPQ is the organization officially identified to participate in
NAPPO. Through NAPPO, APHIS works closely with its regional
counterparts and industries to
[[Page 50066]]
develop harmonized regional standards and approaches for managing pest
threats. NAPPO conducts its work through priority-driven annual
projects approved by the NAPPO Executive Committee and conducted by
expert groups, including subject matter experts from each member
country and regional industry representatives. Project results and
updates are provided during the NAPPO annual meeting. Projects can
include the development of positions, policies, or technical documents,
or the development or revision of regional standards for phytosanitary
measures (RSPMs). Projects can also include implementation of standards
or other capacity development activities such as workshops.
The 41st NAPPO annual meeting was held October 16 to 19, 2017, in
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The meeting featured several strategic topics,
including a 1-day symposium on surveillance in the NAPPO countries and
the Americas. The NAPPO Executive Committee meetings took place on
October 16 and 20, 2017, and February 15, 2018. The Deputy
Administrator for PPQ is the U.S. member of the NAPPO Executive
Committee.
The NAPPO expert groups, including member countries' subject matter
experts, finalized the following regional standards, documents,
products, and projects in 2017-2018:
Completed an English language online training module on
RSPM 12-Preparation of a Petition for First Release of a Non-indigenous
Entomophagous Biological Control Agent.
Organized and delivered the first International Symposium
on Risk-Based Sampling in June 2017 in Baltimore, MD, which included
122 government, industry, and academic participants from 27 countries.
Completed a NAPPO discussion document on Criteria for
Evaluating Phytosanitary Seed Treatments. The NAPPO Executive Committee
approved this document during the 2017 October NAPPO annual meeting.
Completed a discussion document on Likelihood of
Establishment. The NAPPO Executive Committee approved this document
during the 2017 October NAPPO annual meeting.
Issued via NAPPO's Phytosanitary Alert System (PAS): 29
Official Pest Reports and 6 Emerging Pest Alerts for FY 2018 (from
October 2017 to July 2018).
Conducted a review of RSPM 36 (Phytosanitary Guidelines
for the Movement of Seed) and completed the archiving of RSPM 36 in-
light of the newly adopted ISPM 38: International Movement of Seeds.
New NAPPO Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development
The 2018 work program \4\ includes the following topics being
worked on by NAPPO expert groups and NAPPO's Advisory and Management
Committee. APHIS intends to participate actively and fully in the 2018
NAPPO work program. The APHIS position on each topic will be guided and
informed by the best technical and scientific information available, as
well as on relevant input from stakeholders. For each of the following,
the United States will consider its position on any draft standard
after it reviews a prepared draft. Information regarding the following
NAPPO projects, assignments, activities, and updates on meeting times
and locations may be obtained from the NAPPO website or by contacting
Ms. Patricia Abad (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ NAPPO work program: https://nappo.org/english/710/status-current-nappo-projects/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RSPM 9: Revision of Regional Standard for Phytosanitary Measures
9: Authorization of Laboratories for Phytosanitary Testing.
2. RSPM 35: Revision of Regional Standard for Phytosanitary
Measures 35: Guidelines for the Movement of Stone and Pome Fruit Trees
and Grapevines into a NAPPO Member Country.
3. ISPM 38 Implementation: Design and deliver a hemispheric
(Americas focused) workshop to promote the understanding and
implementation of ISPM 38: International Movement of Seeds.
4. Forestry Systems Approaches: Finalize a NAPPO Regional Standard
for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM 41) on the use of systems approaches
to manage pest risks associated with the movement of wood.
5. Lymantriids: Develop a NAPPO Science and Technology document on
the risks associated with Lymantriids of concern to the NAPPO region,
identifying potential species and pathways of concern.
6. Khapra Beetle: Develop a discussion document on a harmonized
North American approach to preventing the introduction, establishment,
and spread of khapra beetle in various pathways.
7. Biological Control: Develop online training module in Spanish on
preparing a petition for first release of an entomophagous biological
control agent.
8. Risk-Based Sampling: Complete and publish proceedings from 2017
International Risk-Based Sampling Symposium (organized by NAPPO) as
well as Risk-Based Sampling Manual.
9. Asian Gypsy Moth: Validate specific risk periods for regulated
Asian gypsy moth in countries of origin.
10. Foundation and Procedure documents: Continue to update and
finalize various foundation or procedure documents.
11. Electronic Phytosanitary Certification: Provide assistance and
technical support to the IPPC ePhyto Steering Group.
12. Phytosanitary Alert System: Continue to manage the NAPPO pest
reporting system.
13. Update to Pest List for RSPM 3: Movement of Potatoes into a
NAPPO Member Country.
14. Regional Collaboration: Collaboration (mainly information
exchange) with the Interamerican Coordinating Group in Plant Protection
(GICSV), via Technical Working Groups on ePhyto and citrus greening
(HLB).
15. Stakeholder Engagement: Plan, coordinate and execute activities
for the October 2018 NAPPO Annual Meeting in Tucson, Arizona, and
publish the quarterly newsletter.
The PPQ Assistant Deputy Administrator, as the official U.S.
delegate to NAPPO, intends to participate in the adoption of these
regional plant health standards and projects, including the work
described above, once they are completed and ready for such
consideration.
The information in this notice contains all the information
available to us on NAPPO standards under development or consideration.
For updates on meeting times and for information on the expert groups
that may become available following publication of this notice, visit
the NAPPO website or contact Ms. Patricia Abad (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above). PPQ actively works to achieve broad
participation by States, industry, and other stakeholders in the
development and use of international and regional plant health
standards. Plant health stakeholders are strongly encouraged to comment
on draft standards, documents, and specifications during consultation
periods. APHIS posts links to draft standards on the internet as they
become available and provides information on the due dates for
comments.\5\ Additional information on
[[Page 50067]]
NAPPO standards (including the NAPPO Work Program, standard setting
process, and adopted standards) is available on the NAPPO website.\6\
Information on official U.S. participation in NAPPO activities,
including U.S. positions on standards being considered, may also be
obtained from Ms. Abad. Those wishing to provide comments on any of the
topics being addressed in the NAPPO work program may do so at any time
by responding to this notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by transmitting
comments through Ms. Abad.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ For more information on the NAPPO draft RSPM consultation:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/sa_international/sa_phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
\6\ NAPPO website: https://nappo.org/.
Done in Washington, DC, on September 27, 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-21577 Filed 10-3-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P