International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities, 64821-64825 [2019-25443]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64821-64825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25443]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0064]


International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting 
Activities

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with legislation implementing the results of the 
Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade, we are informing the public of 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 standard-setting activities.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0064.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0064, 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-2019-
0064 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, Associate 
Deputy Administrator for 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, Veterinary Services, 
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

[[Page 64822]]

(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 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 182 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 26 to 31, 2019, in 
Paris, France. The Deputy Administrator (a.k.a., Chief Veterinary 
Officer) for APHIS' Veterinary Services program serves as the official 
U.S. Delegate to the OIE at this General Session. Information about OIE 
draft Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Code chapters may be found 
on the internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/export/international-standard-setting-activities-oie/regionalization/ct_international_standard_setting_activities_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 2019 General Session

    Eleven 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. Chapter 1.4., Animal Health Surveillance. Amendments to chapter 
included changes to the use of the terms ``target population'' and 
``study population.''
    2. Chapter 4.Z., Introduction to recommendations for the prevention 
and control of transmissible animal diseases. This is a new chapter 
that has been reviewed in prior comment cycles and provides general 
considerations when controlling animal diseases.
    3. Articles 7.13.4. and 7.13.15., Animal welfare and pig production 
systems. The United States supported the adoption of this new chapter 
in 2018. Minor editorial amendments were adopted in 2019.
    4. Chapter 7.Y., Killing of reptiles for their skins, meat and 
other products. This is a newly adopted chapter that has been reviewed 
in prior comment cycles.
    5. Chapter 8.14., Infection with rabies virus. The Code Commission 
highlighted the current global priority to control and eradicate dog-
mediated rabies, and adopted changes to the chapter that are aligned 
with that priority. Additional provisions addressing wildlife vectors 
will be considered in the next revision of the chapter.
    6. Article 14.4.1., Infection with Chlamydophila abortus (Enzootic 
abortion of ewes, ovine chlamydiosis). The name of the pathogenic agent 
changed from Chlamydophila abortus to Chlamydia abortus.
    7. Articles 15.1.1bis, 15.1.2., 15.1.3., 15.1.16., 15.1.22., 
15.1.31., Infection with African swine fever virus. Amendments were 
made to strengthen the recommendations for testing wild or feral pigs 
found dead, road kills, animals showing abnormal behavior, and hunted 
animals sampled in surveillance programs.

OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapters for Upcoming and Future 
Review

     Chapter 1.1., Notification of diseases, infections and 
infestations, and provision of epidemiological information.

[[Page 64823]]

     Chapter 1.6., Procedures for self-declaration and for 
official recognition by the OIE.
     Chapter 3.4., Veterinary legislation.
     Chapter 4.Y., Draft new chapter on official control 
programs for listed and emerging diseases.
     Chapter 7.Z., Draft new chapter on animal welfare and 
laying hen production systems.
     Chapter 10.4., Infection with avian influenza viruses.
     Chapter 15.2., Infection with classical swine fever virus.
     Chapter 8.11., Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis 
complex.
     Chapter 8.15., Infection with Rift Valley fever virus.
     Article 12.6.6., Infection with equine influenza.
     Articles 14.7.3. and 14.7.34., Infection with peste des 
petits ruminants 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 contracting 
parties; 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 14th Session of the CPM took place from April 1 to 5, 2019, 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 2019 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:
     ISPM 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms (2019 revisions).
     ISPM 43: Requirements for the use of fumigation as a 
phytosanitary measure.
     Diagnostic protocols (DPs) as Annexes to ISPM 27: 
Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests:
    [cir] DP 2: Plum pox virus (2018 revisions).
    [cir] DP 25: Xylella fastidiosa.
    [cir] DP 26: Austropuccinia psidii.
    [cir] DP 27: Ips spp.
    [cir] DP 28: Conotrachelus nenuphar.
    [cir] DP 29: Bactrocera dorsalis.
    The CPM also adopted Recommendation R08, ``Preparing to use high-
throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies as a diagnostic tool for 
phytosanitary purposes.''
    The CPM added to the IPPC work program new topics for 13 standards 
and 12 tools to implement standards, which were submitted by the 
contracting parties during 2018 call for topics.
    In addition to adopting these plant health standards, the 2019 
Commission meeting also progressed a number of plant health initiatives 
strategically important to the United States. These initiatives include 
endorsing the new IPPC strategic framework for 2020-2030 to set the top 
priorities for plant health and trade into the next decade, approving 
an electronic certification system (ePhyto) implementation plan to 
support trade and identifying next steps for its longer term worldwide 
application, developing programs aimed at improving the use and 
implementation of standards around the world, and planning events and 
activities for the International Year of Plant Health in 2020 to 
mobilize worldwide awareness and support for plant health going into 
the next decade.

New IPPC Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those Under 
Development

    A number of expert working group (EWG) meetings or other technical 
consultations took place October 2018 through September 2019 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:
     EWG on Audit in the Phytosanitary Context.
     Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols.
     Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments.
     Technical Panel for the Glossary.
     Focus Group on Commodity Standards.
     Sea Container Task Force.
    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, including through 
the use of APHIS Stakeholder Registry notices \1\ and the APHIS public 
website. Plant health stakeholders are strongly encouraged to comment 
on draft standards, documents, and specifications during the 
consultation periods. In 2019, 13 draft standards 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.\2\ Additional information on IPPC standards (including the 
IPPC work program (list of topics \3\), calls for new standards, 
experts to serve on technical panels and other working groups, proposed 
phytosanitary treatments, standard-setting process, and adopted 
standards) is available on the IPPC website.\4\ For the most current 
information on official U.S. participation in IPPC activities, 
including U.S. positions on standards being considered, contact Dr. 
Marina

[[Page 64824]]

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.
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    \1\ To sign up for the Stakeholder Registry, go to: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new.
    \2\ For more information on the IPPC draft ISPM consultation: 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/international/sa_phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
    \3\ IPPC list of topics: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/list-topics-ippc-standards/.
    \4\ IPPC website: https://www.ippc.int/.
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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 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, 
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 42nd NAPPO annual meeting was held October 22 to 25, 2018, in 
Tucson, AZ. The meeting featured several strategic topics related to 
NAPPO's work program (e.g., seeds, plants for planting, accreditation, 
and forestry), as well as discussions on ePhyto, sea containers, e-
Commerce, and trade facilitation. The meeting also featured a 1-day 
symposium that helped drive critical conversations among NAPPO 
countries about the importance of using risk-based approaches and 
developing precision safeguarding strategies using cutting-edge science 
and technology to maximize risk management. The NAPPO Executive 
Committee meetings took place on October 22 and 26, 2018, February 20, 
2019, and July 24, 2019. 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 2018-2019:
     Completed a Spanish language online training module on 
RSPM 12: Preparation of a Petition for First Release of a Non-
indigenous Entomophagous Biological Control Agent. The English language 
module was completed the previous year.
     Organized and delivered a Western Hemisphere Workshop to 
promote the effective and harmonized implementation of ISPM 38: 
International movement of seeds in March 2019 in San Jose, Costa Rica. 
Participants in the workshop included more than 50 participants from 
the Americas represented by 13 NPPOs, 4 regional plant protection 
organizations, international and regional as well as national seed 
associations, companies related to seed production, and academia. The 
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) also 
contributed to this event.
     Completed NAPPO RSPM 41: Use of Systems Approaches to 
Manage Pest Risks Associated with the Movement of Forest Products. The 
NAPPO Executive Committee approved this document during the 2018 
October NAPPO annual meeting.
     Completed NAPPO Discussion Document 10: North American 
approach to preventing the introduction, establishment and spread of 
khapra beetle in the NAPPO Region. The document was finalized in April 
2018.
     Completed and published proceedings of the first 
International Symposium on Risk-Based Sampling held in June 2017 in 
Baltimore, MD. Proceedings were made available in August 2018 
(English). With the support from IICA, NAPPO completed the Spanish 
version in October 2018.
     Issued via NAPPO's Phytosanitary Alert System: 34 Official 
Pest Reports and 5 Emerging Pest Alerts for Fiscal Year 2019 (from 
October 2018 to September 2019).
    In addition, NAPPO conducted a call for new project proposals for 
its 2020 Work Program during the period of April 1, 2019 to May 30, 
2019. U.S. stakeholders were invited to submit topics through APHIS.

New NAPPO Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development

    The 2019 work program \5\ includes the following topics being 
worked on by NAPPO expert groups and NAPPO's Advisory and Management 
Committee. APHIS is actively and fully participating in the 2019 NAPPO 
work program. The APHIS position on each topic is guided and informed 
by the best technical and scientific information available, as well as 
on relevant input from stakeholders. For each of the following, where 
applicable, 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).
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    \5\ NAPPO work program: https://nappo.org/files/5015/5386/7708/EC-4-2019_NAPPO_Work_Program-with_IYPH-e.pdf.
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    1. Revision of RSPM 22: Guidelines for construction and operation 
of a containment facility for insects and mites used as biological 
control agents.
    2. Forest Products: Develop a NAPPO Science and Technology document 
to provide scientific background on live contaminating organisms on 
phytosanitary-certified wood products and IPPC-marked wood packaging 
and provide guidance regarding actions appropriate for addressing 
associated phytosanitary risks.
    3. Revision of RSPM 17: Guidelines for the Establishment, 
Maintenance, and Verification of Fruit Fly Free Areas in North America.
    4. Support the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH): Exchange 
ideas, develop appropriate materials, and support IYPH events in the 
NAPPO region.
    5. Revision of RSPM 9: Authorization of Laboratories for 
Phytosanitary Testing.
    6. Revision of RSPM 35: Guidelines for the Movement of Stone and 
Pome Fruit Trees and Grapevines into a NAPPO Member Country.
    7. Implementation of ISPM 38--International movement of seeds: 
Complete and publish proceedings from 2019 Hemispheric Workshop on ISPM 
38 (organized by NAPPO).
    8. Lymantriids: Complete 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.
    9. Risk-Based Sampling: Complete and publish a Risk-Based Sampling 
Manual.
    10. Asian Gypsy Moth: Validate specific risk periods for regulated 
Asian gypsy moth in countries of origin.
    11. Foundation and Procedure documents: Continue to update and 
finalize various NAPPO foundation or procedure documents.
    12. Phytosanitary Alert System: Continue to manage the NAPPO pest 
reporting system.

[[Page 64825]]

    13. Update Pest List for RSPM 3: Movement of Potatoes into a NAPPO 
Member Country.
    14. Electronic phytosanitary certification (ePhyto): Provide 
assistance and technical support to the IPPC ePhyto Steering Group.
    15. Stakeholder Engagement: Plan, coordinate and execute activities 
for the October 2019 NAPPO Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada, and 
publish the quarterly newsletter.
    16. Regional Collaboration: Collaboration, focused on information 
exchange, with the Inter-American Coordinating Group in Plant 
Protection, via Technical Working Groups on ePhyto, citrus greening 
(Huanglongbing), fruit flies, and Tuta absoluta.
    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 or projects 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, including through the use of APHIS Stakeholder Registry 
notices and the APHIS public website. 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.\6\ Additional information on 
NAPPO standards (including the NAPPO Work Program, standard setting 
process, and adopted standards) is available on the NAPPO website.\7\ 
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.
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    \6\ For more information on the NAPPO draft RSPM consultation: 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/international/sa_phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
    \7\ NAPPO website: https://nappo.org/.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of November 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25443 Filed 11-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P