International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities, 76006-76010 [2020-26210]
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to transit the United States via land
ports, for immediate export, from
certain Mexican States.1 APHIS believes
that allowing such in-transit movements
presents a negligible risk of introducing
ND into the United States while
simultaneously avoiding unnecessary
restrictions on trade.
APHIS also currently has regulations
in place that restrict the importation of
poultry meat and other poultry products
from Mexico due to the presence of ND
in that country. However, under the
regulations in § 94.30, APHIS allows the
importation of poultry meat and poultry
products from the Mexican States of
Sinaloa and Sonora, if imported
according to APHIS’ requirements,
because APHIS has determined that
poultry meat and products from these
two Mexican States pose a negligible
risk of introducing ND into the United
States.
To ensure the above commodities are
safe for importation, APHIS requires
that certain information collection
activities take place such as foreign
meat inspection certificates, serially
numbered seals, applications for import
permits, emergency action notification,
and pre-arrival notifications.
This collection includes activities
associated with the regulations
currently in § 94.15 for the transit of
pork and pork products from certain
Mexican States through the United
States, under seal, to export to another
country. These regulations were
adopted because APHIS considered
Mexico, except for certain States, to be
affected with classical swine fever
(CSF). However, in January 16, 2018,
APHIS published a notice (83 FR 2131–
2132, APHIS–2016–0038) announcing
the addition of Mexico to the list of
regions that are considered to be free of
CSF, thus eliminating the basis for this
regulatory requirement.
We are asking the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to
approve our use of these information
collection activities, as described, for an
additional 3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit
comments from the public (as well as
affected agencies) concerning our
information collection. These comments
will help us:
1 The Mexican States of Campeche, Quintana Roo,
and Yucatan can import certain poultry and poultry
products into the United States under the
restrictions set forth in § 94.33 because they: (1)
Supplement their meat supply by importing fresh
(chilled or frozen) poultry meat from regions where
ND is considered to exist; (2) share a common land
border with regions where ND is considered to
exist; or (3) import live poultry from regions where
ND is considered to exist under conditions less
restrictive than would be acceptable for importation
into the United States.
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(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, through use, as
appropriate, of automated, electronic,
mechanical, and other collection
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 0.99 hours per
response.
Respondents: Federal animal health
authorities in Mexico and U.S.
importers and exporters of poultry meat,
other poultry products, pork, and pork
products from Mexico.
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 79.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 41.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 3,214.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 3,212 hours. (Due to
averaging, the total annual burden hours
may not equal the product of the annual
number of responses multiplied by the
reporting burden per response.)
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of
November 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–26208 Filed 11–25–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2020–0088]
International Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Standard-Setting
Activities
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
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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-2020-0088.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2020–0088, 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-2020-0088 or
in our reading room, which is located in
room 1620 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. Paul Gary Egrie, Office of
International Affairs, Veterinary
Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit
33, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–
3304.
For specific information regarding the
standard-setting activities of the
International Plant Protection
Convention, contact Dr. Marina Zlotina,
PPQ’s 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, PPQ’s
NAPPO Technical Director,
International Phytosanitary Standards,
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 130,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–2264.
SUMMARY:
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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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; (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 United
States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
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(USMCA) 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 Codex Office (USCO), in
the United States Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Trade and
Foreign Affairs mission area, informs
the public of standard-setting activities
of Codex, and USDA’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
informs the public of OIE, IPPC, and
NAPPO standard-setting activities.
USCO publishes an annual notice in
the Federal Register to inform the
public of SPS standard-setting activities
for Codex (85 FR 34161). Codex was
established in 1963 by two United
Nations organizations, the Food and
Agriculture Organization and the World
Health Organization. It is the principle
international organization for
establishing food standards that protect
consumer health and promote fair
practices in food trade.
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
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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
was scheduled to occur from May 24 to
29, 2020, in Paris, France. The Associate
Administrator for APHIS serves as the
official U.S. Delegate to the OIE.
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-activitiesoie/regionalization/ct_international_
standard_setting_activities_oie or by
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contacting Dr. Paul Gary Egrie (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
The COVID–19 situation worldwide
did not allow the OIE to have its
General Session in 2020, and
consequently no Code chapters were
presented for adoption. The
corresponding chapters will be
proposed for adoption during the
General Session tentatively scheduled
for May 2021.
• Chapter 1.1., Notification of
diseases, infections and infestations,
and provision of epidemiological
information.
• Chapter 1.4.3., Animal Health
Surveillance.
• Chapter 1.6., Procedures for selfdeclaration and for official recognition
by the OIE.
• Chapter 3.2., Evaluation of
Veterinary Services.
• 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 8.Y., Infection with animal
trypanosomes of African origin.
• Chapter 8.15., Infection with Rift
Valley fever virus.
• Chapter 9.4, Article 9.4.5.,
Infestation with Aethina tumida (small
hive beetle).
• Chapter 10.4., Infection with avian
influenza viruses.
• Chapter 15.2., Infection with
classical swine fever virus.
• Articles 14.7.3., 14.7.7., 14.7.24.
and 14.7.34., Infection with peste des
petits ruminants virus.
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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 contracting parties; and
providing technical assistance to
developing countries that are
contracting parties to the Convention.
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The IPPC is deposited within the
Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations and is an
international agreement of 184
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.
Because of the COVID–19 pandemic,
the 15th Session of the CPM was
tentatively postponed to 2021.
Standards recommended for adoption
in 2020 will be tabled for adoption in
2021, and are listed below. The United
States develops its position on each of
these draft standards prior to the CPM
session based on APHIS’ analyses and
other relevant information from other
U.S. Government agencies and
interested stakeholders:
• Draft Revision of ISPM 8:
Determination of pest status in an area.
• Draft ISPM: Requirements for the
use of modified atmosphere treatments
as phytosanitary measures.
• Draft ISPM 5: Glossary of
phytosanitary terms (2018 revisions).
In lieu of the Commission meeting,
the CPM Bureau has been advancing the
IPPC work program, including standards
setting, as actively as possible via
virtual means. The IPPC Standards
Committee and Implementation and
Capacity Development Committee also
continued working during the pandemic
by virtually approving draft standards
for consultation, selecting experts to
expert drafting groups, and addressing
pending standard setting and other
plant health initiatives. The IPPC
electronic certification system (ePhyto)
solution also progressed in 2020. For
example, 27 countries in the European
Union joined ePhyto through its own
system of electronic certification named
TRACES; Argentina and Chile moved to
fully electronic operation for all their
plant trade; the United Nations
International Computing Centre and the
ePhyto Steering Committee are
developing and providing training on
ePhyto; and preparations are underway
to deploy features allowing industry
systems to receive ePhytos.
New IPPC Standard-Setting Initiatives,
Including Those Under Development
A number of expert working group
(EWG) meetings and technical
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consultations took place from October
2019 through September 2020 on the
topics listed below. These IPPC projects
are currently under development and
intended for future adoption and
publication. APHIS participated actively
and fully in each of these working
groups. APHIS developed its position
on each of the topics prior to the
working group meeting. The APHIS
position was based on relevant scientific
information and technical analyses,
including information from other U.S.
Government agencies and from
interested stakeholders:
• EWG for the focused revision of
ISPM 12: Phytosanitary certificates in
relation to re-export.
• Working group for the revision of
the plant pest surveillance guide.
• Reviewing and commenting on the
Implementation Guide to ISPM 8
currently under development.
• Reviewing and commenting on the
draft outline of the future
Implementation Guide on e-Commerce.
• Technical Panel on Diagnostic
Protocols.
• Technical Panel on Phytosanitary
Treatments.
• Technical Panel for the Glossary.
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 2020, 16 draft standards
(including phytosanitary treatments), 3
draft specifications, 1 draft outline, and
1 draft CPM recommendation 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
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/coreactivities/standards-setting/list-topics-ippcstandards/.
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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
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
safe 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. This critical
work facilitates the safe movement of
plants and plant products into and
within the region. NAPPO conducts its
work through priority-driven projects
approved by the NAPPO Executive
Committee via an annual work program,
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 as well as
NAPPO governance meetings. 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 43rd NAPPO annual meeting was
held October 28 to November 1, 2019,
in Montreal, Canada. The meeting
featured several strategic topics related
to NAPPO’s work program (e.g. seeds,
forest pests, lab accreditation, plants for
planting, biological control, and riskbased sampling), as well as discussions
on sea containers, invasive species, the
International Year of Plant Health
(IYPH), the United States-Mexico4 IPPC
website: https://www.ippc.int/.
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Canada Agreement (USMCA), and a live
ePhyto exchange demonstration
between the United States and Jamaica.
The meeting also featured a 1-day
symposium on comparing the decisionmaking procedures used by the three
countries (Canada, Mexico, and the
United States) when an exotic plant pest
is confirmed in a NAPPO member
country. The NAPPO Executive
Committee meetings took place on
October 28, 2019, and July 16, 2020
(virtual meeting). The Deputy
Administrator for PPQ is the U.S.
member of the NAPPO Executive
Committee.
Despite the COVID–19 pandemic,
NAPPO’s Secretariat and its member
countries, including regulatory, plant
health, and industry officials, continue
to actively progress on projects and
initiatives under the NAPPO work
program, taking advantage of
teleconferencing and other virtual
meeting tools. NAPPO governance
committees, including NAPPO’s
Executive Committee and the Advisory
and Management Committee, as well as
expert groups, continue to communicate
and meet virtually on a regular basis to
actively progress on NAPPO strategic
and work program initiatives. NAPPO’s
Advisory and Management Committee
continued working during the pandemic
by virtually approving draft standards
for consultation; selecting and
onboarding experts to newly launched
NAPPO expert groups on seeds and
diagnostics, consignments in transit,
and wooden and bamboo commodities;
and addressing other pending work
program initiatives. The NAPPO expert
groups, including member countries’
subject matter experts, in collaboration
with NAPPO’s Secretariat, significantly
progressed or finalized the following
regional standards, documents,
products, and projects during the period
of October 2019 to the end of September
2020:
• Reviewed, discussed, and agreed to
archive RSPM 17: Guidelines for the
establishment, maintenance and
verification of fruit fly free areas in
North America. Experts from all three
member countries agreed that more
comprehensive international standards
have been adopted at the IPPC that
effectively build-on and supersede
RSPM 17.
• Completed and published
proceedings from the NAPPO-organized
March 2019, Hemispheric Workshop on
ISPM 38: International movement of
seeds. Proceedings are now available on
the NAPPO website.5
5 Proceedings of the NAPPO Organized
Hemispheric Workshop on ISPM 38: International
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• Completed the revision or
development of the following regional
standards and documents and launched
them for country consultation (public
comment period) during the summer of
2020: RSPM 9: Authorization of
laboratories for performing
phytosanitary testing, RSPM 5: NAPPO
glossary of phytosanitary terms, and
NAPPO Science and Technology (S&T)
Document on the risks associated with
the introduction of exotic lymantriid
species of potential concern to the
NAPPO region. As next steps, comments
received from the consultation will be
reviewed by expert group members to
adjust the documents for eventual
Executive Committee approval.
• Issued via NAPPO’s Phytosanitary
Alert System: 23 Official Pest Reports
for Fiscal Year 2020 (from October 2019
to September 2020).
In addition, NAPPO conducted a call
for new project proposals for its 2020
Work Program during 2019. U.S.
stakeholders were invited to submit
topics and comment on their priorities
through APHIS. In late October 2019,
the NAPPO call for new project
proposals (taking stakeholders’
comments into account) resulted in
three new prioritized projects by the
NAPPO’s Executive Committee, which
have been added to the 2020 annual
work program. The new, prioritized
projects focus on the following topics:
The harmonization of diagnostic
protocols for seed pests focused on
Tomato brown rugose virus (ToBRFV);
consignments in transit; and the import
of wooden and bamboo commodities.
New NAPPO Standard-Setting
Initiatives, Including Those in
Development
The 2020 work program 6 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 2020 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
movement of seeds: https://nappo.org/application/
files/7115/8687/1174/Final__Proceedings_ISPM_
38_Implementation_Workshop.pdf.
6 NAPPO work program: https://mail.nappo.org/
application/files/5415/8624/3760/FINAL_2020_
NAPPO_Work_Program_-e.pdf.
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76010
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 229 / Friday, November 27, 2020 / Notices
NAPPO website or by contacting Ms.
Patricia Abad (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above).
1. Seed Diagnostics: A pilot for the
harmonization of diagnostic protocols
for seed pests focused on ToBRFV.
2. Development of harmonized
regional guidance for North America
based on ISPM 25: Consignments in
transit and the IPPC Transit Manual.
3. Revision of RSPM 38: Importation
of certain wooden and bamboo
commodities into a NAPPO member
country.
4. Revision of RSPM 22: Guidelines
for construction and operation of a
containment facility for insects and
mites used as biological control agents.
5. Forest Products: Develop a NAPPO
Science and Technology (S&T)
document to provide scientific
background on live contaminant pests
associated with wood commodities and
wood packaging; and provide guidance
regarding actions appropriate for
addressing related phytosanitary risks.
6. Support the IYPH: Exchange ideas,
develop appropriate materials, and
support IYPH events in the NAPPO
region.
7. Revision of RSPM 9: Authorization
of laboratories for performing
phytosanitary testing.
8. Revision of RSPM 35: Guidelines
for the movement of stone and pome
fruit trees and grapevines into a NAPPO
member country.
9. Lymantriids: Complete a NAPPO
Science and Technology (S&T)
document on the risks associated with
the introduction of exotic lymantriid
species of potential concern to the
NAPPO region.
10. Revision of RSPM 5: NAPPO
glossary of phytosanitary terms.
11. Risk-Based Sampling: Complete
and publish a Risk-Based Sampling
Manual.
12. Asian Gypsy Moth: Validate
specific risk periods for regulated Asian
gypsy moth in countries of origin.
13. Foundation and Procedure
documents: Continue to update and
finalize various NAPPO foundation or
procedure documents.
14. Phytosanitary Alert System:
Continue to manage the NAPPO pest
reporting system.
15. Electronic phytosanitary
certification (ePhyto): Provide assistance
and technical support to the IPPC
ePhyto Steering Group.
16. Stakeholder Engagement: Plan,
coordinate and execute activities for the
next NAPPO Annual Meeting, and
publish the quarterly newsletter.
Because of the COVID–19 pandemic, the
2020 NAPPO annual meeting has been
postponed to 2021. The 2021 NAPPO
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:29 Nov 25, 2020
Jkt 253001
annual meeting is expected to take place
in the United States (and hosted by
APHIS) in accordance with the NAPPO
country rotation.
17. 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. In 2020, two
revised NAPPO standards and one
Science & Technology document were
open for consultation. APHIS posts
links to draft standards on the internet
as they become available and provides
information on the due dates for
comments.7 Additional information on
NAPPO standards (including the
NAPPO Work Program, standard setting
process, and adopted standards) is
available on the NAPPO website.8
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
7 For more information on the NAPPO draft
RSPM consultation: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/international/sa_
phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
8 NAPPO website: https://nappo.org/.
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ADDRESSES above) or by transmitting
comments through Ms. Abad.
Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of
November 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–26210 Filed 11–25–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meeting of the Illinois
Advisory Committee
U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights.
ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights and the Federal
Advisory Committee Act that the
Illinois Advisory Committee
(Committee) will hold a meeting via
teleconference on Tuesday, December 8,
2020 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time, the
purpose of the meeting is for the
Committee to approval the report on
Fair Housing in Illinois.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 12:00
p.m. Central Time. Public Call
Information: Dial: 800–367–2403;
Conference ID: 2202630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Barreras, Designated Federal
Official, at dbarreras@usccr.gov or 202–
499–4066.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members
of the public may listen to the
discussion. This meeting is available to
the public through the call-in
information listed above. Any interested
member of the public may call this
number and listen to the meeting. An
open comment period will be provided
to allow members of the public to make
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allows. The conference call operator
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the organization they are affiliated with
(if any), and an email address prior to
placing callers into the conference
room. Callers can expect to incur regular
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wireless lines, according to their
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will incur no charge for calls they
initiate over land-line connections to
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with hearing impairments may also
follow the proceedings by first calling
the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–
8339 and providing the Service with the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM
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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 229 (Friday, November 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76006-76010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26210]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0088]
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 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-2020-0088.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2020-0088, 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-2020-
0088 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1620 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. Paul Gary Egrie,
Office of International Affairs, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 33, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3304.
For specific information regarding the standard-setting activities
of the International Plant Protection Convention, contact Dr. Marina
Zlotina, PPQ's 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, PPQ's NAPPO Technical
Director, International Phytosanitary Standards, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 130, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2264.
[[Page 76007]]
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; (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
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) 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 Codex
Office (USCO), in the United States Department of Agriculture's
(USDA's) Trade and Foreign Affairs mission area, informs the public of
standard-setting activities of Codex, and USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) informs the public of OIE, IPPC, and
NAPPO standard-setting activities.
USCO publishes an annual notice in the Federal Register to inform
the public of SPS standard-setting activities for Codex (85 FR 34161).
Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the
Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. It
is the principle international organization for establishing food
standards that protect consumer health and promote fair practices in
food trade.
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 was scheduled to occur from May
24 to 29, 2020, in Paris, France. The Associate Administrator for APHIS
serves as the official U.S. Delegate to the OIE. 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
[[Page 76008]]
contacting Dr. Paul Gary Egrie (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
above).
The COVID-19 situation worldwide did not allow the OIE to have its
General Session in 2020, and consequently no Code chapters were
presented for adoption. The corresponding chapters will be proposed for
adoption during the General Session tentatively scheduled for May 2021.
Chapter 1.1., Notification of diseases, infections and
infestations, and provision of epidemiological information.
Chapter 1.4.3., Animal Health Surveillance.
Chapter 1.6., Procedures for self-declaration and for
official recognition by the OIE.
Chapter 3.2., Evaluation of Veterinary Services.
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 8.Y., Infection with animal trypanosomes of
African origin.
Chapter 8.15., Infection with Rift Valley fever virus.
Chapter 9.4, Article 9.4.5., Infestation with Aethina
tumida (small hive beetle).
Chapter 10.4., Infection with avian influenza viruses.
Chapter 15.2., Infection with classical swine fever virus.
Articles 14.7.3., 14.7.7., 14.7.24. 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 184
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.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th Session of the CPM was
tentatively postponed to 2021.
Standards recommended for adoption in 2020 will be tabled for
adoption in 2021, and are listed below. The United States develops its
position on each of these draft standards prior to the CPM session
based on APHIS' analyses and other relevant information from other U.S.
Government agencies and interested stakeholders:
Draft Revision of ISPM 8: Determination of pest status in
an area.
Draft ISPM: Requirements for the use of modified
atmosphere treatments as phytosanitary measures.
Draft ISPM 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms (2018
revisions).
In lieu of the Commission meeting, the CPM Bureau has been
advancing the IPPC work program, including standards setting, as
actively as possible via virtual means. The IPPC Standards Committee
and Implementation and Capacity Development Committee also continued
working during the pandemic by virtually approving draft standards for
consultation, selecting experts to expert drafting groups, and
addressing pending standard setting and other plant health initiatives.
The IPPC electronic certification system (ePhyto) solution also
progressed in 2020. For example, 27 countries in the European Union
joined ePhyto through its own system of electronic certification named
TRACES; Argentina and Chile moved to fully electronic operation for all
their plant trade; the United Nations International Computing Centre
and the ePhyto Steering Committee are developing and providing training
on ePhyto; and preparations are underway to deploy features allowing
industry systems to receive ePhytos.
New IPPC Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those Under
Development
A number of expert working group (EWG) meetings and technical
consultations took place from October 2019 through September 2020 on
the topics listed below. These IPPC projects are currently under
development and intended for future adoption and publication. APHIS
participated actively and fully in each of these working groups. APHIS
developed its position on each of the topics prior to the working group
meeting. The APHIS position was based on relevant scientific
information and technical analyses, including information from other
U.S. Government agencies and from interested stakeholders:
EWG for the focused revision of ISPM 12: Phytosanitary
certificates in relation to re-export.
Working group for the revision of the plant pest
surveillance guide.
Reviewing and commenting on the Implementation Guide to
ISPM 8 currently under development.
Reviewing and commenting on the draft outline of the
future Implementation Guide on e-Commerce.
Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols.
Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments.
Technical Panel for the Glossary.
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 2020, 16 draft standards (including
phytosanitary treatments), 3 draft specifications, 1 draft outline, and
1 draft CPM recommendation 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
[[Page 76009]]
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 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\ 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/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
safe 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. This critical work
facilitates the safe movement of plants and plant products into and
within the region. NAPPO conducts its work through priority-driven
projects approved by the NAPPO Executive Committee via an annual work
program, 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 as well as NAPPO governance meetings. 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 43rd NAPPO annual meeting was held October 28 to November 1,
2019, in Montreal, Canada. The meeting featured several strategic
topics related to NAPPO's work program (e.g. seeds, forest pests, lab
accreditation, plants for planting, biological control, and risk-based
sampling), as well as discussions on sea containers, invasive species,
the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), the United States-
Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and a live ePhyto exchange
demonstration between the United States and Jamaica. The meeting also
featured a 1-day symposium on comparing the decision-making procedures
used by the three countries (Canada, Mexico, and the United States)
when an exotic plant pest is confirmed in a NAPPO member country. The
NAPPO Executive Committee meetings took place on October 28, 2019, and
July 16, 2020 (virtual meeting). The Deputy Administrator for PPQ is
the U.S. member of the NAPPO Executive Committee.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, NAPPO's Secretariat and its member
countries, including regulatory, plant health, and industry officials,
continue to actively progress on projects and initiatives under the
NAPPO work program, taking advantage of teleconferencing and other
virtual meeting tools. NAPPO governance committees, including NAPPO's
Executive Committee and the Advisory and Management Committee, as well
as expert groups, continue to communicate and meet virtually on a
regular basis to actively progress on NAPPO strategic and work program
initiatives. NAPPO's Advisory and Management Committee continued
working during the pandemic by virtually approving draft standards for
consultation; selecting and onboarding experts to newly launched NAPPO
expert groups on seeds and diagnostics, consignments in transit, and
wooden and bamboo commodities; and addressing other pending work
program initiatives. The NAPPO expert groups, including member
countries' subject matter experts, in collaboration with NAPPO's
Secretariat, significantly progressed or finalized the following
regional standards, documents, products, and projects during the period
of October 2019 to the end of September 2020:
Reviewed, discussed, and agreed to archive RSPM 17:
Guidelines for the establishment, maintenance and verification of fruit
fly free areas in North America. Experts from all three member
countries agreed that more comprehensive international standards have
been adopted at the IPPC that effectively build-on and supersede RSPM
17.
Completed and published proceedings from the NAPPO-
organized March 2019, Hemispheric Workshop on ISPM 38: International
movement of seeds. Proceedings are now available on the NAPPO
website.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Proceedings of the NAPPO Organized Hemispheric Workshop on
ISPM 38: International movement of seeds: https://nappo.org/application/files/7115/8687/1174/Final__Proceedings_ISPM_38_Implementation_Workshop.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Completed the revision or development of the following
regional standards and documents and launched them for country
consultation (public comment period) during the summer of 2020: RSPM 9:
Authorization of laboratories for performing phytosanitary testing,
RSPM 5: NAPPO glossary of phytosanitary terms, and NAPPO Science and
Technology (S&T) Document on the risks associated with the introduction
of exotic lymantriid species of potential concern to the NAPPO region.
As next steps, comments received from the consultation will be reviewed
by expert group members to adjust the documents for eventual Executive
Committee approval.
Issued via NAPPO's Phytosanitary Alert System: 23 Official
Pest Reports for Fiscal Year 2020 (from October 2019 to September
2020).
In addition, NAPPO conducted a call for new project proposals for
its 2020 Work Program during 2019. U.S. stakeholders were invited to
submit topics and comment on their priorities through APHIS. In late
October 2019, the NAPPO call for new project proposals (taking
stakeholders' comments into account) resulted in three new prioritized
projects by the NAPPO's Executive Committee, which have been added to
the 2020 annual work program. The new, prioritized projects focus on
the following topics: The harmonization of diagnostic protocols for
seed pests focused on Tomato brown rugose virus (ToBRFV); consignments
in transit; and the import of wooden and bamboo commodities.
New NAPPO Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development
The 2020 work program \6\ 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 2020 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
[[Page 76010]]
NAPPO website or by contacting Ms. Patricia Abad (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT above).
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\6\ NAPPO work program: https://mail.nappo.org/application/files/5415/8624/3760/FINAL_2020_NAPPO_Work_Program_-e.pdf.
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1. Seed Diagnostics: A pilot for the harmonization of diagnostic
protocols for seed pests focused on ToBRFV.
2. Development of harmonized regional guidance for North America
based on ISPM 25: Consignments in transit and the IPPC Transit Manual.
3. Revision of RSPM 38: Importation of certain wooden and bamboo
commodities into a NAPPO member country.
4. Revision of RSPM 22: Guidelines for construction and operation
of a containment facility for insects and mites used as biological
control agents.
5. Forest Products: Develop a NAPPO Science and Technology (S&T)
document to provide scientific background on live contaminant pests
associated with wood commodities and wood packaging; and provide
guidance regarding actions appropriate for addressing related
phytosanitary risks.
6. Support the IYPH: Exchange ideas, develop appropriate materials,
and support IYPH events in the NAPPO region.
7. Revision of RSPM 9: Authorization of laboratories for performing
phytosanitary testing.
8. Revision of RSPM 35: Guidelines for the movement of stone and
pome fruit trees and grapevines into a NAPPO member country.
9. Lymantriids: Complete a NAPPO Science and Technology (S&T)
document on the risks associated with the introduction of exotic
lymantriid species of potential concern to the NAPPO region.
10. Revision of RSPM 5: NAPPO glossary of phytosanitary terms.
11. Risk-Based Sampling: Complete and publish a Risk-Based Sampling
Manual.
12. Asian Gypsy Moth: Validate specific risk periods for regulated
Asian gypsy moth in countries of origin.
13. Foundation and Procedure documents: Continue to update and
finalize various NAPPO foundation or procedure documents.
14. Phytosanitary Alert System: Continue to manage the NAPPO pest
reporting system.
15. Electronic phytosanitary certification (ePhyto): Provide
assistance and technical support to the IPPC ePhyto Steering Group.
16. Stakeholder Engagement: Plan, coordinate and execute activities
for the next NAPPO Annual Meeting, and publish the quarterly
newsletter. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 NAPPO annual
meeting has been postponed to 2021. The 2021 NAPPO annual meeting is
expected to take place in the United States (and hosted by APHIS) in
accordance with the NAPPO country rotation.
17. 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. In 2020, two revised NAPPO
standards and one Science & Technology document were open for
consultation. APHIS posts links to draft standards on the internet as
they become available and provides information on the due dates for
comments.\7\ Additional information on NAPPO standards (including the
NAPPO Work Program, standard setting process, and adopted standards) is
available on the NAPPO website.\8\ 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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\7\ For more information on the NAPPO draft RSPM consultation:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/international/sa_phytostandards/ct_draft_standards.
\8\ NAPPO website: https://nappo.org/.
Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of November 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-26210 Filed 11-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
