1.

Notifying Member: United States of America

If applicable, name of local government involved:

2.

Agency responsible: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Phalaenopsis Spp. Plants

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[ ]      All trading partners

[X]    Specific regions or countries: China

5.

Title of the notified document: Proposed Rule: Phalaenopsis Spp. Plants for Planting in Approved Growing Media From China to the Continental United States (Docket No. APHIS-2014-0106)  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 3

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0106-0001

6.

Description of content: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend the regulations governing the importation of plants for planting to authorize the importation of Phalaenopsis spp. plants for planting from China in approved growing media into the continental United States, subject to a systems approach. The systems approach would consist of measures that are currently specified in the regulations as generally applicable to all plants for planting authorized importation into the United States in approved growing media. This proposed rule would allow for the importation of Phalaenopsis spp. plants for planting from China in approved growing media, while providing protection against the introduction of plant pests.

Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 104, Monday, 1 June 2015, pages 30959-30961

7.

Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.  

8.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[ ]      Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard or related text)  

[ ]      World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number)  

[ ]      International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  

[X]    None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard? 

[ ] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:  

9.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    

10.

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

11.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable

[X]    Trade facilitating measure  

12.

Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 31 July 2015

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0106. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2014-0106, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0106.

For further information contact Ms Lydia E. Colón, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; Tel: +(1 301) 851 2302.

13.

Text(s) available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:

United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign Agricultural
Service, International Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1014, Washington D.C. 20250; Tel: +(1 202) 720 1301; Fax: +(1 202) 720 0433; E-mail: us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov