WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99.487
6 October 1999
(99-4178)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Environmental Protection Agency  (34)
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Antimicrobial Pesticide
Products
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Registration
Requirements for Antimicrobial Pesticide Produc ts and Other Pesticide Regulatory Changes
(59 pages)
6. Description of content:  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to
establish procedures for the registration of antim icrobial products, as well as implement other
provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungic ide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended
by the Food Quality Protection Act.  This proposal is required by FIFRA.  In addition to
registration procedures for antimicrobial produc ts EPA also proposes to establish labeling
standards for antimicrobial public health products , which will ensure that these products are
appropriately labelled for the level of antimicr obial activity they demonstrate; to modify its
notification process for antimicrobial products  to conform to the statutorily prescribed
process; and to exempt certain antimicrobial  products from FIFRA regulation.   EPA is also
proposing to implement a number of general pr ovisions of FIFRA that are not specific to
antimicrobial pesticides.  EPA proposes to in terpret the applicability of the new FIFRA
definition of "pesticide" that excludes liquid chemical sterilants from FIFRA regulation and
includes nitrogen stabilizers, and to describe requirements pertaining to use dilution labeling.
The proposals are intended to implement new pr ovisions of FIFRA, and to update current
regulations and procedures.  Finally, EP A is proposing techni cal conforming and
organizational changes to portions of its regulations on pesticide registration and labeling for
clarity and understanding.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
To streamline and improve the registration process, increase consistency and certainty for
antimicrobial producers, reduce the time frames for EPA decisions on antimicrobial
registrations, increase public health protection by ensuring the continued efficacy of
antimicrobial public health pesticides, and promote international harmonization efforts.
./.G/TBT/Notif.99.487
Page 2
8. Relevant documents:   64 FR 50672, 17 September 1999; 40 CFR Parts 152 and 156.   Will
appear in the Federal Register when adopted.
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }To be determined
10. Final date for comments:   16 November 1999
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [    X ] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:  The text is also available on the Internet at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html