. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/375
8 January 2001
(01-0054)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture, 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 may be provided in addition, where
applicable). Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Certification of Beef From
Argentina - Interim rule and request for comments (3 pages)
5. Description of content:  APHIS is amending the regulations governing the importation of
fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina by adding a requirement that Argentina certify
that the beef does not come from animals that have ever been in specified areas along
Argentina's borders with Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Uruguay. We are taking this actionas an emergency measure to protect the livestock of the United States from foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD). We invite you to comment. APHIS will consider all comments received by
27 February 2001.
6. Objective and rationale:  [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  This rulemaking is necessary on an emergency basis to
prevent the introduction of FMD into the United States.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  APHIS is taking this action in accordance with
Chapter 2.1.1 of the Office international de s épizooties (OIE) Animal Health Code.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  65 FR 82894,
29 December 2000 (Available in English)
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This interim rule was
effective 15 July 2000.G/SPS/N/USA/375
Page 2
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[ X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Detailed instruction on where
and how to send comments is in the body of the full text - which will be sent upon request
to the address below:
United States SPS Enquiry Point/Notification Authority
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250Phone:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:(202)690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov