. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/405
23 March 2001
(01-1457)
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:  Certain animals, meat and other products
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Change in Disease Status of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland Because of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (2 pages)
5. Description of content:  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA is amending
the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal
products by removing Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man) and
Northern Ireland from the list of regions cons idered to be free of rinderpest and foot-and-
mouth disease.  We are taking this action because the existence of foot-and-mouth disease
has been confirmed there.  The effect of this action is to prohibit or restrict the importation
of any ruminant or swine into any fresh (chilled or frozen) meat and other products of
ruminants or swine into the United States  from Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
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 action is necessary on an emergency basis to
prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease 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 Epizooties (OIE) Animal Health Code.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 66 FR 14825
14 March 2001 (Available in English)
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This interim rule was
effective on 15 January 2001. APHIS invites you to comment.  We will consider all
comments that we receive by 14 May 2001.G/SPS/N/USA/405
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:  The full text of this
notification, including instructions for commenting, are available from 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. 20250Tel:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov