. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/141
15 December 1998
(98-5066)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
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
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited
with the WTO.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Weed
seeds
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:   Noxious Weeds;  Update of Weed
Lists
5. Description of content:  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
proposing to amend the noxious weed regulations by adding Solanum tampicense  Dunal
(wetland nightshade) and Caulerpa taxifolia  (Mediterranean clone) to the list of aquatic
weeds and removing Ipomoea triloba  Linnaeus from the list of terrestrial weeds.  APHIS is
also proposing to update the taxonomic names of two other weeds currently listed and make
one editorial change to the regulations.  These actions appear to be necessary to prevent the
artificial spread of noxious weeds into non-infested areas of the United States, to remove
unnecessary restrictions, and to make the regulations easier to understand.
6. Objective and rationale:  Plant health
7. An international standard, guidelin e or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or  recommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:   APHIS conducted weed risk assessment for the weeds we propose to
add and the weed we propose to delete.  The methods APHIS uses for plant pest risk
assessment are consistent with the International Plant Pest Convention (IPPC)
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 63 FR 67011,
4 December 1998 (available in English, 4 pages);  7 CFR Parts 360 and 361
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  The date of entry into force will be announced when
the final rule is published in the Federal Register.G/SPS/N/USA/141
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  2 February 1999
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:   Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA
12. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telefax number and
E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
United States SPS Enquiry Point
USDA/FAS/FSTSDAttn: : Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov