. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/147
23 February 1999
(99-0683)
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):   Certain
live animals and animal products
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:   Change in Disease Status of the
Republic of South Africa because of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Rinderpest
5. Description of content:   The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
proposing to declare the Republic of South Africa, except Kruger National Park and the
remainder of the foot-and-mouth disease controlled area, free of foot-and-mouth disease.
APHIS is also proposing to declare all of the Republic of South Africa free of rinderpest.These proposed actions appear to be appropriate because there have been no outbreaks of
foot-and-mouth disease in the Republic of Sout h Africa, except in Kruger National Park and
the remainder of the foot-and-mouth disease controlled area since 1957, and there have been
no outbreaks of rinderpest in the Republic of South Africa since 1903.  These proposed
actions would relieve certain restrictions due  to foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest on
the importation into the United States of certain live animals and animal products from all
regions of the Republic of South Africa, except Kruger National Park and the remainder ofthe foot-and-mouth disease controlled area.  However, because we consider the Republic of
South Africa to be affected with hog cholera, African swine fever, and swine vesicular
disease, and because the Republic of South Africa has certain trade practices regarding
animals and animal products that are less restrictive than are acceptable for importation into
the United States, the importation of live swine, and meat and other products fromruminants and swine, into the United States from the Republic of South Africa would
continue to be subject to certain restrictions.
6. Objective and rationale:  Animal health
7. An international standard, guidelin e or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or  recommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:   This action is taken by APHIS in accordance with standards set by the
Office international des Epizooties (OIE)G/SPS/N/USA/147
Page 2
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  64 FR 7816,
17 February 1999 (available in English, 7 pages);  9 CRF Part 94
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  19 April 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/FSTSD
Attn:  Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel:  (202) 720 22 39
Fax:  (202) 690 06 77
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov