   
  
G/TBT/N/USA/1465  
 
11 April 2019  
(19-2379) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Department of Commerce (DOC) [1489]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to:  USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other : [X] 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN  where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Softwood 
lumber; Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly 
squared (HS 4403); Other articles of wood (HS 4421) ; Quality (ICS 03.120), Wood 
technology processes (ICS 79.020)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposed 
Voluntary Product Standard 20 -15, American Softwood Lumber Standard (2 page(s), in 
English)  
6. Description of cont ent: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is 
soliciting public comment on a proposed revision to Voluntary Product Standard (PS) 
20-15, American Softwood Lumber Standard. This standard, prepared by the American 
Lumber Standard Committe e, serves the procurement and regulatory needs of numerous 
federal, state, and local government agencies by providing for uniform, industry -wide 
grade - marking and inspection requirements for softwood lumber. The implementation of 
the standard also allows for uniform labeling and auditing of treated wood and wood 
packaging materials. As part of a five -year review process, NIST is seeking public 
comment and invites interested parties to review the revised standard and submit 
comments.  
7. Objective and ratio nale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information, labelling; Quality requirements  
8. Relevant documents:   
• 84 Federal Register (FR) 11930, 29 March 2019; Title 15 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Part 10.  
• Voluntary Product Standards Program:  https://www.nist.gov/standardsgov/  
voluntary -product -standards -program  G/TBT/N/USA/1465  
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  29 April 2019  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/TBT/USA/19_2100_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto .org/crnattachments/2019/TBT/USA/19_2100_01_e.pdf  
 