Melissa O’Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623
USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON THE USE OF BILATERAL WORKPLANS
WASHINGTON, May 10, 2006–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s plant protection and quarantine program (PPQ) is soliciting public comment on the use of bilateral workplans to ensure the understanding of the nature of bilateral workplans and to give individuals the opportunity to provide input.
A bilateral workplan is a signed written agreement between PPQ, officials of the national plant protection organization of a foreign government and, when necessary, foreign commercial entities. These plans specify the phytosanitary measures agreed to by each party with regard to the import or export of a specific commodity.
Bilateral workplans are commonly used by the importing and exporting countries to clarify responsibilities, such as monitoring, inspections, testing and treatments and to establish and formalize phytosanitary import/export program operations.
Notice of this action is published in the May 10 Federal Register. Consideration will be given to comments received on or before July 10. Send an original and three copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2005-0085, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. If you wish to submit a comment using the Internet, go to the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and, in the “Search Regulations and Federal Actions” box, select “Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu; then click on “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2005-0085 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov Web site and may also be viewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.
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