Notice2026-01546
International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
In accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and legislation implementing the results of the Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, we are informing the public of the international standard- setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting public comment on these standard-setting activities.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3412-3416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01546]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2025-0409]
International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting
Activities
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of
1979, as amended, and legislation implementing the results of the
Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade, we are informing the public of the international standard-
setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the
Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the
North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting
public comment on these standard-setting activities.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Enter APHIS-2025-0409 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab,
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
<bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2025-0409, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> or in our reading room, which is located
in Room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is
there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the topics
covered in this notice, contact Mr. Eric Nichols, Director, Trade
Support Team, APHIS-IS, Room 1627-S, USDA South Building, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250; (202) 799-7122.
For specific information regarding standard-setting activities of
the World Organization for Animal Health, contact Dr. Conrad Estrada,
Office of International Affairs, Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building,
Room 317 E, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington DC 20250; (202) 799-
7146.
For specific information regarding the standard-setting activities
of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the North
American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), contact Stephanie
Dubon, NAPPO Technical Director, International Phytosanitary Standards,
Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue,
Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 332-9071; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#693a1d0c19010807000c4724472d1c0b0607291c1a0d08470e061f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0d5e79687d656c63646823402349786f62634d787e696c236a627b">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established as the common
international institutional framework for governing trade relations
among its members in matters related to the Uruguay Round Agreements.
The WTO is the successor organization to the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade. U.S. membership in the WTO was approved by Congress
when it enacted the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465),
which was signed into law on December 8, 1994. The WTO Agreements,
which established the WTO, entered into force with respect to the
United States on January 1, 1995. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act
amended Title IV of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2531 et
seq.). Section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended (19
U.S.C. 2578), requires the President to designate an agency to be
responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary
standard-setting (SPS) activities of each international standard-
setting organization. The designated agency must inform the public by
publishing an annual notice in the Federal Register that provides the
following information: (1) The SPS standards under consideration or
planned for consideration by the SPS organization; and (2) for each SPS
standard specified, a description of the consideration or planned
consideration of that standard, a statement of whether the United
States is participating or plans to participate in the consideration of
that standard, the agenda for U.S. participation, if any, and the
agency responsible for representing the United States with respect to
that standard.
``International standard'' is defined in 19 U.S.C. 2578b as any
standard, guideline, or recommendation: (1) Adopted by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission (Codex) regarding food safety; (2) developed
under the auspices of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)
\1\ regarding animal health; (3) developed under the auspices of the
Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC or
the Convention) and the North American Plant Protection Organization
(NAPPO) regarding plant health; or (4) established by or developed
under any other international organization agreed to by the member
countries of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) or the
member countries of the WTO.
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\1\ The World Organization for Animal Health internationally
follows a British English spelling of ``organisation'' in its name;
it was formerly the Office International des Epizooties, or OIE, but
on May 28, 2022, the organization announced that the acronym was
changed from OIE to WOAH.
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The President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995
(60 FR 15845), designated the Secretary of Agriculture as the official
responsible for informing the public of the SPS activities of Codex,
WOAH, IPPC, and NAPPO. The U.S. Codex Office (USCO), in the United
States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs mission area, informs the public of standard-
setting activities of Codex, and the USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) informs the public of WOAH, IPPC, and NAPPO
standard-setting activities.
USCO publishes an annual notice in the Federal Register to inform
the public of SPS activities for Codex (90 FR 22226). Codex was
established in 1963. It is the principal international organization for
establishing food standards that protect consumer health and promote
fair practices in food trade.
APHIS is responsible for publishing an annual notice of WOAH, IPPC,
and NAPPO activities related to international standards for plant and
animal health and representing the United States with respect to these
standards. The following are
[[Page 3413]]
descriptions of the WOAH, IPPC, and NAPPO organizations and the
standard-setting agenda for each of these organizations. We have
described the agenda that each of these organizations addressed at
their annual general sessions, including standards that were presented
for adoption or consideration, as well as other initiatives that may be
underway at the WOAH, IPPC, and NAPPO.
The agendas for these meetings are subject to change, and the draft
standards identified in this notice may not be sufficiently developed
and ready for adoption as indicated. Also, while it is the intent of
the United States to support adoption of international standards and to
participate actively and fully in their development, it should be
recognized that the U.S. position on a specific draft standard will
depend on the acceptability of the final draft. Given the dynamic and
interactive nature of the standard-setting process, we encourage any
persons who are interested in the most current details about a specific
draft standard or the U.S. position on a particular standard-setting
issue, or in providing comments on a specific standard that may be
under development, to contact APHIS. Contact information is provided at
the beginning of this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
WOAH Standard-Setting Activities
The WOAH was established in Paris, France, in 1924, with the
signing of an international agreement by 28 countries. It is currently
composed of 183 Members, each of which is represented by a delegate
who, in most cases, is the chief veterinary officer of that country or
territory. The Deputy Administrator of APHIS' Veterinary Services
program is the U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer and serves as the official
U.S. Delegate to the WOAH. The WTO has recognized WOAH as the
international forum for setting animal health standards, reporting
global animal disease events, and presenting guidelines and
recommendations on sanitary measures relating to animal health.
The WOAH facilitates intergovernmental cooperation to prevent the
spread of contagious diseases in animals by sharing scientific research
among Members. The major functions of WOAH are to collect and
disseminate information on the distribution and occurrence of animal
diseases and to ensure that science-based standards govern animal
disease control efforts and international trade in animals and animal
products. The WOAH also aims to achieve these objectives through the
development and revision of international standards for animal health,
disease control, diagnostic tests and vaccines.
The WOAH provides annual reports on the global distribution of
animal diseases, recognizes Members' disease status for certain
diseases, categorizes animal diseases with respect to their
international significance, publishes bulletins on global disease
status, and provides animal disease control guidelines to Members.
Various WOAH commissions and working groups undertake the development
and preparation of draft standards, which are then circulated to
Members for consultation (review and comment). Draft standards are
revised accordingly and are presented to WOAH's World Assembly of
Delegates (all the Members) for review and adoption during the General
Session, which meets annually every spring. Adoption, as a general
rule, is based on consensus of the WOAH membership.
The 91st WOAH General Session was held from May 26 to 30, 2024, and
the 92nd WOAH General Session was held from May 25 to 29, 2025. Both
General Sessions took place in Paris, France. The following are some of
the chapters adopted into code during the 91st and 92nd Sessions; visit
<a href="https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/">https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/</a> for a
full list of the current WOAH codes and manuals:
91st General Session--Terrestrial
<bullet> Glossary.
<bullet> Chapter 1.3., Diseases, infections and infestations listed
by WOAH.
<bullet> Chapter 4.6., General hygiene in semen collection and
processing centers.
<bullet> Chapter 4.7., Collection and processing of bovine, small
ruminant and porcine semen.
<bullet> Chapter 6.10., Responsible and prudent use of
antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine.
<bullet> Chapter 7.5., Animal welfare during slaughter.
<bullet> Chapter 8.8., Infection with foot and mouth disease virus.
<bullet> Chapter 8.16., Infection with Rift Valley fever virus.
<bullet> Chapter 8.18., Infection with Trichinella spp.
<bullet> Chapter 8.X., Infection with Coxiella burnetii (Q fever).
<bullet> Chapter 8.Z., Infection with Trypanosoma evansi.
<bullet> Chapter 13.2., Infection with pathogenic rabbit
lagoviruses (Rabbit haemorrhagic disease).
<bullet> Chapter 15.1., Infection with African swine fever virus.
<bullet> Chapter 16.Z., Infection with Camelpox virus.
92nd General Session--Terrestrial
<bullet> User's Guide.
<bullet> Chapter 1.3., Diseases, infections and infestations listed
by WOAH.
<bullet> Chapter 7.1., Introduction to the recommendations for
animal welfare.
<bullet> Chapter 8.13., New world screwworm (Cochliomyia
hominivorax) and old world screwworm (Chrysomya bezziana).
<bullet> Chapter 8.Y., Infection with Nipah virus.
<bullet> Chapter 11.5., Infection with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp.
mycoides SC (Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia).
<bullet> Chapter 12.1., Infection with African horse sickness
virus.
<bullet> Chapter 12.3., Dourine.
<bullet> Chapter 12.4., Equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern and
Western).
91st General Session--Aquatic
<bullet> Glossary.
<bullet> Chapter 1.1., Notification of diseases, and provision of
epidemiological information.
<bullet> Chapter 1.3., Diseases listed by WOAH.
<bullet> Chapter 8.1., Infection with Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis.
<bullet> Chapter 9.3., Infection with decapod iridescent virus 1.
<bullet> Chapter 10.1., Infection with epizootic haematopoietic
necrosis virus.
<bullet> Chapter: 10.6., Infection with infectious haematopoietic
necrosis virus.
<bullet> Chapter: 10.11., Infection with tilapia lake virus.
<bullet> Chapter 11.1., Infection with abalone herpesvirus.
<bullet> Chapter: 11.5., Infection with Perkinsus marinus.
92nd General Session--Aquatic
<bullet> Glossary.
<bullet> Chapter 4.X., Emergency disease preparedness.
<bullet> Chapter 4.Y., Disease outbreak management.
<bullet> Chapter 4.6., Contingency planning.
<bullet> Chapter 5.X., Movement of ornamental aquatic animals.
<bullet> Chapter 9.9., Infection with white spot syndrome virus.
<bullet> Chapter 10.X., Infection with Megalocytivirus pagrus1.
<bullet> Chapter 10.2., Infection with Aphanomyces invadans
(Epizootic ulcerative syndrome).
<bullet> Chapter 10.4., Infection with infectious salmon anaemia
virus.
<bullet> Chapter 10.5., Infection with salmonid alphavirus.
<bullet> Chapter 10.6., Infection with infectious haematopoietic
necrosis virus.
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<bullet> Chapter 10.8., Infection with red sea bream iridovirus.
<bullet> Chapter 10.10., Infection with viral haemorrhagic
septicaemia virus.
<bullet> Chapter 11.6., Infection with Perkinsus olseni.
<bullet> Chapter 11.7., Infection with Xenohaliotis californiensis.
More information on the standards currently under consideration and
how comments are solicited may be found at <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/international-standards/woah">https://www.aphis.usda.gov/international-standards/woah</a> or by contacting Dr. Conrad Estrada (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
IPPC Standard-Setting Activities
The IPPC is a multilateral convention adopted in 1952 to prevent
the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products and
to promote appropriate measures for their control. The WTO recognizes
the IPPC as the standard-setting body for plant health. Under the IPPC,
the understanding of plant protection encompasses the protection of
both cultivated and non-cultivated plants from direct or indirect
injury by plant pests. The IPPC addresses the following activities:
Developing, adopting, and implementing international standards for
phytosanitary (plant health) measures (ISPMs); harmonizing
phytosanitary activities through adopted standards; facilitating the
exchange of official and scientific information among contracting
parties; and providing technical assistance to developing countries
that are contracting parties to the Convention.
The IPPC is deposited within the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations and is an international agreement of 185
contracting parties. National plant protection organizations (NPPOs),
in cooperation with regional plant protection organizations, the
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), and the Secretariat of the
IPPC, implement the Convention. The IPPC continues to be administered
at the national level by plant quarantine officials, whose primary
objective is to safeguard plant resources from injurious pests. In the
United States, the NPPO is the APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine
(PPQ) program.
The 18th Session of the CPM occurred April 15-19, 2024, and the
19th Session of the CPM occurred March 17-21, 2025, in Rome, Italy.
The CPM adopted the international phytosanitary standards below in
2024 and 2025. The United States develops its position on each of these
draft standards prior to the CPM session based on APHIS' analyses and
other relevant information from other U.S. Government agencies and
interested stakeholders:
<bullet> ISPM 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms), 2022 revisions.
<bullet> Annex 1 to ISPM 37 (Determination of host status of fruit
to fruit flies (Tephritidae)): Criteria for evaluation of available
information for determining host status of fruit to fruit flies.
<bullet> Revision of ISPM 4 (Requirements for the establishment of
pest free areas) (2009-002).
<bullet> Annex 46 to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for
regulated pests): Phytosanitary Treatment 46, Cold treatment for
Thaumatotibia leucotreta on Citrus sinensis.
<bullet> Draft annex to ISPM 46 (Commodity-specific standards for
phytosanitary measures): International movement of fresh Mangifera
indica (mango) fruit.
<bullet> Draft annex to ISPM 39 (International movement of wood):
Use of systems approaches in managing the pest risk associated with the
movement of wood.
IPPC Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those Under Development
Several expert-working group (EWG) meetings, technical panel
meetings, and technical consultations took place from June 2023 through
May 2025 on the topics listed below. These IPPC projects are under
development and intended for future adoption and publication. APHIS
participated actively and fully in most of these drafting groups. APHIS
developed its position on each of the topics prior to the working group
meeting. The APHIS position was based on relevant scientific
information and technical analyses, including information from other
U.S. Government agencies and from interested stakeholders:
<bullet> EWG on the revision of ISPM 26 (Establishment of pest free
areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae)).
<bullet> EWG on the Annex to ISPM 23 (Guidelines for inspection):
Field inspection.
<bullet> Technical Panel on Commodity Standards.
<bullet> Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols.
<bullet> Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments.
<bullet> Technical Panel for the Glossary.
The IPPC electronic certification system (ePhyto) solution also
progressed from 2023 to 2025. There are currently 116 trading partners
that are connected and actively sharing ePhytos through the system;
APHIS continues to make important contributions to advancing the
development of an international ePhyto system, including: (1) Providing
ongoing input and support at the IPPC through the Bureau, Strategic
Planning Group, CPM, the ePhyto Steering Committee and other
international fora; (2) generating regional and hemispheric support for
this new electronic exchange through NAPPO and the Inter-American
Coordinating Group in Plant Protection (GICSV); and (3) actively
implementing a long-term funding solution that will be necessary to
sustain ePhyto into the future. For more detailed information on the
above, contact Stephanie Dubon (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
above).
PPQ actively works to achieve broad participation by States,
industry, and other stakeholders in the development and use of
international and regional plant health standards, including through
the use of APHIS Stakeholder Registry notices \2\ and the APHIS public
website. Plant health stakeholders are strongly encouraged to submit
topics for new IPPC standards and comment on draft standards,
documents, and specifications during the consultation periods.
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\2\ To sign up for the Stakeholder Registry, go to: <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new">https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new</a>.
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In 2023, 12 draft documents were open for consultation, including
standards, specifications, a CPM recommendation, diagnostic protocols,
and phytosanitary treatments. In 2024, 11 draft documents were open for
consultation, including standards, specifications, and phytosanitary
treatments. APHIS posts links to draft standards on its website as they
become available and provides information on the due dates for
comments.\3\ Additional information on IPPC standards (including the
IPPC work program (list of topics \4\)), calls for new standards,
experts to serve on technical panels and other working groups, proposed
phytosanitary treatments, the standard-setting process, and adopted
standards) is available on the IPPC website.\5\
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\3\ For more information on the IPPC draft ISPM consultation, go
to: <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/international-standards/plant-health-standards/draft">https://www.aphis.usda.gov/international-standards/plant-health-standards/draft</a>.
\4\ IPPC list of topics: <a href="https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/list-topics-ippc-standards/">https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/list-topics-ippc-standards/</a>.
\5\ IPPC website: <a href="https://www.ippc.int/">https://www.ippc.int/</a>.
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For the most current information on official U.S. participation in
IPPC activities, including U.S. positions on standards being
considered, contact Stephanie Dubon (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT above). Those wishing to provide comments on any of the areas
of work being undertaken by the IPPC may do so at any time by
[[Page 3415]]
responding to this notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by providing
comments through Stephanie Dubon.
NAPPO Standard-Setting Activities
NAPPO, a regional plant protection organization created in 1976
under the IPPC, coordinates the efforts among the United States,
Canada, and Mexico to protect their plant resources from the entry,
establishment, and spread of harmful plant pests, while facilitating
safe intra- and inter-regional trade. As the NPPO of the United States,
APHIS PPQ is the organization officially identified to participate in
NAPPO. Through NAPPO, APHIS works closely with its regional
counterparts and industries to develop harmonized regional standards
and approaches for managing pest threats.
This critical work facilitates the safe movement of plants and
plant products into and within the region. NAPPO conducts its work
through priority-driven projects approved by the NAPPO Executive
Committee via an annual work program. These projects are completed by
expert groups, including subject matter experts from each member
country and regional industry representatives. Project results and
updates are provided during the NAPPO annual meeting as well as NAPPO
governance meetings. Projects can include the development of positions,
policies, technical documents, or the development or revision of
regional standards for phytosanitary measures (RSPMs). Projects can
also include implementation of standards or other capacity development
activities such as workshops.
The PPQ Associate Deputy Administrator or their designee, as the
official U.S. delegate to NAPPO, intends to participate in the adoption
of these regional plant health standards and projects on the work
program once they are completed and ready for consideration.
The 46th NAPPO annual meeting was hosted by Mexico and occurred
December 5-7, 2023. The meeting featured several strategic topics
related to NAPPO's work program (e.g., seeds, forestry, implementation,
citrus, biological control, Tuta absoluta, and treatment alternatives),
as well as discussions on collaboration with other regional plant
protection organizations, sea containers, international plant health
standards, seeds, collaboration with border protection, and diagnostic
networks. The meeting also featured a one-day symposium on how the
NAPPO member countries are implementing the IPPC Strategic Framework
for 2020-2030.
The 47th NAPPO annual meeting was hosted by the United States and
occurred October 22-24, 2024. The meeting featured several strategic
topics related to NAPPO's work program (e.g., seeds, forestry,
biological control, the phytosanitary alert system, and Tuta absoluta),
as well as discussions on collaboration among the North America region
and with other regional plant protection organizations, and NAPPO
contributions to the IPPC. The meeting also featured a one-day
symposium on reducing methyl bromide use and implementing NAPPO
standards.
NAPPO governance committees, including NAPPO's Executive Committee
and the Advisory and Management Committee, as well as expert groups,
continue to communicate and meet virtually and in person on a regular
basis to actively make progress on NAPPO strategic and work program
initiatives. The PPQ Associate Deputy Administrator or their designee
is the U.S. member of the NAPPO Executive Committee. The NAPPO
Executive Committee met June 1, 2023; December 4, 2023; March 19 and
20, 2024; May 30, 2024; October 21, 2024; and February 26, 2025. The
NAPPO Executive Committee adopted three regional standards between June
1, 2023, and May 30, 2025:
<bullet> Revision of Discussion Document 5: Management of
Huanglongbing and its Vector, the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina
citri.
<bullet> Guidance Document 1: Standardization of responsibilities
and actions for safeguarding consignments that have transited one NAPPO
member country to enter another NAPPO member country.
<bullet> Decision 8: Decision on Diagnostic Protocols for Tomato
Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in tomato and pepper seeds in the
NAPPO region.
NAPPO's Advisory and Management Committee continues to regularly
meet virtually and in person. This Committee selects and onboards
experts to newly launched NAPPO expert groups; addresses pending work
program initiatives; makes recommendations to the Executive Committee;
provides day-to-day oversight of NAPPO; and provides expert input and
direction on financial, programmatic, and operational issues at NAPPO.
The NAPPO expert groups, including member countries' subject matter
experts, in collaboration with NAPPO's Secretariat, significantly made
progress on or finalized the following regional standards from June 1,
2023, to May 30, 2025:
<bullet> Completed the development or revision and consultation of
the following regional standards:
[cir] Revision of Discussion Document 5: Management of
Huanglongbing and its Vector, the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina
citri.
[cir] Guidance Document 1: Standardization of responsibilities and
actions for safeguarding consignments that have transited one NAPPO
member country to enter another NAPPO member country.
[cir] A draft specification for an RSPM on the use of systems
approaches for phytosanitary certification of seeds.
[cir] Decision 8: Decision on Diagnostic Protocols for Tomato Brown
Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in tomato and pepper seeds in the NAPPO
region.
<bullet> Issued via NAPPO's Phytosanitary Alert System: 82 Official
Pest Reports from June 1, 2023, to May 30, 2025.
New NAPPO Standard-Setting Initiatives, Including Those in Development
The 2025 work program \6\ includes activities conducted by NAPPO
expert groups and the NAPPO Advisory and Management Committee. APHIS
actively and fully participates in the development and approval of the
NAPPO work program. The APHIS position on each topic is guided and
informed by the best technical and scientific information available and
relevant input from stakeholders. For projects on the NAPPO work
program, where applicable, the United States will consider its position
on any draft standard after it reviews a prepared draft. Information
regarding NAPPO projects, assignments, activities, and updates on
meeting times and locations may be obtained from the NAPPO website \7\
or by contacting Stephanie Dubon (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
above).
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\6\ NAPPO work program: <a href="https://nappo.org/english/governance/work-program">https://nappo.org/english/governance/work-program</a>.
\7\ NAPPO website: <a href="https://nappo.org/">https://nappo.org/</a>.
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The information in this notice contains all the information
available to APHIS PPQ on NAPPO standards or projects under development
or consideration. For updates on meeting times and for information on
the expert groups that may become available following publication of
this notice, visit the NAPPO website or contact Stephanie Dubon (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
APHIS PPQ actively works to achieve broad participation by States,
industry, and other stakeholders in the development and use of
international and regional plant health standards,
[[Page 3416]]
including through the use of APHIS Stakeholder Registry notices \8\ and
the APHIS public website. Plant health stakeholders are strongly
encouraged to comment on draft standards, documents, and specifications
during consultation periods. APHIS post links to draft standards on the
website as they become available and provide information on the due
dates for comments.\9\ Additional information on NAPPO standards
(including the NAPPO work program, calls for projects, expert groups,
the standard-setting process, and adopted standards) is available on
the NAPPO website.\10\
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\8\ To sign up for the Stakeholder Registry, go to: <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new">https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new</a>.
\9\ For more information on NAPPO consultation: <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/international-standards/plant-health-standards/draft">https://www.aphis.usda.gov/international-standards/plant-health-standards/draft</a>.
\10\ NAPPO website: <a href="http://nappo.org">http://nappo.org</a>.
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For the most current information on official U.S. participation in
NAPPO activities, including U.S. positions on standards being
considered, contact Stephanie Dubon (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT above). Those wishing to provide comments on any of the areas
of work being undertaken at NAPPO may do so at any time by responding
to this notice (see ADDRESSES above) or by providing comments through
Stephanie Dubon.
Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd of January 2026.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-01546 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 27, 2026.
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