Title 19Customs DutiesRelease 119-73

§2578 Notice of United States participation in international standard-setting activities

Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 13— - TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT OF 1979 › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (STANDARDS) › Part Part F— - International Standard-Setting Activities › § 2578

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President must pick one agency to tell the public about international sanitary and phytosanitary (health and plant safety) standard-setting work. By June 1 each year that agency must publish a notice in the Federal Register covering the period up to that date (the first notice covers the prior year). The notice must list standards being considered or planned and, for each, say what review is happening, whether the United States will take part, the U.S. agenda if any, and which U.S. agency represents the country. That agency must give the public a chance to comment and must consider those comments when participating or proposing items.

Full Legal Text

Title 19, §2578

Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The President shall designate an agency to be responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of each international standard-setting organization.
(b)Not later than June 1 of each year, the agency designated under subsection (a) with respect to each international standard-setting organization shall publish notice in the Federal Register of the information specified in subsection (c) with respect to that organization. The notice shall cover the period ending on June 1 of the year in which the notice is published, and beginning on the date of the preceding notice under this subsection, except that the first such notice shall cover the 1-year period ending on the date of the notice.
(c)The information to be provided in the notice under subsection (b) is—
(1)the sanitary or phytosanitary standards under consideration or planned for consideration by that organization;
(2)for each sanitary or phytosanitary standard specified in paragraph (1)—
(A)a description of the consideration or planned consideration of the standard;
(B)whether the United States is participating or plans to participate in the consideration of the standard;
(C)the agenda for the United States participation, if any; and
(D)the agency responsible for representing the United States with respect to the standard.
(d)The agency specified in subsection (c)(2)(D) shall provide an opportunity for public comment with respect to the standards for which the agency is responsible and shall take the comments into account in participating in the consideration of the standards and in proposing matters to be considered by the organization.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement with respect to the United States (Jan. 1, 1995), except as otherwise provided, see section 451 of Pub. L. 103–465, set out as a note under section 3601 of this title.

Executive Documents

Designation of AgencySecretary of Agriculture designated under this section as official responsible for informing public of sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of each international standard-setting organization, see par. (4) of Proc. No. 6780, Mar. 23, 1995, 60 F.R. 15847, set out as a note under section 3511 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

19 U.S.C. § 2578

Title 19Customs Duties

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73