WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/USA/109
20January 1998
ORGANIZATION
(98-0197)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: UNITED STATES
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Department ofAgriculture, Food Safety andInspection Service
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Meat and
poultry
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Rules ofPractice (available in
English, 4pages)
5. Description ofcontent: TheFood Safety andInspection Service (FSIS) isproposing
toconsolidate andamend itsregulations concerning therules ofpractice thatapply to
refusal, suspension, orwithdrawal ofinspection services. FSIS isalsoproposing to
addspecific language regarding therefusal, suspension, orwithdrawal ofinspection
services when theAgency determines thatanestablishment ’sHazard Analysis and
Critical Control Point (HACCP) system isinadequate, anestablishment isnotmeeting
theSalmonella pathogen reduction performance standards, anestablishment ’sSanitation
Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOP’s)areinadequate orineffective, oran
establishment isnotcomplying withgeneric E.colitesting requirements. This
proposal ispartofFSIS’songoing efforts toconsolidate, streamline, andclarify the
meatandpoultry product inspection regulations.
6. Objective andrationale: Food safety
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: 63FR1797,
12January 1998; 9CFR Parts 304,305,327,335,381and500
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Tobedetermined.
./.G/SPS/N/USA/109
Page2
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: Thedateofentry intoforce willbeannounced when
thefinalruleispublished intheFederal Register.
11. Final date forcomments: 13March 1998
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments: Food Safety andInspection
Service, USDA
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
Attn: Carolyn F.Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel: (202) 720-2239
Fax: (202) 690-0677
E-mail: wilsonc@fas.usda.gov