. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/220
8 February 2000
(00-0468)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable).
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Meat
and poultry
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Food Additives for Use in Meat and
Poultry Products: Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Lactate and Potassium Lactate
(3 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the
Federal meat and poultry products inspection regulations to increase permissible levels of
sodium acetate as a flavor enhancer in meat and poultry products and of sodium diacetate as
a flavor enhancer and as an inhibitor of the growth of certain pathogens. FSIS is alsopermitting the use of sodium lactate and potassium lactate in meat and poultry products,
except for infant formulas and infant food, for purposes of inhibiting the growth of certain
pathogens. FSIS is proceeding with this direct final rule in response to petitions.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [    ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from other
damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  65 FR 3121,
20 January 2000;  9 CFR Part 424 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  See paragraph 10
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  This rule will be effective 20 March 2000 unless FSIS
receives written adverse comments within the scope of this rulemaking or written notice of
intent to submit adverse comments within th e scope of this rulemaking on or before
22 February 2000G/SPS/N/USA/220
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  22 February 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:  Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA
Detailed instruction on where and how to send comments is in the body of the full text -
which will be sent upon request to the address in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
United States SPS Enquiry Point/Notification Authority
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F. Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax (202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: ofsts@fas.usda.gov