. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/388
29 January 2001
(01-0455)
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:  Food and Drug Administration – FDA
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:  Food products
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Marking Requirements for and
Prohibitions on the Reimportation of Imported Food Products That Have Been RefusedAdmission into the United States(10 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend
the food import regulations to require food products which, for safety reasons, are refused
entry into the United States to be marked "UNITED STATES REFUSED ENTRY".  The
proposed rule would also prohibit persons from refusing to affix this mark on refused food,
from importing or offering to import a previously refused food, and from altering,
removing, tampering with, or concealing a mark.  The proposed rule is intended to protectthe public health against unsafe imported food products and to facilitate the examination of
imported products.
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: 66 FR 6502,
22 January 2001 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.
11. Final date for comments:  9 April 2001
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  Food and Drug Administration
[    ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Detailed instruction on where
and how to send comments is in the body of the full text - which will be sent upon requestto the address in paragraph 12.G/SPS/N/USA/388
Page 2
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. WilsonRoom 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov