. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/230
24 February 2000
(00-0685)
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:  US Food and Drug Administration
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:  Trans Fatty Acids
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Food Labeling: Trans Fatty Acids
in Nutrition Labeling, Nutrient Content Claims, and Health Claims.(79 pages plus 2 pageaddendum).
5. Description of content:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend
its regulations on nutrition labeling (previously notified as TBT/Notif.99.0607) to require
that the amount of trans fatty acids present in a food, including dietary supplements, be
included in the amount and percent Daily Value (%DV) declared for saturated fatty acids.
FDA is proposing that when trans fatty acids are present, the declaration of saturated fatty
acids shall bear a symbol that refers to a footnote at the bottom of the nutrition label thatstates the number of grams of trans fatty acids present in a serving of the product.  FDA also
is proposing that, wherever saturated fat limits are placed on nutrient content claims, health
claims, or disclosure and disqualifying levels, the amount of trans fatty acids be limited as
well.  In addition, the agency is proposing to define the nutrient content claim for ``trans fat
free.''  This proposal responds, in part, to a citizen petition on trans fatty acids in food
labeling from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).  This action also is being
taken to prevent misleading claims and to provide information to assist consumers inmaintaining healthy dietary practices.
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 [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations: This proposal takes into account
recommendations of a joint Food and Agricultu re Organization/World Health Organization
(FAO/WHO) consultation addressing trans fatty acids.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 64 FR 62746,
17 November 1999;  Addendum on comment period 65 FR 7806, 16 February 2000;Available in English.G/SPS/N/USA/230
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  The date of entry into force will be announced when
the final rule is published in the Federal Register.
11. Final date for comments:  The original comment period ended 15 February 2000.  The
addendum reopens and extends the comment period 60 days to 17 April 2000.
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 request to theaddress in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] 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 BuildingStop 1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20250
Phone:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov