. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/514
7 November 2001
(01-5491)
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).  Ground beef  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent
relevant or practicable:
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document: Availability of and Request for
Comment on FSIS Draft Risk  Assessment for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ground Beef
(5 pages plus Draft Risk Assessment).
5. Description of content: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the
availability of, and requesting public comment on, its draft risk assessment for Escherichiacoli (E. coli) O157:H7 in ground beef.  Meanwhile, the Agency is seeking scientific peer
review of the draft risk assessment from the National Academies of Science.  The document
will be revised with comments from that review.  FSIS conducted this assessment to assist
in reviewing and refining its integrated risk reduction strategy for E. coli O157:H7 in beef.
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 55912,
5 November 2001 (available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determinedG/SPS/N/USA/514
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  4 January 2002
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 submit 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: [     ] 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 Building
Stop 10271400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20250
Tel:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
    E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov