. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/274
9 May 2000
(00-1881)
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:  Food and color additives
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Improving Premarket Review and
Approval of Food and Color Additives in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition;
Request for Comments (2 pages)
5. Description of content:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting public
comment on ways to improve the process of premarket review and approval of food and
color additive petitions by FDA's Center fo r Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).
CFSAN received substantial new resources for fiscal year 2000 targeted to the premarket
review of petitions for approval of new uses of food and color additives.  This document is
being published to give all interested parties an opportunity to comment on how these new
resources may best be applied to address public health issues related to the timely approval
and safe use of food and color additives.  CFSAN will consider administrative and
procedural enhancements to ensure that programme goals are met while maintaining high
standards of safety and scientific credibility.
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 26215,
5 May 2000 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined.G/SPS/N/USA/274
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  19 July 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 requestto 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