RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/87
12February 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-0512)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
PROCEDURE TOMONITOR THE PROCESS
OFINTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Submission bytheUnited States
Atitsmeetingof15-16October1997,theCommitteeadoptedaprovisionalproceduretomonitor
theuseofinternational standards (G/SPS/11). Inaccordance withparagraph 6ofthatprocedure, the
United States proposes thetwoissues attached fortheCommittee 'sconsideration.
_______________G/SPS/W/87
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PORK AND PORK PRODUCTS
Commodities affected: Pork andpork products
Disease/problem/issue: Chlortetracycline (CTC) residues
Isinternational trade significantly affected
because ofthisissue?Yes, trade inpork andpork products is
significantly affected. There isalsothe
potential tosignificantly affect trade incattle,
sheep, chicken, turkey andduck products.
Does there currently exist aninternational
standard forthisdisease/problem/issue with
these commodities?No
Ifso:
Briefly describe theexisting standard: N/A
Istheinternational standard
inappropriate?N/A
Description ofhow trade isaffected bythisissue andhow theissue canberesolved through
new orexisting international standards:
Ofthetetracyclines (CTC, Oxytetracycline andTetracycline), only Oxytetracycline hasaMRL
international standard. Inaneffort toharmonize standards forthetetracyclines, Codex iscurrently
considering oneMRL standard thatwould apply toeach ofthethree tetracyclines. However, the
draft MRL hasnotbeen finalized byCodex -Codex iscurrently atstep6ofthisprocess -and
therefore aformal international standard forCTC hasnotbeen set. JECFA plans toreconsider the
proposed tetracycline standards atitsFebruary 1998 meeting. JECFA isreconsidering thedraft
standards because ofnew scientific information thathasrecently been made available. The
Commission willthen reconsider theproposed standards atstep8atitsscheduled meeting inlate
June 1999. Because oftheimpact oninternational trade, itisimportant thatCodex move as
quickly aspossible tofinalize MRLs forCTC.
Some countries have notolerance ormaximum residue limit (MRL) inplace forCTC. However,
studies conducted toevaluate thetoxicology andresidue depletion profile ofCTC have
demonstrated thatitispossible toestablish aMRL forCTC thatissafeforhuman consumption.G/SPS/W/87
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CANNED/BOTTLED PRODUCTS -JAMS
Commodities affected: Canned/Bottled Products -Jams
Disease/problem/issue: Bacilli
Isinternational trade significantly affected
because ofthisissue?Yes
Does there currently exist aninternational
standard forthisdisease/problem/issue with
these commodities?Yes
Ifso:
Briefly describe theexisting standard: CODEX Standard 79-1981: Jams shall befree
from microorganisms inamounts which
represent ahazard tohealth
Istheinternational standard
inappropriate?No
Description ofhow trade isaffected bythisissue andhow theissue canberesolved through
new orexisting international standards:
CODEX standards forjamstate thatproducts should befreefrom microorganisms inamounts
which may represent ahazard tohealth. Thecurrent CODEX standard presupposes thatzero
tolerance isnotnecessary toeliminate health hazards. However, some countries have rejected jam
imports containing bacteria (Bacillus Cereus )without substantiating whether thelevel ofbacteria
present poses ahazard tohealth. This isinconsistent with theCODEX standard andappears tobe
anunnecessary trade restriction.
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