. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/376
8 January 2001
(01-0056)
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 - 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, whereapplicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Animal drugs
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Discussion Paper: An Approach for
Establishing Thresholds in Association With the Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in
Food-Producing Animals; Availability (2 pages plus discussion paper)
5. Description of content:  The Food and Drug Administra tion (FDA) is announcing the
availability of a discussion paper entitled "An Approach for Establishing Thresholds in
Association With the Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals (discussion
paper)".  This discussion paper reflects the Center for Veterinary Medicine's (CVM's)current thinking on one concept for establis hing resistance thresholds for antimicrobial
drugs used in food-producing animals.  The concept will be presented for discussion at a
public meeting on 22 to 24 January 2001.  CVM wants to receive comment on scientific and
policy issues regarding this concept, as well as suggestions for alternative approaches.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [  X ] 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 83070,
29 December 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/376
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  Submit written comments on this discussion paper by
9 April 2001.
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:  Instructions for commenting are in the full text of this
announcement.  The full text of this announcement and the discussion paper will be sent
upon request to 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 10271400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone:  (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
E-mail:  ofsts@fas.usda.gov