. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/MEX/191
24 January 2003
(03-0433)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  MEXICO
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Health
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited
with the WTO.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Meat
products processed in establishments engaged in the slaughter and preparation of animals
for the market, cutting, boning, packaging, storing and retailing.
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Any
trading partner marketing processed meat products.
5. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Mexican Official Emergency
Standard NOM-EM-006-SSA1-2002, Products  and Services.  Microbiological
Specifications for Products Processed in Establishments Engaged in the Slaughter andPreparation of Animals for the Market, Cutting Boning, Packaging, Storing and Retailing
(4 pages).
6. Description of content:   This Mexican Official Emergency Standard establishes the
microbiological specifications for products processed in establishments engaged in the
slaughter and preparation of animals for the market, and the cutting or boning, packaging,
storage and retailing of such products.
This Standard is mandatory for natural and legal persons involved in the slaughter
and preparation of animals for the market, and the cutting or boning, packaging, storage,
transport or retailing of meat products.
7. Objective and rationale: [   ] food safety,  [  ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pests or disease, [   ] protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:  Considering that meat
and meat products may carry numerous pat hogens when not processed under adequate
sanitary conditions, and in order to protect public health, it is necessary to establish
microbiological specifications for products processed in establishments engaged in the
slaughter and preparation of animals for the ma rket, cutting, boning, packaging, storing and
retailing.
The aforementioned standard is a preventive measure introduced to curtail the
misuse and abusive sale of products processed in abattoirs which might not comply with theG/SPS/N/MEX/191
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8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:  (cont'd)
microbiological specifications set forth therein, and hence might contain pathogenic
organisms which represent a serious public health risk.
In view of the above considerations, the Mexican Government, through the Ministry
of Health, issued the Mexican Official  Emergency Standard NOM-EM-006-SSA1-2002.
Products and Services.  Microbiological Specifications for Products Processed in
Establishments Engaged in the Slaughter and Preparation of Animals for the Market,
Cutting, Boning, Packaging, Storing and Retailing, pursuant to Article 48 of the Law on
Metrology and Standardization.
9. International standard, guideline or recommendation:
[  ] under the Codex Alimentarius Commission, [  ] under the International Office of
Epizootics, [ ] under the International Plant Protection Convention, [X] None
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Diario Oficial de la
Federación  (Official Journal) of 19 December 2002 (available in Spanish).
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This Standard shall enter
into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal and shall remain in
force for a period of six months from the day following its publication.
12. Agency or authority designated to hand le comments:  [X] National notification
authority, [  ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
13. Texts available from: [ X] National notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point or
address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Web site: www.economia.gob.mx/?P=85  (Standards catalogue)
E-mail:  cidgn@economia.gob.mx
Dirección General de Normas (General Directorate of Standards): (52+55) 5729 93 00
Ext. 4156. Fax: 5520 9715