WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/USA/96
10November 1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-4907)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: UNITED STATES
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Department ofAgriculture, Food Safety andInspection Service
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Sheep, goats,
equine, ducks, geese andguineas
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Generic E.ColiTesting forSheep,
Goats, Equine, Ducks, Geese andGuineas (available inEnglish -6pages)
5. Description ofcontent: TheFood Safety andInspection Service (FSIS) isproposing
torequire establishments slaughtering sheep, goats, horses, mules, andother equines,
andestablishments slaughtering ducks, geese, andguineas tosample andtestcarcasses
forgeneric E.coli. Thisproposal extends thesampling andtesting requirements
already applied toestablishments thatslaughter cattle, swine, chickens andturkeys.
Regular microbial testing byslaughter establishments isnecessary toverify the
adequacy oftheestablishment ’sprocess controls fortheprevention andremoval of
fecalcontamination andassociated bacteria.
6. Objective andrationale: Food safety
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: 62FR59305,
3November 1997
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Tobedetermined
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: Thedateofentry intoforce willbeannounced when
theFinal Ruleispublished intheFederal Register.
./.G/SPS/N/USA/96
Page2
11. Final date forcomments: 2January 1998
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments: Food Safety andInspection
Service, USDA
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:
United States SPSEnquiry Point:
USDA/FAS/FSTSD
ATTN: Carolyn F.Wilson
Room 5545 South Agriculture Building
Stop1027
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone (202) 720-2239
Fax(202) 690-0677
E-mail Address: wilsonc@fas.usda.gov