G/SPS/N/USA/3359  
 
25 November 2022  
(22-8792) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection 
Service (FSIS)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Bovine meat products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Use of a Non -Destructive Surface Sampling Device To 
Sample Domestic Beef Manufacturing Trimmings and Bench Trim . Language(s):  English . 
Number of pages:  4 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/22/2022 -25333/us e-of-a-non-
destructive -surface -sampling -device -to-sample -domestic -beef-manufacturing -trimmings -
and 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/federal -register -rulemaking/federal -register -notices/use -
a-non-destructi ve-surface -sampling  
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/FSIS -2022-0019.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/USA/22_8048_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  On 1 February 2023, the US Department of Agriculture, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in tends to stop using the N60 excision sampling 
method to sample domestic beef manufacturing trimmings and bench trim for adulterant 
Shiga toxin -producing Escherichia coli (E. coli)  (STEC) and Salmonella.  FSIS intends to 
replace the N60 excision sampling met hod with a non -destructive surface sampling 
method that uses a cloth manual sampling device. FSIS has found that the cloth sampling 
method is as effective as the N60 excision sampling method at recovering organisms in 
beef manufacturing trimmings. Addition ally, the cloth sampling method is faster and safer 
for FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) to use because it does not require IPP to use 
hooks or knives to collect samples. Moreover, the cloth sampling method allows FSIS to 
sample without destroying p roduct, which reduces food waste.  
The text of the Federal Register notice (87 FR 71291) published on 22 November 2022, 
can be accessed at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/22/2022 -
25333/use -of-a-non-destructive -surface -sampling -device -to-sample -domestic -beef-
manufacturing -trimmings -and. 
Dates  
FSIS will implement the cloth sampling on 1 February 2023, unless the Agency receives 
substantive comments that warrant further review. Submit comments on or before 
23 January 2023.  G/SPS/N/USA/3359  
 
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  Addresses  
FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be 
submitted by one of the following methods:  
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:  This website provides commenters the ability to type 
short comments directly into the comment field on the web page or to attach a file 
for lengthier comments. Go to https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the on -line 
instructions at that site for submitting comments.  
• Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, 
DC 20250 -3700.  
• Hand- or Courier -Delivered Submittals:  Deliver to 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350 -E, DC 20250 -3700.  
Instructions:  All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name 
and docket number FSIS -2022-0019. Comments received in response to this docket will be 
made available for public inspection and p osted without change, including any personal 
information, to https://www.regulations.gov . 
Docket:  For access to background documents or comments received, call +(202) 205 0495 
to schedule a time to visit the FSI S Docket Room at 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250 -3700.  
7. 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.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terre strial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/FSIS_N60vClothSampl
ing-RawBeefTrim_20221107_v2.7B.ppt  (available in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 February 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 22 November 2022  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 1 February 2023  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   G/SPS/N/USA/3359  
 
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  12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 23 January 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
For further information contact: Rachel Edelstein, Assistant Administrator, USDA FSIS 
Office of Policy and Program Development by telephone at +(202) 205 0495.  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body: