. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/490
17 August 2001
(01-4037)
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:  Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable). Imported meat products   Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the
extent relevant or practicable:
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Addition of Slovakia to the List of
Countries Eligible to Export Meat Products Into the United States (3 pages)
5.Description of content: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to add
Slovakia to the list of countries eligible to export meat and meat products to the UnitedStates. Reviews by FSIS of Slovakia's laws, regulations, and other written materials show
that its meat processing system meets requirements that are equivalent to the relevant
provisions of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and its implementing regulations.
Under this proposal, meat products processed in certified establishments in Slovakia will be
permitted to be exported to the United States if these products are derived from cattle,sheep, swine, and goats slaughtered in federally inspected establishments in the United
States, or in certified slaughter establishments in other countries eligible to export meat to
the United States. All meat products exported from Slovakia to the United States will be re-
inspected at the U.S. ports-of-entry by FSIS inspectors as required by law.
6. 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           
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:  66 FR 42472,
13 August 2001, (available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determinedG/SPS/N/USA/490
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  Comments must be received on or before 12 October 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:  Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA
Detailed instruction on where and how to send comments is in the body of the full
text – which will be sent upon request to the address in paragraph 12.
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] 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
Tel:   (202) 720-2239
Fax:  (202) 690-0677
    E-mail ofsts@fas.usda.gov