. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/USA/510
5 November 2001
(01-5432)
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).  Binders in certain standardized meat food products  Regions or countries
likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:           
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Use of Transglutaminase Enzyme
and Pork Collagen as Binders in Certain Meat and Poultry Products
5. Description of content: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending its
meat inspection regulations to permit the use of pork collagen and transglutaminase enzyme
(TG enzyme), in limited amounts, as binders in certain standardized meat food products.
FSIS also is amending its poultry products inspection regulations to permit the use of TG
enzyme, in limited amounts, as a binder in certain standardized poultry products.Additionally, FSIS is amending the meat and poultry inspection regulations to require that,
when TG enzyme is used to fabricate or reform cuts of meat or poultry, the resulting
product bear labeling to indicate that it has been formed from pieces of whole muscle meat,
or that it has been reformed from a single cut. FSIS is proceeding with this direct final rule
in response to petitions.
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 54912
31 October 2001 (available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  31 December 2001
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  31 December 2001G/SPS/N/USA/510
Page 2
11. Final date for comments: This rule will be effective 31 December 2001 unless FSIS
receives written adverse comments within the scope of this rulemaking or written notice of
intent to submit adverse comments within th e scope of this rulemaking on or before
30 November 2001.  If FSIS receives adverse comments, a timely withdrawal will be
published in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take effect
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 written adverse comments or written
notice of intent to submit adverse 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