G/SPS/N/USA/2915  
 
15 December 2016   
(16-6827) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AME RICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: US Department of Agriculture, 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): Meat 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All tr ading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Inhumane Handling of Livestock in Connection With 
Slaughter by Persons Not Employed by the Official Establishment, Final Determination 
and Opportunity for Comments . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 3 
https://www.federalregister.gov/docume nts/2016/10/26/2016 -24754/inhumane -
handling -of-livestock -in-connection -with-slaughter -by-persons -not-employed -by-the-
official  
6. Description of content: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is announcing 
its intent to hold livestock owners, tra nsporters, haulers and other persons not employed 
by an official establishment responsible if they commit acts involving inhumane handling 
of livestock in connection with slaughter when on the premises of an official 
establishment. The Agency intends to in itiate civil or criminal action, in appropriate 
circumstances, against individuals not employed by an official establishment, if these 
individuals handle livestock inhumanely in connection with slaughter when on the official 
premises. FSIS believes these a ctions will further improve the welfare of livestock 
handled in connection with slaughter by ensuring that all persons that inhumanely 
handle livestock in connection with slaughte r are held accountable. The Federal Register 
document designates 24 January 2 017 as the date FSIS intends to implement the 
actions discussed in the document, unless FSIS receives comments that demonstrate a 
need to revise this date.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [ ]  animal health, [ ]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect h umans 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.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :   G/SPS/N/USA/2915  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the r elevant 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:     
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 24 January 2017  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 26 October 2016  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 24 January 2017  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for co mments: [ ]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 24 January 2017  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ]  National Notification 
Authority, [ ]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail ad dress 
(if available) of other body:  
For further information contact: Daniel L. Engeljohn, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator, 
Office of Policy and Program Development, FSIS, USDA; Tel: +(202) 205 0495  
13. Text(s)  available from: [X]  National Notification Aut hority, [ ]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 10 14, Washington D.C. 
20250; Tel: +(1 202) 720 1301; Fax: +(1 202) 720 0433; E -mail: 
us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov