. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/USA/2487 
19 December 2012  
 (12-6956) 
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 Food and Drug Administration  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Multiple 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:  Secondary Direct Food Additives Permitted in Food for 
Human Consumption; Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Final Rule  Language(s):  
English  Number of pages:  3 
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2012-12-04/pdf/2012-29279.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The US Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule 
amending the food additive regulations under Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations 
Part 173 for the safe use of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (CAS No. 25155-30-0) as an 
antimicrobial agent for use in wash water fo r fruits and vegetables without the requirement 
of a potable water rinse. 
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 stan dard?  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)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No G/SPS/N/USA/2487 
Page 2  
 
   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) :  4 December 2012 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  4 December 2012 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  4 December 2012 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  3 January 2013 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Submit either electronic or written objections a nd requests for a hearing by 3 January 2013. 
Submit written or electronic comments identified by docket number FDA-2011-F-0853, by 
any of the following methods:  Federal eRulemaking Portal:  http://www.regulations.gov . 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. 
Submit written submissions in the follo wing ways:  Fax:  301-827-6870  Mail/Hand 
delivery/Courier [for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions]:  
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers 
Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. 
Instructions:  All submissions received must include the Agency name and Docket 
No. FDA-2011-F-0853 for this rule making.  All submissions received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov  
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   United States 
SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Fore ign Agricultural Service, International 
Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  +(1 202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.s psenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov