G/TBT/N/USA/2103  
12 March 2024  
(24-2241) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Department of Agriculture (USDA) [2134]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the  notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other  [X]: Organic regulations do not currently include standards specific to mushrooms 
and pet food, which are developing markets that would benefit from clearer standards to 
facilitate and promote growth.  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Organic 
mushrooms and organic pet food; Animal feeding stuffs (ICS code(s): 65.120); Food 
products in general (ICS code(s): 67.040)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  National Organic 
Program; Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food; (17 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Proposed rule - The Uni ted States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the USDA organic 
regulations to clarify standards for organic mushrooms and organic pet food. Specific 
standards for these products do not currently exist. I nstead, these products have been 
certified organic using the general organic standards for crops, livestock, and handling. 
However, this approach is not ideal as the current regulations do not address unique 
aspects of either product. AMS expects this rule  would promote development of these 
markets by increasing regulatory certainty that would, in turn, encourage investment in 
the markets. The topics addressed by the proposed rule include sourcing of substrate and 
spawn in organic mushroom production, compo sting requirements for organic mushroom 
production, composition and labeling requirements for organic pet food, and the use of 
certain synthetic substances in organic pet food.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information, labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection; Cost saving and productivity enhancement  
8. Relevant documents:   
89 Federal Register (FR) 17322, 11 March 2024; Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
Part 205:  G/TBT/N/USA/2103  
 
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  https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-03-11/html/2024 -04973.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-03-11/pdf/2024 -04973.pdf  
This proposed rule is identified by Docket Number AMS -NOP-22-0063. The Docket Folder 
is available from Reg ulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/AMS -NOP-22-
0063/document  and provides access to primary documents as well as comments received. 
Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching the Doc ket Number. 
WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT 
Enquiry Point  by or before 4pm Eastern Time  on 10 May 2024. Comments received by 
the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and thei r stakeholders will be shared with 
AMS and will also be submitted to the Docket  on Regulations.gov if received within the 
comment period.  
9. Prop osed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  10 May 2024  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_0197 9_00_e.pdf