. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/USA/2489 
19 December 2012  
 (12-6967) 
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):  Unrefrigerated (as well as refrigerated)  uncooked meat, meat by-products, 
and certain meat food products (HS Code:  02) 
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:  Irradiation in the Production, Processing and Handling of 
Food  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  5 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docum entDetail;D=FDA-1999-F-4617-0001  
6. Description of content:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food 
additive regulations to provide for the safe u se of a 4.5 kilogray (kGy) maximum absorbed 
dose of ionizing radiation to treat unrefrige rated (as well as refrigerated) uncooked meat, 
meat by-products, and certain meat food produc ts to reduce levels of foodborne pathogens 
and extend shelf life.  This action is in respon se to a petition filed by the US Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS). 
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.    G/SPS/N/USA/2489 
Page 2  
 
   
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 
 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) :  30 November 2012 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  30 November 2012 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  30 November 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) :  31 December 2012 
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:   
You may submit either electronic or written obj ections and requests for a hearing identified 
by Docket No. FDA-1999-F-4617, by any of the following methods:  Submit electronic 
objections in the following way:  Federal eRulemaking Portal:  http://www.regulations.gov .  
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.  Submit written objections in the 
following ways:  Fax:  301-827-6870   Mail/H and Delivery/Courier (for paper 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-1999-F-4617 
for this rulemaking. 
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.