G/SPS/N/USA/3004  
 
29 May 2018  
(18-3180) 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: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 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): Pork and pork products  
4. Regions or co untries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Eliminating Unnecessary Requirements for Hog Carcass 
Cleaning . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 4 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FSIS_FRDOC_0001  
https: //members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/USA/18_2625_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to 
amend the Federal meat inspection regulations by removing the provision requiring the 
cleaning of hog carcasses before any incision is ma de preceding evisceration. 
This provision, although focusing on the presentation of carcass dressing defects, impedes 
the adoption of more efficient, effective procedures under other regulations to ensure that 
carcasses a nd parts are free of contamination. Also, the provision is no longer necessary 
because other regulations require carcass cleaning, the maintenance of sanitary 
conditions, and the prevention of hazards reasonably likely to occur in the slaughter 
process.  
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 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) :  
[ ] 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/3004  
 
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  If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international stand ard:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 16 July 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
Roberta Wagner, Assistant Administrator, Office of Polic y and Program Development; 
Tel: +(202) 205 0495  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FSIS_FRDOC_0001