G/SPS/N/USA/2511  
 
29 January 2013  
(13-0498)  Page: 1/2  
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 Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service 
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, poultry, or processed egg 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:  Ongoing Equivalence Verifications of Foreign Food 
Regulatory Systems  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  5 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPD E/rdad/FRPubs/2012-0049.pdf  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR- 2013-01-25/html/2013-01511.htm  
6. Description of content:  The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is describing 
the new methodology it is employing to conduct ongoing equivalence verifications of the 
regulatory systems of countries that export meat, poultry, or processed egg products to the United States. FSIS uses a three-part approach that includes: (1) Document 
reviews, (2) on-site system audits, and (3 ) port-of-entry (POE) reinspections. FSIS 
conducts document reviews at least yearly. FSIS conducts on-site system audits at least once every three years. FSIS determines the scope and frequency of on-site systems 
audits and POE reinspections through analysis of the results of its document reviews and 
an assessment of a country's performance. This performance-based approach allows FSIS to direct its resources to foreign food regulatory systems that pose greater risk to 
public health compared to others; make its international program more consistent with 
its domestic inspection system; and improve the linkage between POE reinspections and 
on-site audits. As a result, FSIS is able to effectively prevent unsafe imports from entering this country. 
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/2511 
 
- 2 - 
 
   
8. Is there a relevant international st andard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or seri al 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) :  To be announced. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  To be announced. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :  To be announced. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  26 March 2013 
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:   
FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be 
submitted by one of the following methods: 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to type short comments 
directly into the comment field on this Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments. 
Mail, including CD-ROMs: Send to Docket Clerk, US Department of Agriculture, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700. 
Hand- or Courier-Delivered Submittals: Delive r to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., 
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700. 
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency 
name and docket number FSIS-2012-0049. Comments received in response to this 
docket will be made available for public inspection and posted without change, including any personal information, to http://www.regulations.gov . 
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go to the FSIS 
Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. G/SPS/N/USA/2511 
 
- 3 - 
 
   
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
United States SPS National Notification Auth ority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1014, Washington D.C. 20250; Tel: +(1 202) 720 1301; Fax: +(1 202) 720 0433; E-mail: 
us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov