G/SPS/N/USA/2979/Add.1  
 
6 March 2018  
(18-1390) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 6 March 2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of  the United States of America . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection  
In response to requests from industry and consumer groups, FSIS is extending the comment 
period by 30 days for the Federal Register proposed rule, "Modernization of Swine Slaughter 
Inspection" (83 FR 4780, 1 Feb ruary 2018). The original deadline to submit comments was 
2 April 2018; the new deadline to submit comments is 2 May 2018.  
As FSIS explained in the proposed rule, FSIS has proposed to amend the Federal meat inspection 
regulations to establish a new inspection system for market hog slaughter establishments that 
provides public health protection at least equivalent to the existi ng inspection system. Market hog 
slaughter establishments that do not choose to operate under the new swine inspection system 
may continue to operate under their existing inspection system. The Agency also proposed several 
changes to the regulations that w ould affect all establishments that slaughter swine, regardless of 
the inspection system under which they operate or the age, size, or class of swine. These proposed 
changes would allow all swine slaughter establishments to develop sampling plans that are more 
tailored to their specific operations and thus be more effective in monitoring their specific process 
control. These proposed changes also would ensure that before the start of slaughter operations, 
food-contact surfaces are sanitary and free of enter ic pathogens.  
The proposed rule can be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/c17775a2 -
fd1f4c11 -b9d2-5992741b0e94/2016 -0017.pdf?MOD=AJPERES . Comments on the rule may be 
submitted online via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, available at http://www.regulations.gov ; by 
mail sent to Docket Clerk, US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 
Patriots Plaza III, Mailstop 3782, Room 8 -163A, Washington, D.C. 20250 -3700; or by h and or 
courier delivery to Patriots Plaza III, 355 E St. SW., Room 8 -163A, Washington, D.C. 20250 -3700. 
All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number 
FSIS-2016-0017.  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/USA/18_1230_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachme nts/2018/SPS/USA/18_1230_01_e.pdf  
This addendum concerns a:  
[X] Modification of final date for comments  
[ ] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force  
[ ] Other:  G/SPS/N/USA/2979/Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified 
measure in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new deadline for 
receipt of comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under 
other circumstances, such as extension of originally announced final date for comments, 
the comment period provided  in the addendum may vary.)  
[ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : 2 May 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:  
  
Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
https://www.fsis.usda.go v/wps/wcm/connect/c17775a2 -fd1f4c11 -b9d2-5992741b0e94/2016 -
0017.pdf?MOD=AJPERES  
 
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