G/SPS/N/USA/2766  
 
22 June 2015  
(15-3209)  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 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): HS Code(s): 15; ICS Code(s): 67. Partially 
hydrogenated oils for use in human food 
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: Final Determination Regarding Partially Hydrogenated 
Oils; Notice; Declaratory Order  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 21 
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR- 2015-06-17/pdf/ 2015-14883.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/USA/15_2396_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Based on the available scientific evidence and the findings of 
expert scientific panels, the Food and Drug Administration has made a final 
determination that there is no longer a consensus among qualified experts that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), which are the primary dietary source of industrially-produced 
trans fatty acids (IP-TFA) are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for any use in human 
food. This action responds, in part, to citi zen petitions FDA received, and FDA is basing 
this determination on available scientific evid ence and the findings of expert scientific 
panels establishing the health risks associated with the consumption of trans fat. 
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 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:   G/SPS/N/USA/2766 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:     
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Affected persons must comply no later than 18 June 2018. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable. 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
For further information contact: Mical Honigfort, Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition (HFS-265), Food and Drug Admini stration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College 
Park, MD 20740; Tel: +(1 240) 402 1278, E-mail: mical.honigfort@fda.hhs.gov 
13. Text(s) 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  
Text is also available in the Federal Register, Vol. 80, No. 116, Page 34650 or at: 
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR- 2015-06-17/pdf/ 2015-14883.pdf