G/SPS/N/USA/2786  
 
21 September 2015  
(15-4854)  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: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA 
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): Meat (beef and beef products only) 
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: Eligibility of Namibia to Export Meat Products to the 
United States  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 5 
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR- 2015-09-18/html/2015-23455.htm  
6. Description of content: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to 
add Namibia to the list of countries whose meat inspection system is equivalent to the system that the United States has established under the Federal Meat Inspect Act 
(FMIA) and its implementing regulations. FSIS's review of Namibia's laws, regulations, 
and inspection implementation show this to be the case. At this time, because Namibia advised FSIS that it intends to export only boneless (not ground) raw beef products, 
such as primal cuts, chuck, blade, and beef trimmings to the United States, FSIS has 
only assessed Namibia's inspection system with respect to beef. Thus, should this rule become final, Namibia would need to submit additional information for FSIS to review 
before FSIS would allow Namibia to export product from other types of livestock to the 
US. All products that Namibia exports to the US will be subject to re-inspection at United States ports of entry by FSIS inspectors. 
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 st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
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?   G/SPS/N/USA/2786 
 
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  [ ] 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 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) : 17 November 2015 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
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 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, etc.: Send to Dock et 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: Deliver 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-2012-0028. 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 . 
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  Authority, 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