. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/509 
21 December 2009  
 (09-6644) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
  
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)  (517) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Food containers  
(ICS 67.230, 67.250) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  United States Standards 
for Condition of Food Containers (13 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:  The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the 
regulations governing the United States (U.S.)  Standards for Condition of Food Containers. 
AMS regularly reviews standards to determine if they meet cu rrent industry practices. Based 
on our most recent review, we believe that  the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food 
Containers needs to be revised. The revisions ar e necessary in order to provide standards that 
reflect current industry practices. Revisions to the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food 
Containers include simplifying Tables I, I-A, II, II-A, III, III-A, and III-B for sampling plans 
for normal, tightened, and reduced condition of container inspection to reflect the type of 
sampling plan used (single or double). It also includes updating the Acceptable Quality Levels 
(AQLs), Tables IV--Metal Containers, V--Glass Containers, VI--Rigid and Semirigid Containers, VII--Flexible Containe rs (Plastic, Cello, Paper, Textil e, etc.), and X--Defects of 
Label, Marking, or Code (currently Table VIII) to incorporate ne w defects and updating 
current defects to include defects that would correspond to new packaging technologies such 
as aseptic packaging, metal cans with easy open lids, and plastic rings that hold several 
containers together. This revision also proposes  adding new defect ta bles entitled Table VIII--
Unitizing (Plastic or other ty pe of casing/unitizing) and Tabl e IX--Interior Can Defects. 
Finally, removing the Operating Characterist ic (OC) curves for on-line sampling and 
inspection. Other minor non-subst antive changes ar e also proposed. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of consumers and human health  G/TBT/N/USA/509 
Page 2  
 
   
8. Relevant documents:   74 Federal Register (FR) 59920, 19 November 2009; Title 7 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 42. Will appear  in the Federal Register when adopted. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }  To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  19 January 2010 
11. Text available from: National enquiry po int [ X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addres ses, if available of the other body:    
Internet URLs: 
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-27430.htm  
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-27430.pdf