. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1034 
23 February 2005 
 (05-0744) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  13012000 Gum Arabic 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  U.S. 
trading partners  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:    
Title:  Food Additives Permitted for Direct Addition to Food for Human  
Consumption; Acacia (Gum Arabic) Language:  English Number of pages (including references): 3 
6. Description of content:  FDA has issued a final rule to amend the food additive regulations 
in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations part 172 to provide for the safe use of acacia (gum 
arabic) as a thickener, emulsifier, or stabilizer in alcoholic beverages at a maximum use 
level of 20 percent. 
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. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  Final rule published in 
the Federal Register at 70 FR 8032 (availab le in English).  It can be found at 
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/ DOCKETS/98fr/05-3026.pdf . 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   17 February 2005 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   17 February 2005 G/SPS/N/USA/1034 
Page 2  
 
 12. Final date for comments:  21 March 2005 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
Submit written comments on the document to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-
305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fisher s Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 
U.S.A.  It is possible to submit electronic comments to: http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments
.  Submit comments by indicating DOCKET 
Number 2003F-0023 and Title of document, Food Additives Permitted for Direct Addition 
to Food for Human . 
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
U.S. Enquiry Point, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1027, Washington, DC 20250.  
Tel:  (202) 720-4051;  Fax:   (202) 690-0677;  E-mail:  fstsd@usda.gov .  Complete text can 
be also be found on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/05-
3026.htm  and insert Docket No. 2003F-0023.  For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm  and 
insert the Docket No. 2003F-0023 into the "Search" box and follow the prompts.