. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/USA/2374 
16 May 2012  
 (12-2632) 
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;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Meat and poultry products 
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:  Food Ingredients and Sources of Radiation Listed and 
Approved for Use in the Production of Meat and Poultry Products  Language(s):  English  
Number of pages:  4 
 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-07/html/2012-10871.htm  
6. Description of content:  The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to 
remove sodium benzoate , sodium propionate, and benzoic aci d from the list of substances 
that the regulations prohibit for use in meat or poultry products.  Under this proposal, new 
uses of these substances in meat or poultry pr oducts would continue to  be approved by the 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and by FSIS for suitability.  FSIS would add approved uses of these substances to the list of approved substances contained in the 
Agencys directive system.  
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 G/SPS/N/USA/2374 
Page 2  
 
  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:    
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) :  7 May 2012 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Not applicable 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure Not applicable  
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  6 July 2012 
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:   
FSIS invites interested persons to submit relevant comments on this proposed rule. 
Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods: 
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:  This we bsite provides the ability to type short 
comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or attach a file for lengthier 
comments.  Go to http://www.regulations.gov .  Follow the online instructions at that site 
for submitting comments. 
2. Mail, including floppy disks or CD RO Ms, and hand- or courier-delivered items: 
Send to Docket Clerk, US Department of Ag riculture (USDA), FSIS, OPPD, Patriots Plaza 
3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3782, 8 163A, Washington, DC 20250 3700.  
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or el ectronic mail must include the Agency name 
and docket number FSIS 2011 0018.  Comments re ceived in response to this docket will be 
made available for public inspection and po sted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov . 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   United States 
SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Fore ign 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.