. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/USA/2371 
10 May 2012  
 (12-2523) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. 
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):  Poultry  
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:  Poultry Slaughter Inspection  Language(s):  English 
Number of pages:  31 
 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-26/html/2012-10111.htm  
6. Description of content:  The Food Safety and Inspection Se rvice (FSIS) is extending the 
comment period for the proposed rulemaking Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection and responding to questions and addressing issues  that have been raised 
concerning the proposed rule. The comment period was scheduled to close on 
26 April 2012, but has been extended to 29 May 2012. During the comment period, a coalition of consumer advocacy organizations  and two trade associations representing the 
poultry industry asked that FSIS clarify certain aspects of the proposed rule to help inform 
their comments. This document summarizes  the issues raised by these groups and FSIS 
response.  FSIS is also soliciting additiona l comments on how it should implement the final 
rule resulting from the proposal and requesting available data on any worker safety issues 
associated with in creased line speeds. 
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.    G/SPS/N/USA/2371 
Page 2  
 
  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:    
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) :  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) :  29 May 2012 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  Comments may be submitted by either of the following 
methods: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: This We b site 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. 
Mail, including floppy disks or CD ROMs, a nd hand- or courier-delivered items to:   
 Docket Clerk 
 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  FSIS, Docket Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3  355 E. Street SW, 8-163A, Mailstop 3782  Washington, DC 20250-3700.  
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name 
and docket number FSIS 2011 0012. Comments receiv ed in response to this docket will be 
made available for public inspection and post ed without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov . 
13. Texts available from:  [ ] 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:  
202-720-1301;  Fax:  202-720-0433;  E-mail:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov