. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/2155 
11 February 2011  
 (11-0721) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd 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 (FSIS), 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):  Veal calves and other livestock species 
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:  Non-Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves and Other Non-
Ambulatory Disabled Livestock at Sl aughter; Petitions for Rulemaking 
Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  4 
6. Description of content:  The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is requesting 
comments on two petitions for rulemaking subm itted to the Agency that raise issues 
associated with the disposition of non-ambulatory disabled veal calves and other non-ambulatory disabled livestock at slaughter.  The first petition, submitted by the Humane 
Society of the United States (HSUS), requests that FSIS repeal a provision in its ante-mortem inspection regulations that permits veal calves that are unable to rise from a 
recumbent position and walk because they are tir ed or cold to be set apart and held for 
treatment.  Such calves are permitted to proceed to slaughter if they are able to rise and 
walk after being warmed or rested.  The HSUS has petitioned FSIS to amend the 
regulations to require that non-ambulatory disabled veal calves be condemned and promptly and humanely euthanized.  The second petition, submitted by Farm Sanctuary, requests that the Agency amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to prohibit the 
slaughter of non-ambulatory disabled pigs, sheep, goats, and other amenable livestock.  In 
addition to requesting comments on the petitions, the Agency is clarifying its requirements for condemned non-ambulatory disabled cattle  at official slaughter establishments. 
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)   G/SPS/N/USA/2155 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] 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:  This 
document has been published in the Federal Regi ster and can be found at:  Federal Register 
Volume 76, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2011)][Pages 6572-6575]; from the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [FR Doc No: 2011-2504]; or on the 
FSIS internet site at 
"http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedir ect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPP
DE/rdad/FRPubs/2010-0041.htm " 
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   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  8 April 2011 
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 eRulemaking Portal:  This Web 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, and hand- or courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, US Department  of Agriculture (USDA), FSIS, Room 2-2127, 
George Wasington Carver Center, 5601 Sunn yside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705-5272. 
Instructions:  All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name 
and docket number FSIS-2010-0041.  Comments recei ved 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:  [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 1027, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  +(1 
202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.s psenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov