. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/2171 
7 March 2011  
 (11-1114) 
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:  United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service 
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):  Catfish and catfish 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:  PROPOSED RULE:   Mandatory Inspection of Catfish 
and Catfish Products  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  35 
6. Description of content:  The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing 
regulations requiring continuous inspection of  catfish and catfish products.  FSIS is 
proposing these regulations to implement provisi ons of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act (Farm Bill) of 2008.  The proposed regula tions are intended to ensure that catfish 
products distributed in commerce are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labelled, and packaged. 
The new law requires USDA to define "catfish " for the new programme, and to take into 
account the conditions under which catfish are raised and transported to processing 
establishments.  The proposed rule anticipat es a transition period during which domestic 
and international operations will come into  compliance with the catfish inspection 
programme. 
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)    G/SPS/N/USA/2171 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] 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 37 (Thursday, 24 February 2011, Pages 10434-10469) or online at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/2011-3726.htm
 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Final Rule - To be determined. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :    
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  24 June 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 Website provides the ability to type short comments 
directly into the comment field on this web pa ge 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, U.S. Department of Agri culture (USDA), FSIS, Room 2-2127, George 
Wasington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside  Avenue, Beltsville , MD 20705-5272. 
Instructions:  All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name 
and docket number FSIS-2008-0031.  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