. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/281 
26 June 2007 
 (07-2678) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) (291) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:         
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Beef, Lamb, Pork, 
Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts (HS Ch 2:  1202; 0204; 1602.41; ICS:  
67.120; 67.040; 67.080; 67.100). 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Mandatory Country 
of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Peri shable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts 
(2 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:   The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the 
comment period for 60 days for the proposed rule for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agri cultural commodities, and peanuts that was 
published in the Federal Register on 30 Oct ober 2003 (68 FR 61944). AMS requests general 
comments on the proposed rule taking into  account that the Agency has changed 
corresponding definitions and requirements in th e interim final rule for fish and shellfish 
published in the Federal Register on 5 Oc tober 2004 (69 FR 59708). When preparing 
comments on the proposed rule, AMS asks that in terested parties consider the provisions of 
the interim final rule for fish and shellfish and whether the definitions and requirements in 
the interim final rule can also be applied to beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural 
commodities, and peanuts. The interim final ru le's definitions and requirements include, but 
are not limited to: Processed food item definition, country of origin notification, markings, and recordkeeping requirements. All affected  persons are hereby given notice of the 
opportunity to submit written data and views concerning the proposed rule. AMS will review and consider the submitted comments and information as it promulgates a final 
regulatory action for mandatory COOL for b eef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural 
commodities and peanut covered commoditi es. AMS is simultaneously reopening the 
comment period for the interim final rule fo r the mandatory COOL program for fish and 
shellfish covered commodities. G/TBT/N/USA/281 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of consumers and human health. 
8. Relevant documents:   72 Federal Register (FR) 33917  20 June 2007; Title 7 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 60.  Will a ppear in the Federal Register when adopted. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:   20 August 2007 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
Internet URLs: 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-
3029.htm 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/
07-3029.pdf