Notice2026-10162
International Standard-Setting Activities
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 21, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentU.S. Codex Office
Abstract
This notice informs the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. This notice, which covers Codex activities during the period of May 27, 2025, to June 1, 2026, seeks comments on standards under consideration and recommendations for new standards.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29931-29933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10162]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S. Codex Office
[Docket No. USDA-2026-0166]
International Standard-Setting Activities
AGENCY: U.S. Codex Office, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting activities of the Codex
Alimentarius (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade
Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements
Act. This notice, which covers Codex activities during the period of
May 27, 2025, to June 1, 2026, seeks comments on standards under
consideration and recommendations for new standards.
ADDRESSES: The U.S. Codex Office (USCO) invites interested persons to
submit their comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by one
of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: This website 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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the on-line instructions at the website for
submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Codex Office,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop S4861, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
<bullet> Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400
[[Page 29932]]
Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or email are to include
the Agency name (i.e., USCO) and docket number USDA-2026-0166. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbaea8b8b4bfbea39baea8bfbaf5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6a3a5b5b9b2b3ae96a3a5b2b7f8b1b9a0">[email protected]</span></a> to schedule an appointment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Chao, Deputy U.S. Manager for
Codex Alimentarius, U.S. Codex Office, Office of the Under Secretary
for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, Washington, DC
20250-3700, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d383e2e222928350d383e292c632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c6b3b5a5a9a2a3be86b3b5a2a7e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>.
For information pertaining to committees, contact the U.S. delegate
for that committee. A list of delegates and alternate delegates is
accessible via the internet at: <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/us-codex-program-officials.pdf">https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/us-codex-program-officials.pdf</a>. Documents pertaining to
Codex and specific committee agendas are accessible via the internet at
<a href="http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/en/">http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/en/</a>. The U.S.
Codex Office also maintains a website at <a href="http://www.usda.gov/codex">http://www.usda.gov/codex</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1,
1995, as the common international institutional framework for the
conduct of trade relations among its members in matters related to the
Uruguay Round Trade Agreements. The WTO is the successor organization
to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). United States
membership in the WTO was approved and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act
(Uruguay Round Agreements) was signed into law by the President on
December 8, 1994, Public Law 103-465, 108 Stat. 4809. The Uruguay Round
Agreements became effective with respect to the United States on
January 1, 1995. The Uruguay Round Agreements amended the Trade
Agreements Act of 1979. Pursuant to section 491 of the Trade Agreements
Act of 1979, as amended, the President is required to designate an
agency to be ``responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting activities of each international
standard-setting organization'' (19 U.S.C. 2578). The main
international standard-setting organizations are the Codex Alimentarius
(Codex), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as
OIE), and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The
President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995, (60 FR
15845), designated the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the agency
responsible for informing the public of the SPS standard-setting
activities of each international standard-setting organization. The
Secretary of Agriculture has delegated to the Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs Mission Area the responsibility to inform the
public of the SPS standard-setting activities of Codex. The Trade and
Foreign Agricultural Affairs Mission Area has, in turn, assigned the
responsibility for informing the public of the SPS standard-setting
activities of Codex to the U.S. Codex Office (USCO).
Codex was created in 1963. Codex is the principal international
organization for establishing standards for food. Through adoption of
food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by
its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by
governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers, ensure
fair practices in the food trade, and promote coordination of food
standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-
governmental organizations. In the United States, U.S. Codex activities
are managed and carried out by the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA); the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS); the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC); the
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
As the agency responsible for informing the public of the SPS
standard-setting activities of Codex, the USCO publishes this notice in
the Federal Register annually. Attachment 1: Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Activities of Codex sets forth the following information:
1. The SPS standards under consideration or planned for
consideration; and
2. For each SPS standard specified:
a. A description of the consideration or planned consideration of
the standard;
b. Whether the United States is participating or plans to
participate in the consideration of the standard;
c. The agenda for United States participation, if any; and
d. The agency responsible for representing the United States with
respect to the standard.
To obtain copies of the standards listed in Attachment 1: Sanitary
and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex, please contact the U.S. delegate
or the U.S. Codex Office.
This notice also solicits public comment on standards that are
currently under consideration or planned for consideration and
recommendations for new standards. The U.S. delegate, in conjunction
with the responsible agency, will take the comments received into
account in participating in the consideration of the standards and in
proposing matters to be considered by Codex.
The U.S. delegate will facilitate public participation in the
United States Government's activities relating to Codex. The U.S.
delegate will maintain a list of individuals, groups, and organizations
that have expressed an interest in the activities of the Codex
committees and will disseminate information regarding U.S. delegation
activities to interested parties. This information will include the
status of each agenda item; the U.S. Government's position or
preliminary position on each agenda item; and the time and place of
planning meetings and debriefing meetings following the Codex committee
sessions. If you would like to access or receive information about
specific committees, please visit the web page or notify the
appropriate U.S. delegate or the U.S. Codex Office, Room 4861, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#423731212d26273a02373126236c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c292f3f333839241c292f383d723b332a">[email protected]</span></a>.
The information provided in Attachment 1: Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Activities of Codex describes the status of Codex
standard-setting activities by the Codex committees for the time
periods from May 27, 2025, to June 1, 2026. A list of forthcoming Codex
sessions may be found at: <a href="https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/en">https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/en</a>.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, the USCO will announce this
Federal Register publication on-line through the U.S. Codex web page
located at: <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/us-codex-office">https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/us-codex-office</a>.
(Authority: 19 U.S.C. 2578; Pres. Proc. 6780; 7 CFR part 2.602.)
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Done at Washington, DC, on May 18, 2026.
Julie Chao,
Deputy U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
[FR Doc. 2026-10162 Filed 5-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3420-3F-P
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