US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

19 U.S.C. § 2578b

Definitions

(a)

In general

As used in this part:
(1)

Agency

The term “agency” means a Federal department or agency (or combination of Federal departments or agencies).

(2)

Commissioner

The term “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

(3)

International standard-setting organization

The term “international standard-setting organization” means an organization consisting of representatives of 2 or more countries, the purpose of which is to negotiate, develop, promulgate, or amend an international standard.

(4)

Sanitary or phytosanitary standard

The term “sanitary or phytosanitary standard” means a standard intended to form a basis for a sanitary or phytosanitary measure.

(5)

International standard

The term “international standard” means a standard, guideline, or recommendation—
(A)
regarding food safety, adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, including a standard, guideline, or recommendation regarding decomposition elaborated by the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products, food additives, contaminants, hygienic practice, and methods of analysis and sampling;
(B)
regarding animal health and zoonoses, developed under the auspices of the International Office of Epizootics;
(C)
regarding plant health, developed under the auspices of the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention in cooperation with the North American Plant Protection Organization; or
(D)
section 4502 of this titlesection 3501(10) of this title established by or developed under any other international organization agreed to by the USMCA countries (as defined in ) or by the WTO members (as defined in ).
(b)

Other definitions

section 2575b of this titlesection 2575b of this titleThe definitions set forth in apply for purposes of this part except that in applying paragraph (7) of with respect to a sanitary or phytosanitary measure of a foreign country, any reference in such paragraph to the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to that foreign country.

Pub. L. 96–39, title IV, § 493Pub. L. 103–465, title IV, § 432108 Stat. 4972Pub. L. 116–260, div. O, title VI, § 602(f)134 Stat. 2154(, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–260section 4502 of this title2020—Subsec. (a)(5)(D). substituted “the USMCA countries (as defined in )” for “the NAFTA countries (as defined in section 2(4) of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2020 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–260, div. O, title VI, § 602(g)134 Stat. 2154

section 11 of Title 35section 2296b of Title 42“This section [amending this section, sections 2702 to 2703a, 3721, 3722, and 4362 of this title, , Patents, and , The Public Health and Welfare] and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

section 451 of Pub. L. 103–465section 3601 of this titleSection effective on the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement with respect to the United States (), except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .