G/TBT/N/USA/2269

13 April 2026

(26-2861)

Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

Original: English

1.

Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Department of Agriculture (USDA) [2302]

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ ], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other [X]: To align grade standards with current industry practices; the proposed revisions would help ease the hardships currently faced by asparagus growers and better reflect the current marketing of frozen asparagus in the "cut spears or cuts and tips" style.

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Frozen asparagus; Fresh or chilled asparagus (HS code(s): 070920); Quality in general (ICS code(s): 03.120.01); Quality management and quality assurance (ICS code(s): 03.120.10); Vegetables and derived products (ICS code(s): 67.080.20); Prepackaged and prepared foods (ICS code(s): 67.230)

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access): United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Asparagus; (2 page(s), in English)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/USA/26_02021_00_e.pdf

6.

Description of content: Notice and request for comments - The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Asparagus by updating and defining new style requirements related to percent head material for the "cut spears or cuts and tips" style of frozen asparagus. In addition, AMS proposes to change the definition of a head when it applies to the "cut spears or cuts and tips" style. These changes would align the grade standards with modern harvesting practices and provide guidance for the effective utilization of this commodity. Copies of the current United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Asparagus are available at https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/frozen-asparagus-grades-and-standards.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: Consumer information, labelling; Quality requirements; Cost saving and productivity enhancement

8.

Relevant documents:

91 Federal Register (FR) 18389, 10 April 2026:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-10/html/2026-06966.htm

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-10/pdf/2026-06966.pdf

Revisions are proposed using the procedures described in Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 36.

This notice is identified by Docket Number AMS-SC-25-0520. The Docket Folder is available from Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/AMS-SC-25-0520/document and provides access to primary documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number.

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 9 June 2026

[ ] 60 days from notification

WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point by or before 4pm Eastern Time on 9 June 2026. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared with USDA and submitted to the Docket if received within the comment period.

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification:

Please submit comments to the USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point by E-mail: usatbtep@nist.gov