Availability of Question and Answer Documents, 31414-31415 [05-10790]

Download as PDF 31414 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 1, 2005 / Notices minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS web page located at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/ 2005_Notices_Index/. FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. The update is available on the FSIS web page. Through Listserv and the web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription service which provides an automatic and customized notification when popular pages are updated, including Federal Register publications and related documents. This service is available at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/ email_subscription/ and allows FSIS customers to sign up for subscription options across eight categories. Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to protect their accounts with passwords. Done at Washington, DC, on May 26, 2005. F. Edward Scarbrough, U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius. [FR Doc. 05–10876 Filed 5–31–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. 05–017N] Availability of Question and Answer Documents Food Safety and Inspection Service. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service is announcing the availability of two question and answer (Q&A) documents concerning FSIS Directives 5000.2 (‘‘Review of VerDate jul<14>2003 17:53 May 30, 2005 Jkt 205001 Establishment Data by Inspection Program Personnel’’), 6420.2 (‘‘Verification of Procedures for controlling Fecal Material, Ingesta, and Milk in Slaughter Operations’’), and 10,010.1, Revision 1 (‘‘Microbiological Testing Program and Other Verification Activities for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef Products and Raw Ground Beef Components and Beef Patty Components’’) (see ADDRESSES). The Agency is announcing the availability of these documents now because they contain information about Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, which is particularly relevant at this time because the United States is in the seasonal period when the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 may be higher than during other times of the year. ADDRESSES: The Q&A documents are available in Room 102, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250–3700, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. They are also available on the Internet at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/ fsisdirectives/10010_1/Ecoli_QA.pdf and https://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/ rdad/fsisdirectives/10010_1/ Directives_Q&A.pdf. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Regulations and Petitions Policy Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (202) 720–5627. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Significance of E. Coli O157:H7 and FSIS’ Actions To Address the Pathogen Exposure to E. coli O157:H7 has been linked to serious, life-threatening human illnesses (hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome). In the United States, outbreaks of human illnesses caused by foodborne E. coli O157:H7 infection have often been linked to ground beef. FSIS administers a regulatory program under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) to protect the health and welfare of consumers by preventing the distribution of meat products that are unwholesome, adulterated, or misbranded. In 1994, FSIS notified the public that raw ground beef products contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 are adulterated within the meaning of the FMIA (21 U.S.C. 601(m)(1)), unless the ground beef is further processed to destroy this pathogen. On January 19, 1999, FSIS published a policy statement in the Federal Register that explained that, if non-intact beef products (e.g., beef that has been mechanically tenderized by needling or cubing) or intact cuts of muscle that are to be further processed PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 into non-intact product prior to distribution for consumption are found to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, they must be processed into ready-to-eat product, or they would be deemed to be adulterated (64 FR 2803). In the October 7, 2002, Federal Register, FSIS informed the public that E. coli O157:H7 prevalence may be higher in April through September than during other times of the year, based on several studies and establishment testing data (67 FR 62332). Availability of Qs&As FSIS is making available two documents that include Qs&As concerning FSIS Directives 5000.2, 6420.2, and 10,010.1, Revision 1. The Qs&As address concerns that were raised by interested parties at public meetings conducted by FSIS in 2004. At those meetings, FSIS presented information on these directives to the public, particularly small and very small plants. The Qs&As regarding Directive 10,010.1, Revision 1, provide information on establishment verification testing for E. coli O157:H7, establishment controls for E. coli O157:H7, and establishment responsibilities in the event that the establishment finds raw beef product positive for the pathogen or positive in a screening test for the pathogen. The information concerning E. coli O157:H7 is particularly relevant at this time because the United States is in the seasonal period when the prevalence of this pathogen may be higher than during other times of the year. Based on information from the Qs&As, establishments may decide to take actions to improve their E. coli O157:H7 verification testing programs or their controls to address the pathogen. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS web page located at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/ 2005_Notices_Index/index.asp. FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 1, 2005 / Notices subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. The update also is available on the FSIS web page. Through Listserv and the web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which provides an automatic and customized notification when popular pages are updated, including Federal Register publications and related documents. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/ news_and_events/email_subscription/ and allows FSIS customers to sign up for subscription options across eight categories. Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their account. a long-term solution for making Federal payments to eligible States and counties in which Federal lands are situated. The Committee will consider the impact on eligible States and counties of revenues from the historic multiple use of Federal lands; evaluate the economic, environmental, and social benefits which accrue to counties containing Federal lands; evaluate the expenditures by counties on activities occuring on Federal lands, which are Federal responsibilities; and monitor payments and implementation of The Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106– 393). Dated: May 25, 2005. Timothy Decoster, Director, Legislative Affairs. [FR Doc. 05–10824 Filed 5–31–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Done at Washington, DC, on May 25, 2005. Barbara J. Masters, Acting Administrator. [FR Doc. 05–10790 Filed 5–31–05; 8:45 am] AGENCY: Tehama County Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: The Tehama County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Forest Service Red Bluff, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Introductions, Forest Counties Payments Committee (2) Approval of minutes, (3) Public Meeting Comment, (4) Project Proposals/Possible Action, (6) Vegetation Opportunities on AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. the Lassen, (7) General Discussion, (8) ACTION: Notice. County Update, (9) Next Agenda. SUMMARY: The Forest Counties Payments DATES: The meeting will be held on June Committee has scheduled a business 9, 2005 from 9 a.m. and end at meeting to discuss how it will provide approximately 12 p.m. Congress with the information specified ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at in Section 320 of the Fiscal Year 2001 the Lincoln Street School, Conference Interior and Related Agencies Room A, 1135 Lincoln Street, Red Bluff, Appropriations Act. The meeting is CA. Individuals wishing to speak or open to the public. propose agenda items must send their DATES: The meeting will be held on June names and proposals to Jim Giachino, 29, 2005, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and DFO, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, June 30, 2005, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. CA 95988. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the Georgetown Conference Room, 2nd Bobbin Gaddini, Committee floor at the Brown Palace Hotel, 321 Coordinator, USDA, Mendocino 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202. National Forest, Grindstone Ranger FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: District, P.O. Box 164, Elk Creek, CA Randle G. Phillips, Executive Director, 95939. 530–968–5329; e-mail Forest Counties Payments Committee, at ggaddini@fs.fed.us. (202) 208–6574 or via e-mail at SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The rphillips01@fs.fed.us. meeting is open to the public. Committee discussion is limited to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 320 of the Interior and Related Agencies Forest Service staff and Committee members. However, persons who wish Appropriations Act of 2001 created the Forest Counties Payments Committee to to bring matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements make recommendations to Congress on DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE VerDate jul<14>2003 17:53 May 30, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. Public input sessions will be provided and individuals who made written requests by June 6, 2005 will have the opportunity to address the committee at those sessions. Dated: May 23, 2005. James F. Giachino, Designated Federal Official. [FR Doc. 05–10789 Filed 5–31–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration [05–02–A] Opportunity for Designation in the Alabama, Essex (IL), Springfield (IL), and Washington Areas, and Request for Comments on the Official Agencies Serving These Areas Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Forest Service BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P 31415 Sfmt 4703 SUMMARY: The designations of the official agencies listed below will end in December 2005. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is asking persons interested in providing official services in the areas served by these agencies to submit an application for designation. GIPSA is also asking for comments on the quality of services provided by these currently designated agencies: Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (Alabama); Kankakee Grain Inspection, Inc. (Kankakee); Springfield Grain Inspection, Inc. (Springfield); and Washington Department of Agriculture (Washington). Applications and comments must be postmarked or electronically dated on or before July 1, 2005. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit applications and comments on this notice. You may submit applications and comments by any of the following methods: • Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver to Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, GIPSA, USDA, Room 1647–S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. • Fax: Send by facsimile transmission to (202) 690–2755, attention: Janet M. Hart. • E-mail: Send via electronic mail to Janet.M.Hart@usda.gov. • Mail: Send hardcopy to Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, Compliance Division, GIPSA, USDA, STOP 3604, DATES: E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31414-31415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10790]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 05-017N]


Availability of Question and Answer Documents

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service is announcing the 
availability of two question and answer (Q&A) documents concerning FSIS 
Directives 5000.2 (``Review of Establishment Data by Inspection Program 
Personnel''), 6420.2 (``Verification of Procedures for controlling 
Fecal Material, Ingesta, and Milk in Slaughter Operations''), and 
10,010.1, Revision 1 (``Microbiological Testing Program and Other 
Verification Activities for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef 
Products and Raw Ground Beef Components and Beef Patty Components'') 
(see ADDRESSES). The Agency is announcing the availability of these 
documents now because they contain information about Escherichia coli 
(E. coli) O157:H7, which is particularly relevant at this time because 
the United States is in the seasonal period when the prevalence of E. 
coli O157:H7 may be higher than during other times of the year.

ADDRESSES: The Q&A documents are available in Room 102, Cotton Annex, 
300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, between 8:30 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. They are also available on the 
Internet at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/fsisdirectives/10010_
1/Ecoli_QA.pdf and https://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/fsisdirectives/
10010_1/Directives_Q&A.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Regulations and 
Petitions Policy Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Significance of E. Coli O157:H7 and FSIS' Actions To Address the 
Pathogen

    Exposure to E. coli O157:H7 has been linked to serious, life-
threatening human illnesses (hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic 
syndrome). In the United States, outbreaks of human illnesses caused by 
foodborne E. coli O157:H7 infection have often been linked to ground 
beef.
    FSIS administers a regulatory program under the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) to protect the health and 
welfare of consumers by preventing the distribution of meat products 
that are unwholesome, adulterated, or misbranded.
    In 1994, FSIS notified the public that raw ground beef products 
contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 are adulterated within the meaning of 
the FMIA (21 U.S.C. 601(m)(1)), unless the ground beef is further 
processed to destroy this pathogen. On January 19, 1999, FSIS published 
a policy statement in the Federal Register that explained that, if non-
intact beef products (e.g., beef that has been mechanically tenderized 
by needling or cubing) or intact cuts of muscle that are to be further 
processed into non-intact product prior to distribution for consumption 
are found to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, they must be 
processed into ready-to-eat product, or they would be deemed to be 
adulterated (64 FR 2803).
    In the October 7, 2002, Federal Register, FSIS informed the public 
that E. coli O157:H7 prevalence may be higher in April through 
September than during other times of the year, based on several studies 
and establishment testing data (67 FR 62332).

Availability of Qs&As

    FSIS is making available two documents that include Qs&As 
concerning FSIS Directives 5000.2, 6420.2, and 10,010.1, Revision 1. 
The Qs&As address concerns that were raised by interested parties at 
public meetings conducted by FSIS in 2004. At those meetings, FSIS 
presented information on these directives to the public, particularly 
small and very small plants. The Qs&As regarding Directive 10,010.1, 
Revision 1, provide information on establishment verification testing 
for E. coli O157:H7, establishment controls for E. coli O157:H7, and 
establishment responsibilities in the event that the establishment 
finds raw beef product positive for the pathogen or positive in a 
screening test for the pathogen.
    The information concerning E. coli O157:H7 is particularly relevant 
at this time because the United States is in the seasonal period when 
the prevalence of this pathogen may be higher than during other times 
of the year. Based on information from the Qs&As, establishments may 
decide to take actions to improve their E. coli O157:H7 verification 
testing programs or their controls to address the pathogen.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the 
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line 
through the FSIS web page located at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations/2005_Notices_Index/index.asp.
    FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication 
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to our 
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, 
a free e-mail

[[Page 31415]]

subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, 
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific 
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. 
The update also is available on the FSIS web page. Through Listserv and 
the web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, 
more diverse audience.
    In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which 
provides an automatic and customized notification when popular pages 
are updated, including Federal Register publications and related 
documents. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_
and_events/email_subscription/ and allows FSIS customers to sign up 
for subscription options across eight categories. Options range from 
recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. 
Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the 
option to password protect their account.

    Done at Washington, DC, on May 25, 2005.
Barbara J. Masters,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-10790 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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