Product Labeling: Definition of the Term “Natural”, 2257-2258 [07-192]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 11 / Thursday, January 18, 2007 / Notices DC 20250–0522; Telephone (202) 690– 4018; Electronic mail: cathyquayle@wdc.usda.gov. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Operating Loans; Policies, Procedures, Authorizations and Closings. OMB Control Number: 0560–0162. Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2007. Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection. Abstract: The information collected under OMB Control Number is 0560– 0162 is necessary to effectively administer the operating loan program in accordance with the requirements in 7 CFR part 1941 as authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Specifically, the Agency uses the information to evaluate loan making or loan servicing proposals, and to process loan closings. The information is needed to evaluate an applicant’s eligibility, and to determine if the operation is economically feasible and if the security offered in support of the loan is adequate. Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .12 hours per response. Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other for profit and farms. Estimated Number of Respondents: 51,466. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,176. Comments are invited on the following: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. These comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 and to Cathy Quayle, Senior Loan Officer, USDA, Farm Service Agency, Loan Making Division, 1400 Independence VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:52 Jan 17, 2007 Jkt 211001 Avenue, SW., STOP 0522, Washington, DC 20250–0522. Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Signed in Washington, DC on January 10, 2007. Thomas B. Hofeller, Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency. [FR Doc. E7–599 Filed 1–17–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS–2006–0040E] Product Labeling: Definition of the Term ‘‘Natural’’ Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of petition and public meeting; extension of comment period. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is re-opening and extending the comment period on a petition submitted by Hormel Foods on the voluntary labeling claim ‘‘natural’’ and on the broader question of how to define this claim. The original comment period closed on January 11, 2007. The Agency is taking this action in response to requests that were made at and after a public meeting that the Agency held on December 12, 2006, to discuss both the Hormel petition and issues associated with the claim ‘‘natural’’ in general. DATES: Comments are due by March 5, 2007. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site 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 https://www.regulations.gov and, in the ‘‘Search for Open Regu1ations’’ box, select ‘‘Food Safety and Inspection Service’’ from the agency drop-down menu, and then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select FDMS Docket Number FSIS–2005–0040 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related material available electronically. This docket can be viewed using the ‘‘Advanced Search’’ function in Regulations.gov. Mail, including floppy disks or CD– ROM’s, and hand or courier-delivered ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2257 items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250. Electronic mail: FSIS.regulations comments@fsis.usda.gov. All submissions received by mail and electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS–2006– 0040. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The comments also will be posted to the regulations.gov Web site and on the Agency’s Web site at https://www.fsis. usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_ Proposed_Rules_Index/index.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Post, Director, Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff, Office of Policy, Program, and Employee Development, USDA, FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250, (202) 205–3625, e-mail: Robert.Post@fsis.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 5, 2006, FSIS published a notice in the Federal Register that announced the receipt of a petition submitted by Hormel Foods requesting that the Agency amend the meat inspection and poultry products inspection regulations to establish a definition for the voluntary claim ‘‘natural’’ and to delineate the conditions under which the claim can be used on the labels of meat and poultry products (71 FR 70503). In the notice, FSIS gave the public until January 11, 2007, to submit comments on the petition and on issues associated with the claim ‘‘natural’’ in general. The notice also announced that, to facilitate the comment process, the Agency would hold a public meeting to discuss the petition. The public meeting was held on December 12, 2006. In the December 5, 2006, Federal Register notice, FSIS also announced that after the comment period for the petition closes, the Agency will initiate rulemaking on the ‘‘natural’’ claim. At, as well as after, the December 12, 2006, public meeting, FSIS received several comments requesting that the Agency extend the comment period provided in the December 5, 2006, Federal Register notice by an additional 60 days from the initial closing date of January 11, 2007. The comments were submitted by a representative of a food ingredient manufacturer, a trade association that represents flavor manufacturers and others with an E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES 2258 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 11 / Thursday, January 18, 2007 / Notices interest in the U.S. flavor industry, and a group of trade associations that represent the meat, poultry, and food processing industries. All of the comments stated that because the issues surrounding the claim ‘‘natural’’ are complex, interested parties need additional time than what was provided in the December 5, 2006, Federal Register notice to prepare thoughtful comments. The comments also argued that, to properly consider issues associated with the petition and the claim ‘‘natural,’’ stakeholders must have access to the information presented by both FSIS and the public at the December 12, 2006, public meeting. One comment stated that it is important that stakeholders have the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate possible changes to the definition or criteria for labeling a meat or poultry product ‘‘natural’’ to ensure that the industry is able to continue to market products that bear the ‘‘natural’’ claim and to ensure that these products meet consumer expectations. In addition to the reasons discussed above, the comments also argued that because the comment period includes the upcoming holidays, trade associations may have a difficult time collecting meaningful input from their members before the January 11, 2007, closing date. The comments also stated that the comment period falls during what is typically the busiest time of year for meat and poultry companies. One comment stated that FSIS gave little notice before the December 12, 2006, public meeting, and that interested parties lost time preparing comments for the public meeting and rearranging their schedules to attend the public meeting. FSIS agrees that the issues surrounding the labeling claim ‘‘natural’’ are complex, and that interested parties should have additional time to consider information presented at the December 12, 2006, public meeting. Therefore, to facilitate the comment process, the Agency has decided to re-open and extend the comment period until March 5, 2007. The transcript of the December 12, 2006, public meeting is now available on the FSIS Web site at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/ 2006_events/index.asp for viewing by the public. Therefore, this notice announces that the Agency is reopening and extending the comment period for the Hormel petition until March 5, 2007. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:52 Jan 17, 2007 Jkt 211001 ensure that the public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, are aware of this proposal, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/ regulations_&_policies/ 2006_Proposed_Rules_Index/index.asp. The Regulations.gov Web site is the central online rulemaking portal of the United States government. It is being offered as a public service to increase participation in the Federal government’s regulatory activities. FSIS participates in Regulations.gov and will accept comments on documents published on the site. The site allows visitors to search by keyword or Department or Agency for rulemakings that allow for public comment. Each entry provides a quick link to a comment form so that visitors can type in their comments and submit them to FSIS. The Web site is located at https://www.regulations.gov. 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 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 automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/ news_and_events/email_subscription/. 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 in Washington, DC: January 12, 2007. Barbara J. Masters, Administrator. [FR Doc. 07–192 Filed 1–12–07; 3:10 pm] BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Lolo National Forest—Butte Lookout Project Forest Service, USDA. Notice of Intent to prepare Environmental Impact Statement. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for timber harvesting, prescribed burning, road access changes, and watershed rehabilitation in a 12,000-acre drainage area near Missoula, Montana. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received in writing within 30 days following publication of this notice. Comments received during the initial scoping in December 2005, will be considered in the analysis and do not need to be resubmitted during this comment time period. Send written comments to Maggie Pittman, District Ranger, Missoula Ranger District, Building 24 Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59804. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Stadler, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Missoula Ranger District, as above, or phone: (406) 329–3731. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The responsible official who will make decisions based on this EIS is Deborah L. R. Austin, Lolo National Forest, Building 24 Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59804. She will decide on this proposal after considering comments and responses, environmental consequences discussed in the Final EIS, and applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision and reasons for the decision will be documented in a Record of Decision. In 1996, Missoula District completed an ‘‘ecosystem analysis at the watershed scale’’ for the South Fork of Lolo Creek watershed. Ecosystem analysis takes a look at the big picture and integrate projects to achieve long-term Lolo National Forest management goals and desired future conditions. This ecosystem analysis provided the basis for this proposed action. The proposed management action is to harvest and/or burn about 70 units totaling about 1,455 acres using one to five commercial timber sale(s), and to decommission around 27.9 miles of system and non-system roads. Of that 1,455 acre total, about 1,180 acres would be regneration harvested and/or burned and about 275 acres would be commercially thinned. Less than one ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM 18JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2257-2258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-192]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0040E]


Product Labeling: Definition of the Term ``Natural''

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of petition and public meeting; extension of comment 
period.

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

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is re-opening 
and extending the comment period on a petition submitted by Hormel 
Foods on the voluntary labeling claim ``natural'' and on the broader 
question of how to define this claim. The original comment period 
closed on January 11, 2007. The Agency is taking this action in 
response to requests that were made at and after a public meeting that 
the Agency held on December 12, 2006, to discuss both the Hormel 
petition and issues associated with the claim ``natural'' in general.

DATES: Comments are due by March 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site 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 https://www.regulations.gov 
and, in the ``Search for Open Regu1ations'' box, select ``Food Safety 
and Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, and then click 
on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select FDMS Docket Number FSIS-
2005-0040 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and 
related material available electronically. This docket can be viewed 
using the ``Advanced Search'' function in Regulations.gov.
    Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand or courier-
delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 
Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250.
    Electronic mail: 
FSIS.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.
    All submissions received by mail and electronic mail must include 
the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2006-0040. All comments 
submitted in response to this notice will be available for public 
inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The comments also will 
be posted to the regulations.gov Web site and on the Agency's Web site 
at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
2006_Proposed_Rules_Index/index.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Post, Director, Labeling and 
Consumer Protection Staff, Office of Policy, Program, and Employee 
Development, USDA, FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250, (202) 205-3625, e-mail: Robert.Post@fsis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 5, 2006, FSIS published a notice 
in the Federal Register that announced the receipt of a petition 
submitted by Hormel Foods requesting that the Agency amend the meat 
inspection and poultry products inspection regulations to establish a 
definition for the voluntary claim ``natural'' and to delineate the 
conditions under which the claim can be used on the labels of meat and 
poultry products (71 FR 70503). In the notice, FSIS gave the public 
until January 11, 2007, to submit comments on the petition and on 
issues associated with the claim ``natural'' in general. The notice 
also announced that, to facilitate the comment process, the Agency 
would hold a public meeting to discuss the petition. The public meeting 
was held on December 12, 2006. In the December 5, 2006, Federal 
Register notice, FSIS also announced that after the comment period for 
the petition closes, the Agency will initiate rulemaking on the 
``natural'' claim.
    At, as well as after, the December 12, 2006, public meeting, FSIS 
received several comments requesting that the Agency extend the comment 
period provided in the December 5, 2006, Federal Register notice by an 
additional 60 days from the initial closing date of January 11, 2007. 
The comments were submitted by a representative of a food ingredient 
manufacturer, a trade association that represents flavor manufacturers 
and others with an

[[Page 2258]]

interest in the U.S. flavor industry, and a group of trade associations 
that represent the meat, poultry, and food processing industries.
    All of the comments stated that because the issues surrounding the 
claim ``natural'' are complex, interested parties need additional time 
than what was provided in the December 5, 2006, Federal Register notice 
to prepare thoughtful comments. The comments also argued that, to 
properly consider issues associated with the petition and the claim 
``natural,'' stakeholders must have access to the information presented 
by both FSIS and the public at the December 12, 2006, public meeting. 
One comment stated that it is important that stakeholders have the 
opportunity to thoroughly evaluate possible changes to the definition 
or criteria for labeling a meat or poultry product ``natural'' to 
ensure that the industry is able to continue to market products that 
bear the ``natural'' claim and to ensure that these products meet 
consumer expectations.
    In addition to the reasons discussed above, the comments also 
argued that because the comment period includes the upcoming holidays, 
trade associations may have a difficult time collecting meaningful 
input from their members before the January 11, 2007, closing date. The 
comments also stated that the comment period falls during what is 
typically the busiest time of year for meat and poultry companies. One 
comment stated that FSIS gave little notice before the December 12, 
2006, public meeting, and that interested parties lost time preparing 
comments for the public meeting and rearranging their schedules to 
attend the public meeting.
    FSIS agrees that the issues surrounding the labeling claim 
``natural'' are complex, and that interested parties should have 
additional time to consider information presented at the December 12, 
2006, public meeting. Therefore, to facilitate the comment process, the 
Agency has decided to re-open and extend the comment period until March 
5, 2007. The transcript of the December 12, 2006, public meeting is now 
available on the FSIS Web site at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_
Events/2006_events/index.asp for viewing by the public. Therefore, 
this notice announces that the Agency is re-opening and extending the 
comment period for the Hormel petition until March 5, 2007.

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 proposal, FSIS will announce it on-line 
through the FSIS Web page located at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/2006_Proposed_Rules_Index/index.asp.
    The Regulations.gov Web site is the central online rulemaking 
portal of the United States government. It is being offered as a public 
service to increase participation in the Federal government's 
regulatory activities. FSIS participates in Regulations.gov and will 
accept comments on documents published on the site. The site allows 
visitors to search by keyword or Department or Agency for rulemakings 
that allow for public comment. Each entry provides a quick link to a 
comment form so that visitors can type in their comments and submit 
them to FSIS. The Web site is located at https://www.regulations.gov.
    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 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 automatic and customized access to selected food safety news 
and information. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_and_events/email_subscription/.
    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 in Washington, DC: January 12, 2007.
Barbara J. Masters,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 07-192 Filed 1-12-07; 3:10 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

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