Secondary Direct Food Additives Permitted in Food for Human Consumption, 67572-67576 [E7-23182]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 229 / Thursday, November 29, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
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BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 2006F–0409]
Secondary Direct Food Additives
Permitted in Food for Human
Consumption
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Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is amending the
food additive regulations to expand the
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conditions for the safe use of
cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as an
antimicrobial agent in a pre-chiller or
post-chiller solution for application to
raw poultry carcasses. This action is in
response to a petition filed by Safe
Foods Corp. (Safe Foods).
This rule is effective November
29, 2007. Submit written or electronic
objections and requests for a hearing by
December 31, 2007. See section VIII of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this
document for information on the filing
of objections. The Director of the Office
of the Federal Register approves the
incorporation by reference in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1
CFR part 51 of certain publications in 21
CFR 173.375(a) as of November 29,
2007.
DATES:
21 CFR Part 173
You may submit written or
electronic objections and requests for a
ADDRESSES:
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AGENCY:
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hearing, identified by Docket No.
2006F–0409, by any of the following
methods:
Electronic submissions
Submit electronic objections in the
following ways:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Agency Web site: https://
www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments.
Follow the instructions for submitting
comments on the agency Web site.
Written Submissions
Submit written objections in the
following ways:
• FAX: 301–827–6870.
• Mail/Hand delivery/Courier [For
paper, disk, or CD–ROM submissions]:
Division of Dockets Management (HFA–
305), Food and Drug Administration,
5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville,
MD 20852.
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To ensure more timely processing of
objections, FDA is no longer accepting
objections submitted to the agency by email. FDA encourages you to continue
to submit electronic objections by using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal or the
agency Web site, as described in the
Electronic Submissions portion of this
paragraph.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number for this rulemaking. All
objections received may be posted
without change to https://www.fda.gov/
ohrms/dockets/default.htm, including
any personal information provided. For
detailed instructions on submitting
objections, see the ‘‘Objections’’ heading
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
objections received, go to https://
www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/
default.htm and insert the docket
number, found in brackets in the
heading of this document, into the
‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts
and/or go to the Division of Dockets
Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm.
1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Raphael A. Davy, Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition (HFS–265), Food
and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint
Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740,
301–436–1272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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I. Background
In a notice published in the Federal
Register of October 25, 2006 (71 FR
62475), FDA announced that a food
additive petition (FAP 6A4767) had
been filed by Safe Foods Corp., c/o
Keller and Heckman LLP, 1001 G St.
NW., suite 500 West, Washington, DC
20001. The petition proposed to amend
the food additive regulations in
§ 173.375 Cetylpyridinium chloride (21
CFR 173.375) to expand the conditions
for the safe use of CPC as an
antimicrobial agent applied in a prechiller or post-chiller solution to raw
poultry carcasses.
CPC is currently approved under
§ 173.375 for use as an antimicrobial
agent to treat the surface of raw poultry
carcasses prior to immersion in a chiller
when applied as a fine mist spray at a
level not to exceed 0.3 grams CPC per
pound of raw poultry carcass. As
conditions of safe use, the solution must
contain food grade propylene glycol
(PG) at a concentration of 1.5 times that
of the CPC, and the solution must be
used in systems that collect and recycle
solution that is not carried out of the
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system with the treated poultry
carcasses.
Safe Foods initially petitioned for the
use of a solution containing up to 1
percent CPC and PG at a level 1.5 times
that of CPC as a liquid aqueous stream
for either pre- or post-chiller application
without a limit on the amount of CPC
applied per carcass. When application
of the CPC solution is not followed by
immersion in a chiller, the treatment
would be followed by a potable water
rinse of the carcass. Safe Foods
subsequently amended their petition by
decreasing the maximum concentration
of CPC in the treatment solution from 1
percent to 0.8 percent. As discussed in
section II of this document, to mitigate
concerns associated with residual PG in
the treated poultry becoming a
component of animal feed, in particular
cat food, Safe Foods also proposed a
maximum limit of 5 gallons of solution
per carcass and a minimum of 99
percent recovery of the applied
solution.1
II. Determination of Safety
Under the general safety standard in
section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 348), a food
additive cannot be approved for a
particular use unless a fair evaluation of
the data available to FDA establishes
that the additive is safe for that use.
FDA’s food additive regulations (21 CFR
170.3(i)) define ‘‘safe’’ as ‘‘a reasonable
certainty in the minds of competent
scientists that the substance is not
harmful under the intended conditions
of use.’’
To establish with reasonable certainty
that a food additive is not harmful
under its intended conditions of use,
FDA considers the projected human
dietary intake of the additive, existing
toxicological data, and other relevant
information (such as published
literature) available to the agency. FDA
compares an individual’s estimated
daily intake (EDI) of the additive from
all food sources to an acceptable intake
level established by toxicological data.
The EDI is determined by projections
based on the amount of the additive
proposed for use in particular foods and
on data regarding the amount consumed
from all sources of the additive. The
agency commonly uses the EDI for the
90th percentile consumer of a food
1While typical application volumes would be on
the order of 0.5 gallon per carcass, the 5 gallon
maximum limit is to account for infrequent
occasions during processing when the line speed
may temporarily be slowed down or stopped (e.g.,
to accommodate inspection of the processing line
by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
personnel).
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additive as a measure of high chronic
dietary intake.
At a maximum CPC application
concentration of 0.8 percent and
assuming the worst-case maximum
application volume of 5 gallons of
solution per carcass, FDA estimates that
the mean EDI of CPC from the
petitioned use is 27.5 micrograms per
person per day (µg/p/d) and the intake
at the 90th percentile is 65 µg/p/d (Ref.
1). These EDIs subsume the exposure
from the currently regulated use. As part
of FDA’s safety evaluation, the agency
reviewed data submitted with the
petition from two sub-chronic (90-day)
toxicity studies on CPC fed to rats and
dogs. FDA concluded that the noobservable-effect level (NOEL) for the
dog, which was the most sensitive
species tested, is 8.00 milligrams per
kilogram body-weight per day (mg/kgbw/day). By applying a 1,000-fold safety
factor to this NOEL, the agency
calculated the acceptable daily intake
(ADI) for CPC for a 60 kilogram human
as 0.48 mg/p/d. Therefore, taking into
account the available safety information
and the conservative estimates of intake
of CPC, the agency concludes that the
proposed use of CPC to treat raw poultry
carcasses is safe for humans (Ref. 2).
FDA also considered the safety of the
proposed use of PG, which is used in
the CPC solution to maintain the
solubility and stability of the solution
and reduce absorption of CPC on the
treated poultry. PG is generally
recognized as safe as an ingredient in
human food for multiple uses and as a
processing aid provided that it is used
in accordance with good manufacturing
practices (21 CFR 184.1666). The agency
does not have any safety concerns
regarding the proposed use of PG in the
CPC solution for treating poultry for
human consumption. Because it is
common for poultry and poultry
byproducts to be used in animal feed,
including cat food, the agency
considered potential animal exposure
from the petitioned use of the CPC
solution. As part of the agency’s
evaluation of the first CPC petition that
established § 173.375 (FAP 2A4736),
FDA considered the safety of CPCtreated poultry and poultry byproducts
used in animal feed. Because PG is toxic
to cats, the substance is prohibited from
use in cat food unless the use has been
authorized by FDA through the issuance
of a regulation providing for its safe use
as a food additive (21 CFR 589.1001).
FDA has previously stated in its
rulemaking declaring PG for use in cat
food not generally recognized as safe
that PG levels at or below 0.02 percent
(200 parts per million (ppm)) in cat food
is safe (61 FR 19542, May 2, 1996). To
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mitigate any potential concerns
associated with the possibility of
residual PG becoming a component of
cat food, should it become authorized as
a food additive for such use, the
petitioner has proposed a maximum
limit of 5 gallons of solution per carcass
and a minimum of 99 percent recovery
of the applied solution. FDA concludes
that potential PG residues in cat food
from CPC solution containing a
maximum level of 0.8 percent CPC,
applied at a maximum volume of 5.0
gallons of solution per carcass, and a
minimum of 99 percent of the applied
CPC solution captured and recovered
will ensure that the 200 ppm PG limit
will not be exceeded (Ref. 3).
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III. Updating of Specifications for CPC
The agency is updating § 173.375 by
citing the specifications for CPC in the
30th edition of the United States
Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP
30/NF 25) that are incorporated by
reference rather than the 24th edition
(USP 24/NF 19). We compared the
specifications for CPC in the 24th and
30th editions of the USP and found
them to be identical. Therefore, the
agency is making this editorial change.
IV. Comments
The agency received several
comments in response to the notice
announcing the filing of the petition.
One comment expressed concern that
some microorganisms washed free from
the treated carcasses will continue to
thrive in the recovered solution and
could potentially contaminate poultry
as the solution is reused.
The agency agrees that microbes
washed off the treated carcasses may be
present in the recovered solution.
However, the agency believes that the
growth of these organisms will be
controlled by CPC present in the
recovered solution. Furthermore, as part
of good manufacturing practices, the
user of the CPC solution for treating
poultry is expected to take appropriate
steps to maintain an application
solution of acceptable microbiological
quality, including sampling and
analysis of the solution to ascertain the
microbiological quality of the treatment
solution and to determine when the
solution in the treatment tank needs to
be changed.
In response to this comment, it should
be noted that the trials that were
conducted with recycled spray solution
showed that aerobic plate counts (APC)
from the carcasses treated with recycled
spray solution were extremely low
compared to those from the untreated
carcasses. If bacteria were continuing to
thrive in the recycled solution, the APC
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from the treated carcasses would have
increased. However, this was not the
case. For these reasons, FDA has no
concerns about contamination of
poultry from the recycled solution.
One comment concerned an efficacy
trial conducted by the petitioner in
which carcasses were tested post-chiller
and after neutralizing CPC on the
treated carcasses with activated carbon.
The comment expressed concern that
bacteria may have been trapped by the
activated carbon producing a ‘‘false
negative’’ result for the treated
carcasses. However, the petitioner has
stated that all 2,300 samples in the trial
were ‘‘neutralized’’ with activated
carbon whether or not the sample was
treated with the CPC solution. The
Salmonella incidence for the samples
not treated with the CPC solution
ranged from 20–22 percent positive,
while the Salmonella incidence was
only 4 percent positive for the CPCtreated samples. If the activated carbon
was ‘‘trapping’’ the bacteria, the
incidence levels in the untreated and
treated samples would be expected to be
more similar. That is, the fact that the
positive incidence rate was significantly
lower in the treated samples than in the
untreated samples shows the
effectiveness of the CPC treatment, not
the trapping of the bacteria, which
would be expected to occur to a similar
extent in both CPC-treated and
untreated carcasses. Thus, the available
data confirm that the results from this
efficacy study were not adversely
affected by the use of activated carbon
to neutralize CPC on the samples.
One comment was from a user of the
product who claims that when CPC was
used in their plant for the currentlyregulated use, they received customer
complaints about discoloration of their
poultry product. Data from the
petitioner showed that CPC does not
provide a lasting technical effect and
that its use would not result in any
organoleptic changes to treated poultry.
Furthermore, this customer experienced
problems with discoloration of products
that were not treated with a CPC
solution. Therefore, it is unlikely that
CPC was causing the discoloration. In
addition, the petitioner stated that CPC
solution is being used in similar
applications in seven other poultry
plants without any complaints of
discoloration that can be attributed to
CPC. Therefore, FDA does not believe
that CPC used in accordance with the
conditions in the regulation will cause
discoloration of the treated poultry.
One comment expressed concern with
potential occupational hazards posed by
CPC and concentration of CPC in
wastewater effluent, specifically: (1)
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Over complaints from inspectors for the
USDA Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS) about the impact of other
approved antimicrobial agents on the
health of meat and poultry plant
employees, and about increased
respiratory problems from introduction
of antimicrobials into the production
process; (2) that the Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS) identified physical
hazards if CPC is not used properly (i.e.,
irritation to the skin, eye, respiratory
and digestive systems); and (3) that CPC
is a synthetic enzyme that does not
break down easily and will accumulate
in recycled water systems used by
poultry processing facilities.
The agency’s response to the first two
concerns is that the USDA’s New
Technology Staff is responsible for
reviewing new technologies that
companies employ to ensure that their
use is consistent with agency
regulations and will not adversely affect
product safety, inspection procedures,
or the safety of FSIS inspectors. USDA
is not aware of any health-related
complaints from inspection personnel
regarding the use of CPC in federallyinspected poultry plants. Furthermore,
complaints or potential health issues
associated with the use of one particular
antimicrobial agent (e.g., tri-sodium
phosphate) are not necessarily
applicable to every other antimicrobial
agent used for the same purpose. The
physical hazards listed on the MSDS for
CPC (i.e., severe skin irritation, severe
eye irritation, severe irritation to the
respiratory system, harmful if
swallowed, may cause severe irritation
to the digestive system) are physical
hazards listed on MSDSs for numerous
chemical compounds that are used
routinely and safely everyday
throughout the United States both in
industry and by consumers. The
physical hazards that are listed on an
MSDS inform the user of the potential
damaging effects to tissues and organs
associated with direct exposure to the
compound and remind the user of that
substance of precautions that should be
taken to avoid these adverse effects.
Furthermore, as noted by the petitioner,
the CPC solution is applied in a
specially designed and fully automated
cabinet, which limits worker exposure.
In response to the comment that CPC
is a synthetic enzyme that does not
degrade easily, first, the agency notes
that CPC is not classified as an enzyme;
it is a quaternary ammonium
compound. Second, data provided in
the environmental assessment for FAP
2A4736 demonstrated that any CPC that
enters poultry facility water systems
will quickly bind to organic solids
suspended in the water and will not
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remain solubilized in the water. To
support this fact, the petitioner
provided results of an experiment in
which a solution containing 22.3 ppm
CPC was added to publicly owned
treatment works sludge material. In less
than 1 minute, CPC was not detectable
at a sensitivity of approximately 10
parts per billion (ppb) in the water with
the treated sludge. Based on the data
submitted in that environmental
assessment, it was concluded that CPC
would be present in poultry plant
wastewater at levels below 0.01 ppb.
Therefore, the available data do not
indicate a potential for CPC to
accumulate in recycled poultry plant
water systems.
One comment expressed concern that
the petitioner: (1) Did not provide
adequate data that demonstrate the
expanded use of CPC meets the
requirements of a secondary direct food
additive; (2) did not provide sufficient
data such as a material balance that
accounts for the CPC that is applied;
and (3) did not provide sufficient
requirements (flow rate, spray pressure,
time, temperature, and spray distance)
for the potable water rinse requirements
following CPC application. The
comment also suggested that the
regulation provide details on the
recovery system depending on line
speed.
The agency notes that, regarding
CPC’s ongoing technical effect, the
petitioner presented data in FAP
6A4767 to demonstrate that the food
additive does not have an ongoing
technical effect in poultry treated with
the CPC solution. Because the technical
effect of CPC on treated poultry occurs
during processing but not after
processing, it is considered a processing
aid. Therefore, FDA has determined that
it is appropriate to regulate the
petitioned use of CPC as a secondary
direct food additive rather than as a
direct food additive.
FDA disagrees with the comment
about insufficient data to account for the
CPC that may enter the environment
from use of the additive. Information
submitted in the environmental
assessment for this petition, which
included mass balance information, was
used by FDA to estimate environmental
introductions from the proposed use of
the additive. Based on this information,
FDA estimated that environmental
concentrations of CPC will be in the low
ppb level. The comment contains no
information that would cause the
agency to change its conclusion that
there will be no significant impact to the
environment resulting from the
petitioned use of the additive.
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Regarding the comment about
insufficient details for ensuring an
adequate potable water rinse of CPCtreated poultry, FDA believes that it is
sufficient for such requirements to be
provided by each company that markets
CPC to each poultry processor that uses
the product. Because of plant-to-plant
variation in processing conditions and
equipment, a single set of specific
parameters for the potable water rinse
would not be appropriate in all
processing facilities.
The petitioner further noted that
testing described in the current petition
indicates that the CPC residues
remaining on the treated poultry carcass
are not significantly affected by the
duration or volume of the water rinse.
Thus, the comment appears to overstate
the effect of these variables on the
efficiency of CPC removal and its
potential introduction to the
environment. As is clear from the
agency’s review of the data in FAP
2A4736 and in the current petition, the
residual levels of CPC in treated
carcasses are minimal and do not raise
a health or safety concern.
Regarding the suggestion of including
the details of the recovery system in the
regulation, FDA strongly disagrees with
this comment. FDA has determined that
the petitioned use of the CPC solution
containing a maximum level of 0.8
percent CPC, applied at a maximum
volume of 5.0 gallons of solution per
carcass, and a 99 percent recovery of the
applied solution is safe. FDA does not
believe it is necessary to include details
of recovery system design in order to
meet these conditions of safe use.
Therefore, the agency concludes that it
would be overly prescriptive to have
such equipment requirements in a food
additive regulation.
V. Conclusion
FDA reviewed data in the petition and
other available relevant material to
evaluate the safety of the use of CPC as
an antimicrobial agent in a solution
applied to raw poultry carcasses either
pre- or post-chiller. Based on this
information, the agency concludes that
the proposed use of the additive is safe.
Therefore, the conditions of use listed in
§ 173.375 should be amended as set
forth in this document.
In accordance with § 171.1(h) (21 CFR
171.1(h)), the petition and the
documents that FDA considered and
relied upon in reaching its decision to
approve the petition will be made
available for inspection at the Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition by
appointment with the information
contact person (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT). As provided in
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§ 171.1(h), the agency will delete from
the documents any materials that are
not available for public disclosure
before making the documents available
for inspection.
VI. Environmental Impact
The agency has carefully considered
the potential environmental effects of
this action. FDA has concluded that the
action will not have a significant impact
on the human environment, and that an
environmental impact statement is not
required. The agency’s finding of no
significant impact and the evidence
supporting that finding, contained in an
environmental assessment, may be seen
in the Division of Dockets Management
(see ADDRESSES) between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday.
VII. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This final rule contains no collection
of information. Therefore, clearance by
the Office of Management and Budget
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 is not required.
VIII. Objections
Any person who will be adversely
affected by this regulation may file with
the Division of Dockets Management
(see ADDRESSES) written or electronic
objections. Each objection shall be
separately numbered, and each
numbered objection shall specify with
particularity the provisions of the
regulation to which the objection is
made and the grounds for the objection.
Each numbered objection on which a
hearing is requested shall specifically so
state. Failure to request a hearing for
any particular objection shall constitute
a waiver of the right to a hearing on that
objection. Each numbered objection for
which a hearing is requested shall
include a detailed description and
analysis of the specific factual
information intended to be presented in
support of the objection in the event
that a hearing is held. Failure to include
such a description and analysis for any
particular objection shall constitute a
waiver of the right to a hearing on the
objection. Three copies of all documents
are to be submitted and are to be
identified with the docket number
found in brackets in the heading of this
document. Any objections received in
response to the regulation may be seen
in the Division of Dockets Management
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
Please note that in January 2008, the
FDA Web site is expected to transition
to the Federal Dockets Management
System (FDMS). FDMS is a
Government-wide, electronic docket
management system. After the transition
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date, electronic submissions will be
accepted by FDA through the FDMS
only. When the exact date of the
transition to FDMS is known, FDA will
publish a Federal Register notice
announcing that date.
IX. References
The following references have been
placed on display in the Division of
Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES)
and may be seen by interested persons
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
1. Memorandum from Folmer, Chemistry
Review Group, Division of Petition Review,
to Davy, Division of Petition Review, July 10,
2007.
2. Memorandum from Khan, Toxicology
Review Group, Division of Petition Review,
to Davy, Division of Petition Review, July 25,
2007.
3. Memorandum from Benjamin, Animal
Feed Safety Team, Division of Animal Feeds,
to Davy, Division of Petition Review, July 18,
2007.
List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 173
Food additives, Incorporation by
reference.
I Therefore, under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under
authority delegated to the Commissioner
of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR part 173 is
amended as follows:
PART 173—SECONDARY DIRECT
FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN
FOOD FOR HUMAN COUNSUMPTION
1. The authority citation for 21 CFR
part 173 continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 342, 348.
I
2. Revise § 173.375 to read as follows:
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§ 173.375
Cetylpyridinium chloride.
Cetylpyridinium chloride (CAS Reg.
No. 123–03–05) may be safely used in
food in accordance with the following
conditions:
(a) The additive meets the
specifications of the United States
Pharmacopeia (USP)/National
Formulary (NF) described in USP 30/NF
25, May 1, 2007, pp. 1700–1701, which
is incorporated by reference. The
Director of the Office of the Federal
Register approves this incorporation by
reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may
obtain copies from the United States
Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc., 12601
Twinbrook Pkwy., Rockville, MD 20852,
or you may examine a copy at the
Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition’s Library, Food and Drug
Administration, 5100 Paint Branch
Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, or at
the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:40 Nov 28, 2007
Jkt 214001
information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call 202–741–6030,
or go to: https://www.archives.gov/
federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
(b) The additive is used in food as an
antimicrobial agent as defined in
§ 170.3(o)(2) of this chapter to treat the
surface of raw poultry carcasses. The
solution in which the additive is used
to treat raw poultry carcasses shall also
contain propylene glycol (CAS Reg. No.
57–55–6) complying with § 184.1666 of
this chapter, at a concentration of 1.5
times that of cetylpyridinium chloride.
(c) The additive is used as follows:
(1) As a fine mist spray of an ambient
temperature aqueous solution applied to
raw poultry carcasses prior to
immersion in a chiller, at a level not to
exceed 0.3 gram cetylpyridinium
chloride per pound of raw poultry
carcass, provided that the additive is
used in systems that collect and recycle
solution that is not carried out of the
system with the treated poultry
carcasses; or
(2) As a liquid aqueous solution
applied to raw poultry carcasses either
prior to or after chilling at an amount
not to exceed 5 gallons of solution per
carcass, provided that the additive is
used in systems that recapture at least
99 percent of the solution that is applied
to the poultry carcasses. The
concentration of cetylpyridinium
chloride in the solution applied to the
carcasses shall not exceed 0.8 percent
by weight. When application of the
additive is not followed by immersion
in a chiller, the treatment will be
followed by a potable water rinse of the
carcass.
Dated: November 12, 2007.
Randall W. Lutter,
Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. E7–23182 Filed 11–28–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–01–S
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Part 62
[Public Notice: 5998]
Exchange Visitor Programs—
Sanctions and Terminations
Department of State.
Final rule; withdrawal.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: On November 2, 2007, the
State Department published in the
Federal Register a final rule entitled
Exchange Visitor Programs—Sanctions
and Terminations. The Department
amended its regulations to add to and
modify the existing actions for which
the Department may sanction a sponsor.
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
The change in the regulations will
streamline the review process to offer
sanctioned sponsors the procedural due
process rights equal to those that the
Administrative Procedure Act
guarantees. In addition, the Rule
eliminated summary suspension and
modifies program suspension to halt the
activities of a sponsor that has
committed a serious act of omission or
commission which has or could have
the effect of endangering the health,
safety, or welfare of an exchange visitor,
or damage the national security interests
of the United States. This rule is being
withdrawn because it was submitted to
OMB for formal significance
designation; however, it was published
prior to that determination being made.
Since OMB’s designation was that it is
significant and they would like to
formally review it, OMB has requested
the rule to be withdrawn in its entirety.
DATES: The final rule published at 72 FR
62112, November 2, 2007, is withdrawn
effective November 29, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stanley S. Colvin, Director, Office of
Exchange Coordination and
Designation, U.S. Department of State,
SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 734,
Washington, DC 20547, (202) 203–7415;
or e-mail at jexchanges@state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On November 2, 2007, the State
Department published a final rule
(Amendment No. 212 (72 FR 62112)).
The rule, to have become effective
December 3, 2007, was intended to
revise its regulations presently set forth
at 22 CFR part 62 subpart D (Sanctions)
and 22 CFR part 62 subpart E
(Termination and Revocation of
Programs). The rule, to have become
effective December 3, 2007, was
intended to modify the reasons for
which sanctions may be imposed and
provide for program termination in the
case of failure to file an annual
management audit, in program
categories requiring such audits. The
rule would also provide for termination
or denial of redesignation for an entire
class of designated programs, if the
Department determines that they
compromise the national security of the
United States, or no longer further the
public diplomacy mission of the
Department.
Reason for Withdrawal
This rule was submitted to OMB for
formal significance designation;
however, it was published prior to that
determination being made. Since OMB’s
designation was that it is significant and
E:\FR\FM\29NOR1.SGM
29NOR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 229 (Thursday, November 29, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67572-67576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23182]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
21 CFR Part 173
[Docket No. 2006F-0409]
Secondary Direct Food Additives Permitted in Food for Human
Consumption
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food
additive regulations to expand the conditions for the safe use of
cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as an antimicrobial agent in a pre-
chiller or post-chiller solution for application to raw poultry
carcasses. This action is in response to a petition filed by Safe Foods
Corp. (Safe Foods).
DATES: This rule is effective November 29, 2007. Submit written or
electronic objections and requests for a hearing by December 31, 2007.
See section VIII of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this document for
information on the filing of objections. The Director of the Office of
the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of certain
publications in 21 CFR 173.375(a) as of November 29, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written or electronic objections and requests
for a hearing, identified by Docket No. 2006F-0409, by any of the
following methods:
Electronic submissions
Submit electronic objections in the following ways:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Agency Web site: https://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the agency Web site.
Written Submissions
Submit written objections in the following ways:
FAX: 301-827-6870.
Mail/Hand delivery/Courier [For paper, disk, or CD-ROM
submissions]: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
[[Page 67573]]
To ensure more timely processing of objections, FDA is no longer
accepting objections submitted to the agency by e-mail. FDA encourages
you to continue to submit electronic objections by using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal or the agency Web site, as described in the
Electronic Submissions portion of this paragraph.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number for this rulemaking. All objections received may be
posted without change to https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm,
including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions
on submitting objections, see the ``Objections'' heading of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
objections received, go to https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm
and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this
document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the prompts and/or go to
the Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raphael A. Davy, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-265), Food and Drug Administration,
5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 301-436-1272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In a notice published in the Federal Register of October 25, 2006
(71 FR 62475), FDA announced that a food additive petition (FAP 6A4767)
had been filed by Safe Foods Corp., c/o Keller and Heckman LLP, 1001 G
St. NW., suite 500 West, Washington, DC 20001. The petition proposed to
amend the food additive regulations in Sec. 173.375 Cetylpyridinium
chloride (21 CFR 173.375) to expand the conditions for the safe use of
CPC as an antimicrobial agent applied in a pre-chiller or post-chiller
solution to raw poultry carcasses.
CPC is currently approved under Sec. 173.375 for use as an
antimicrobial agent to treat the surface of raw poultry carcasses prior
to immersion in a chiller when applied as a fine mist spray at a level
not to exceed 0.3 grams CPC per pound of raw poultry carcass. As
conditions of safe use, the solution must contain food grade propylene
glycol (PG) at a concentration of 1.5 times that of the CPC, and the
solution must be used in systems that collect and recycle solution that
is not carried out of the system with the treated poultry carcasses.
Safe Foods initially petitioned for the use of a solution
containing up to 1 percent CPC and PG at a level 1.5 times that of CPC
as a liquid aqueous stream for either pre- or post-chiller application
without a limit on the amount of CPC applied per carcass. When
application of the CPC solution is not followed by immersion in a
chiller, the treatment would be followed by a potable water rinse of
the carcass. Safe Foods subsequently amended their petition by
decreasing the maximum concentration of CPC in the treatment solution
from 1 percent to 0.8 percent. As discussed in section II of this
document, to mitigate concerns associated with residual PG in the
treated poultry becoming a component of animal feed, in particular cat
food, Safe Foods also proposed a maximum limit of 5 gallons of solution
per carcass and a minimum of 99 percent recovery of the applied
solution.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\While typical application volumes would be on the order of
0.5 gallon per carcass, the 5 gallon maximum limit is to account for
infrequent occasions during processing when the line speed may
temporarily be slowed down or stopped (e.g., to accommodate
inspection of the processing line by U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) personnel).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Determination of Safety
Under the general safety standard in section 409 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 348), a food additive cannot be
approved for a particular use unless a fair evaluation of the data
available to FDA establishes that the additive is safe for that use.
FDA's food additive regulations (21 CFR 170.3(i)) define ``safe'' as
``a reasonable certainty in the minds of competent scientists that the
substance is not harmful under the intended conditions of use.''
To establish with reasonable certainty that a food additive is not
harmful under its intended conditions of use, FDA considers the
projected human dietary intake of the additive, existing toxicological
data, and other relevant information (such as published literature)
available to the agency. FDA compares an individual's estimated daily
intake (EDI) of the additive from all food sources to an acceptable
intake level established by toxicological data. The EDI is determined
by projections based on the amount of the additive proposed for use in
particular foods and on data regarding the amount consumed from all
sources of the additive. The agency commonly uses the EDI for the 90th
percentile consumer of a food additive as a measure of high chronic
dietary intake.
At a maximum CPC application concentration of 0.8 percent and
assuming the worst-case maximum application volume of 5 gallons of
solution per carcass, FDA estimates that the mean EDI of CPC from the
petitioned use is 27.5 micrograms per person per day (microg/p/d) and
the intake at the 90th percentile is 65 microg/p/d (Ref. 1). These EDIs
subsume the exposure from the currently regulated use. As part of FDA's
safety evaluation, the agency reviewed data submitted with the petition
from two sub-chronic (90-day) toxicity studies on CPC fed to rats and
dogs. FDA concluded that the no-observable-effect level (NOEL) for the
dog, which was the most sensitive species tested, is 8.00 milligrams
per kilogram body-weight per day (mg/kg-bw/day). By applying a 1,000-
fold safety factor to this NOEL, the agency calculated the acceptable
daily intake (ADI) for CPC for a 60 kilogram human as 0.48 mg/p/d.
Therefore, taking into account the available safety information and the
conservative estimates of intake of CPC, the agency concludes that the
proposed use of CPC to treat raw poultry carcasses is safe for humans
(Ref. 2).
FDA also considered the safety of the proposed use of PG, which is
used in the CPC solution to maintain the solubility and stability of
the solution and reduce absorption of CPC on the treated poultry. PG is
generally recognized as safe as an ingredient in human food for
multiple uses and as a processing aid provided that it is used in
accordance with good manufacturing practices (21 CFR 184.1666). The
agency does not have any safety concerns regarding the proposed use of
PG in the CPC solution for treating poultry for human consumption.
Because it is common for poultry and poultry byproducts to be used in
animal feed, including cat food, the agency considered potential animal
exposure from the petitioned use of the CPC solution. As part of the
agency's evaluation of the first CPC petition that established Sec.
173.375 (FAP 2A4736), FDA considered the safety of CPC-treated poultry
and poultry byproducts used in animal feed. Because PG is toxic to
cats, the substance is prohibited from use in cat food unless the use
has been authorized by FDA through the issuance of a regulation
providing for its safe use as a food additive (21 CFR 589.1001). FDA
has previously stated in its rulemaking declaring PG for use in cat
food not generally recognized as safe that PG levels at or below 0.02
percent (200 parts per million (ppm)) in cat food is safe (61 FR 19542,
May 2, 1996). To
[[Page 67574]]
mitigate any potential concerns associated with the possibility of
residual PG becoming a component of cat food, should it become
authorized as a food additive for such use, the petitioner has proposed
a maximum limit of 5 gallons of solution per carcass and a minimum of
99 percent recovery of the applied solution. FDA concludes that
potential PG residues in cat food from CPC solution containing a
maximum level of 0.8 percent CPC, applied at a maximum volume of 5.0
gallons of solution per carcass, and a minimum of 99 percent of the
applied CPC solution captured and recovered will ensure that the 200
ppm PG limit will not be exceeded (Ref. 3).
III. Updating of Specifications for CPC
The agency is updating Sec. 173.375 by citing the specifications
for CPC in the 30th edition of the United States Pharmacopeia/National
Formulary (USP 30/NF 25) that are incorporated by reference rather than
the 24th edition (USP 24/NF 19). We compared the specifications for CPC
in the 24th and 30th editions of the USP and found them to be
identical. Therefore, the agency is making this editorial change.
IV. Comments
The agency received several comments in response to the notice
announcing the filing of the petition. One comment expressed concern
that some microorganisms washed free from the treated carcasses will
continue to thrive in the recovered solution and could potentially
contaminate poultry as the solution is reused.
The agency agrees that microbes washed off the treated carcasses
may be present in the recovered solution. However, the agency believes
that the growth of these organisms will be controlled by CPC present in
the recovered solution. Furthermore, as part of good manufacturing
practices, the user of the CPC solution for treating poultry is
expected to take appropriate steps to maintain an application solution
of acceptable microbiological quality, including sampling and analysis
of the solution to ascertain the microbiological quality of the
treatment solution and to determine when the solution in the treatment
tank needs to be changed.
In response to this comment, it should be noted that the trials
that were conducted with recycled spray solution showed that aerobic
plate counts (APC) from the carcasses treated with recycled spray
solution were extremely low compared to those from the untreated
carcasses. If bacteria were continuing to thrive in the recycled
solution, the APC from the treated carcasses would have increased.
However, this was not the case. For these reasons, FDA has no concerns
about contamination of poultry from the recycled solution.
One comment concerned an efficacy trial conducted by the petitioner
in which carcasses were tested post-chiller and after neutralizing CPC
on the treated carcasses with activated carbon. The comment expressed
concern that bacteria may have been trapped by the activated carbon
producing a ``false negative'' result for the treated carcasses.
However, the petitioner has stated that all 2,300 samples in the trial
were ``neutralized'' with activated carbon whether or not the sample
was treated with the CPC solution. The Salmonella incidence for the
samples not treated with the CPC solution ranged from 20-22 percent
positive, while the Salmonella incidence was only 4 percent positive
for the CPC-treated samples. If the activated carbon was ``trapping''
the bacteria, the incidence levels in the untreated and treated samples
would be expected to be more similar. That is, the fact that the
positive incidence rate was significantly lower in the treated samples
than in the untreated samples shows the effectiveness of the CPC
treatment, not the trapping of the bacteria, which would be expected to
occur to a similar extent in both CPC-treated and untreated carcasses.
Thus, the available data confirm that the results from this efficacy
study were not adversely affected by the use of activated carbon to
neutralize CPC on the samples.
One comment was from a user of the product who claims that when CPC
was used in their plant for the currently-regulated use, they received
customer complaints about discoloration of their poultry product. Data
from the petitioner showed that CPC does not provide a lasting
technical effect and that its use would not result in any organoleptic
changes to treated poultry. Furthermore, this customer experienced
problems with discoloration of products that were not treated with a
CPC solution. Therefore, it is unlikely that CPC was causing the
discoloration. In addition, the petitioner stated that CPC solution is
being used in similar applications in seven other poultry plants
without any complaints of discoloration that can be attributed to CPC.
Therefore, FDA does not believe that CPC used in accordance with the
conditions in the regulation will cause discoloration of the treated
poultry.
One comment expressed concern with potential occupational hazards
posed by CPC and concentration of CPC in wastewater effluent,
specifically: (1) Over complaints from inspectors for the USDA Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) about the impact of other approved
antimicrobial agents on the health of meat and poultry plant employees,
and about increased respiratory problems from introduction of
antimicrobials into the production process; (2) that the Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) identified physical hazards if CPC is not used
properly (i.e., irritation to the skin, eye, respiratory and digestive
systems); and (3) that CPC is a synthetic enzyme that does not break
down easily and will accumulate in recycled water systems used by
poultry processing facilities.
The agency's response to the first two concerns is that the USDA's
New Technology Staff is responsible for reviewing new technologies that
companies employ to ensure that their use is consistent with agency
regulations and will not adversely affect product safety, inspection
procedures, or the safety of FSIS inspectors. USDA is not aware of any
health-related complaints from inspection personnel regarding the use
of CPC in federally-inspected poultry plants. Furthermore, complaints
or potential health issues associated with the use of one particular
antimicrobial agent (e.g., tri-sodium phosphate) are not necessarily
applicable to every other antimicrobial agent used for the same
purpose. The physical hazards listed on the MSDS for CPC (i.e., severe
skin irritation, severe eye irritation, severe irritation to the
respiratory system, harmful if swallowed, may cause severe irritation
to the digestive system) are physical hazards listed on MSDSs for
numerous chemical compounds that are used routinely and safely everyday
throughout the United States both in industry and by consumers. The
physical hazards that are listed on an MSDS inform the user of the
potential damaging effects to tissues and organs associated with direct
exposure to the compound and remind the user of that substance of
precautions that should be taken to avoid these adverse effects.
Furthermore, as noted by the petitioner, the CPC solution is applied in
a specially designed and fully automated cabinet, which limits worker
exposure.
In response to the comment that CPC is a synthetic enzyme that does
not degrade easily, first, the agency notes that CPC is not classified
as an enzyme; it is a quaternary ammonium compound. Second, data
provided in the environmental assessment for FAP 2A4736 demonstrated
that any CPC that enters poultry facility water systems will quickly
bind to organic solids suspended in the water and will not
[[Page 67575]]
remain solubilized in the water. To support this fact, the petitioner
provided results of an experiment in which a solution containing 22.3
ppm CPC was added to publicly owned treatment works sludge material. In
less than 1 minute, CPC was not detectable at a sensitivity of
approximately 10 parts per billion (ppb) in the water with the treated
sludge. Based on the data submitted in that environmental assessment,
it was concluded that CPC would be present in poultry plant wastewater
at levels below 0.01 ppb. Therefore, the available data do not indicate
a potential for CPC to accumulate in recycled poultry plant water
systems.
One comment expressed concern that the petitioner: (1) Did not
provide adequate data that demonstrate the expanded use of CPC meets
the requirements of a secondary direct food additive; (2) did not
provide sufficient data such as a material balance that accounts for
the CPC that is applied; and (3) did not provide sufficient
requirements (flow rate, spray pressure, time, temperature, and spray
distance) for the potable water rinse requirements following CPC
application. The comment also suggested that the regulation provide
details on the recovery system depending on line speed.
The agency notes that, regarding CPC's ongoing technical effect,
the petitioner presented data in FAP 6A4767 to demonstrate that the
food additive does not have an ongoing technical effect in poultry
treated with the CPC solution. Because the technical effect of CPC on
treated poultry occurs during processing but not after processing, it
is considered a processing aid. Therefore, FDA has determined that it
is appropriate to regulate the petitioned use of CPC as a secondary
direct food additive rather than as a direct food additive.
FDA disagrees with the comment about insufficient data to account
for the CPC that may enter the environment from use of the additive.
Information submitted in the environmental assessment for this
petition, which included mass balance information, was used by FDA to
estimate environmental introductions from the proposed use of the
additive. Based on this information, FDA estimated that environmental
concentrations of CPC will be in the low ppb level. The comment
contains no information that would cause the agency to change its
conclusion that there will be no significant impact to the environment
resulting from the petitioned use of the additive.
Regarding the comment about insufficient details for ensuring an
adequate potable water rinse of CPC-treated poultry, FDA believes that
it is sufficient for such requirements to be provided by each company
that markets CPC to each poultry processor that uses the product.
Because of plant-to-plant variation in processing conditions and
equipment, a single set of specific parameters for the potable water
rinse would not be appropriate in all processing facilities.
The petitioner further noted that testing described in the current
petition indicates that the CPC residues remaining on the treated
poultry carcass are not significantly affected by the duration or
volume of the water rinse. Thus, the comment appears to overstate the
effect of these variables on the efficiency of CPC removal and its
potential introduction to the environment. As is clear from the
agency's review of the data in FAP 2A4736 and in the current petition,
the residual levels of CPC in treated carcasses are minimal and do not
raise a health or safety concern.
Regarding the suggestion of including the details of the recovery
system in the regulation, FDA strongly disagrees with this comment. FDA
has determined that the petitioned use of the CPC solution containing a
maximum level of 0.8 percent CPC, applied at a maximum volume of 5.0
gallons of solution per carcass, and a 99 percent recovery of the
applied solution is safe. FDA does not believe it is necessary to
include details of recovery system design in order to meet these
conditions of safe use. Therefore, the agency concludes that it would
be overly prescriptive to have such equipment requirements in a food
additive regulation.
V. Conclusion
FDA reviewed data in the petition and other available relevant
material to evaluate the safety of the use of CPC as an antimicrobial
agent in a solution applied to raw poultry carcasses either pre- or
post-chiller. Based on this information, the agency concludes that the
proposed use of the additive is safe. Therefore, the conditions of use
listed in Sec. 173.375 should be amended as set forth in this
document.
In accordance with Sec. 171.1(h) (21 CFR 171.1(h)), the petition
and the documents that FDA considered and relied upon in reaching its
decision to approve the petition will be made available for inspection
at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition by appointment with
the information contact person (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
As provided in Sec. 171.1(h), the agency will delete from the
documents any materials that are not available for public disclosure
before making the documents available for inspection.
VI. Environmental Impact
The agency has carefully considered the potential environmental
effects of this action. FDA has concluded that the action will not have
a significant impact on the human environment, and that an
environmental impact statement is not required. The agency's finding of
no significant impact and the evidence supporting that finding,
contained in an environmental assessment, may be seen in the Division
of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
VII. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This final rule contains no collection of information. Therefore,
clearance by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 is not required.
VIII. Objections
Any person who will be adversely affected by this regulation may
file with the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) written or
electronic objections. Each objection shall be separately numbered, and
each numbered objection shall specify with particularity the provisions
of the regulation to which the objection is made and the grounds for
the objection. Each numbered objection on which a hearing is requested
shall specifically so state. Failure to request a hearing for any
particular objection shall constitute a waiver of the right to a
hearing on that objection. Each numbered objection for which a hearing
is requested shall include a detailed description and analysis of the
specific factual information intended to be presented in support of the
objection in the event that a hearing is held. Failure to include such
a description and analysis for any particular objection shall
constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing on the objection. Three
copies of all documents are to be submitted and are to be identified
with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this
document. Any objections received in response to the regulation may be
seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Please note that in January 2008, the FDA Web site is expected to
transition to the Federal Dockets Management System (FDMS). FDMS is a
Government-wide, electronic docket management system. After the
transition
[[Page 67576]]
date, electronic submissions will be accepted by FDA through the FDMS
only. When the exact date of the transition to FDMS is known, FDA will
publish a Federal Register notice announcing that date.
IX. References
The following references have been placed on display in the
Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) and may be seen by
interested persons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
1. Memorandum from Folmer, Chemistry Review Group, Division of
Petition Review, to Davy, Division of Petition Review, July 10,
2007.
2. Memorandum from Khan, Toxicology Review Group, Division of
Petition Review, to Davy, Division of Petition Review, July 25,
2007.
3. Memorandum from Benjamin, Animal Feed Safety Team, Division
of Animal Feeds, to Davy, Division of Petition Review, July 18,
2007.
List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 173
Food additives, Incorporation by reference.
0
Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under
authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR part
173 is amended as follows:
PART 173--SECONDARY DIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN FOOD FOR
HUMAN COUNSUMPTION
0
1. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 173 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 342, 348.
0
2. Revise Sec. 173.375 to read as follows:
Sec. 173.375 Cetylpyridinium chloride.
Cetylpyridinium chloride (CAS Reg. No. 123-03-05) may be safely
used in food in accordance with the following conditions:
(a) The additive meets the specifications of the United States
Pharmacopeia (USP)/National Formulary (NF) described in USP 30/NF 25,
May 1, 2007, pp. 1700-1701, which is incorporated by reference. The
Director of the Office of the Federal Register approves this
incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51. You may obtain copies from the United States Pharmacopeial
Convention, Inc., 12601 Twinbrook Pkwy., Rockville, MD 20852, or you
may examine a copy at the Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition's Library, Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch
Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, or at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/
federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
(b) The additive is used in food as an antimicrobial agent as
defined in Sec. 170.3(o)(2) of this chapter to treat the surface of
raw poultry carcasses. The solution in which the additive is used to
treat raw poultry carcasses shall also contain propylene glycol (CAS
Reg. No. 57-55-6) complying with Sec. 184.1666 of this chapter, at a
concentration of 1.5 times that of cetylpyridinium chloride.
(c) The additive is used as follows:
(1) As a fine mist spray of an ambient temperature aqueous solution
applied to raw poultry carcasses prior to immersion in a chiller, at a
level not to exceed 0.3 gram cetylpyridinium chloride per pound of raw
poultry carcass, provided that the additive is used in systems that
collect and recycle solution that is not carried out of the system with
the treated poultry carcasses; or
(2) As a liquid aqueous solution applied to raw poultry carcasses
either prior to or after chilling at an amount not to exceed 5 gallons
of solution per carcass, provided that the additive is used in systems
that recapture at least 99 percent of the solution that is applied to
the poultry carcasses. The concentration of cetylpyridinium chloride in
the solution applied to the carcasses shall not exceed 0.8 percent by
weight. When application of the additive is not followed by immersion
in a chiller, the treatment will be followed by a potable water rinse
of the carcass.
Dated: November 12, 2007.
Randall W. Lutter,
Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. E7-23182 Filed 11-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S