Sampling and Testing Procedures for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Beef Manufacturing Trimmings, 60230-60231 [E8-24216]
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60230
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
1. Should FSIS continue to approve
label claims based on animal raising
standards developed by private
certifying entities and by companies
themselves if FSIS has reviewed the
standards and determines that they
would not render a claim false or
misleading?
2. Should FSIS establish any
performance criteria or standards for
private certifying entities? Should the
Agency require that private certifying
entities be reviewed and approved by
AMS?
3. Should FSIS establish minimum
standards that companies would have to
achieve to qualify to use certain animal
raising claims?
4. For those animal raising claims for
which AMS has adopted standards,
should FSIS adopt the AMS standards
as the minimum standards?
5. Would the approach outlined in
this document create any inequities or
create any problems for companies
interested in using animal raising claims
on the labels of their meat or poultry
products?
6. What other approaches should FSIS
consider for evaluating and approving
animal raising claims?
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_&_policies/
2008_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, 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 e-mail
subscription service which provides
automatic and customized access to
selected food safety news and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:11 Oct 09, 2008
Jkt 217001
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 at Washington, DC, on: October 7,
2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8–24191 Filed 10–7–08; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS 2008–0035]
Sampling and Testing Procedures for
Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Beef
Manufacturing Trimmings
Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
that it will hold a public meeting on
October 14 and 15, 2008, to discuss
sampling and testing procedures used
by FSIS and industry for Escherichia
coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in beef
manufacturing trimmings and draft
guidance to industry concerning this
pathogen. Copies of the guidance
materials are available on the FSIS Web
site.
DATES: The public meeting will be held
on October 14 and 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be
held from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on
October 14 and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
on October 15 at: L’Enfant Plaza Hotel,
480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington,
DC 20024, (202) 484–1000. FSIS invites
interested persons to submit comments
on the issues addressed at the public
meeting. FSIS will finalize an agenda on
or before the meeting date and will post
it on the FSIS Web page https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/
News?Meetings_&_Events/. The official
transcript of the meeting will be
available for viewing by the public in
the FSIS Docket Room and on the FSIS
Web site https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
News?Meetings_&_Events/ when it
becomes available.
Comments may be submitted by either
of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Mail, including floppy disks or CD–
ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered
items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, FSIS Docket
Room, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Room 2534, Washington, DC
20250.
All submissions received must
include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS–2008–0035. Documents
referred to in this notice, and 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, except Federal holidays.
Comments also will be posted on the
Agency’s Web site at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/
2008_Notices_Index/index.asp.
Individuals who do not wish FSIS to
post their personal contact
information—mailing address, e-mail
address, telephone number—on the
Internet may leave this information off
of their comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Preregistration for this meeting is
recommended. To pre-register, go to the
FSIS Web site at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Reg_Ecoli_101408/index.asp.
For additional information, please
contact Keith Payne by telephone at
(202) 690–6522 or by e-mail at
keith.payne@fsis.usda.gov. Persons
requiring a sign language interpreter or
special accommodations should contact
Keith Payne as soon as possible.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The presence of E. coli O157:H7 in
raw beef products continues to be a
concern to FSIS. Based on E. coli
O157:H7 test results from FSIS, other
Federal and State entities, and industry,
E. coli O157:H7 continues to
contaminate finished product. Controls
in food safety systems, including
sanitary dressing procedures, do not
consistently prevent, eliminate, or
reduce E. coli O157:H7 to an
undetectable level. Therefore, testing
may be a means to ensure that
contaminated product does not enter
commerce. The meeting will focus on
sampling and testing of beef
manufacturing trimmings for E. coli
O157:H7.
Issues To Be Discussed at the Public
Meeting
FSIS will discuss the issues
associated with the uniformity and
E:\FR\FM\10OCN1.SGM
10OCN1
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices
consistency of sampling and testing
procedures used by FSIS and industry
for E. coli O157:H7 in beef
manufacturing trimmings and to solicit
comment on how to improve uniformity
and consistency in such sampling and
testing. FSIS will also discuss the
laboratory enrichment procedure that it
began using in January 2008 (73 FR
53406; September 16, 2008) and its
likely impact on sensitivity for
identifying more positives in beef.
The discussion will also include the
draft ‘‘Compliance Guideline for
Sampling Beef Trimmings for
Escherichia coli O157:H7.’’ It can be
found on the FSIS Web page at:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Significant_Guidance/index.asp. FSIS is
particularly interested in discussing the
importance of distinguishing the
occasional or sporadic positive from a
series of positive results that indicate a
systemic cause or breakdown of the
process controls (‘‘high event days’’).
This determination is important for
decisions regarding the microbiological
independence of production lots and
the disposition of product, as well as the
necessary feedback loop between
slaughter operations and further
processing operations to ensure
implementation of effective corrective
and preventive actions.
FSIS will also discuss the draft
guidance on the use of labels bearing E.
coli O157:H7 testing claims (such as
statements indicating that labeled
product has been sampled under an N60
procedure). This guidance is also
available on the FSIS Web page at
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Significant_Guidance/index.asp. Such
special label claims would be voluntary,
and FSIS must approve the labels. The
draft guidance provides information to
establishments concerning the
conditions they must meet to be able to
use such claims on their raw beef
products. Importantly, the use of such
label claims could provide the further
processor with greater assurance
regarding prior controls for E. coli
O157:H7 than certificates of analysis
(COAs) currently provide. Many small
and very small establishments have
indicated that they have difficulty
receiving COAs either from the
distributor or supplier establishment.
In addition, presentations will be
given on the training used by FSIS
concerning proper sampling procedures
for E. coli O157:H7 and the training
developed by industry on N60 sampling
procedures. FSIS also anticipates that
the meeting will help identify issues of
concern about pathogens other than E.
coli O157:H7, including Listeria
monocytogenes and Salmonella.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:11 Oct 09, 2008
Jkt 217001
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of
rulemaking and policy development is
important. Consequently, in an effort to
ensure that minorities, women, and
persons with disabilities are aware of
this notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web page located
at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/
2008_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, and other types of
information that could affect or would
be of interest to constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is
communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for
industry, trade groups, consumer
interest groups, health professionals and
other individuals who have asked to be
included. The Update is also available
on the FSIS Web page. Through the
Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able
to provide information to a much
broader and more diverse audience. In
addition, FSIS offers an e mail
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 accounts.
Done at Washington, DC on: October 7,
2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8–24216 Filed 10–7–08; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio
Grande National Forest; Colorado; Rio
de los Pinos Vegetation Management
Project
Forest Service, Rio Grande
National Forest, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The project analyzes salvage
harvesting of spruce beetle killed and
infested trees on timber production
areas in the Rio de los Pinos watershed.
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
60231
This project will provide an opportunity
to improve and relocate the Los Pinos
Trailhead (Trail #736). This area was
analyzed under the County Line
Vegetation Management Project in June
2005, however changing forest
conditions have warranted further
analysis. An EA was initiated in 2007,
and comments received during scoping
and controversy surrounding similar
projects on the Rio Grande National
Forest indicate that an environmental
impact statement (EIS) should be
prepared.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by 30
days from the date of this notice. The
draft environmental impact statement is
expected December 12, 2008 and the
final environmental impact statement is
expected February 2, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Mr. Jack Lewis, Team Leader, Rio
Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak
Ranger District, 15571 CR T.5, LaJara,
CO 81140. Electronic mail (e-mail with
subject, Rio de los Pinos comments)
may be sent to comments-rockymountain.rio-grande-conejospeak@fs.fed.us and a FAX may be sent
to (719) 274–6301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Same as above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this action is to
implement the Rio Grande National
Forest’s Forest Plan by making live and
dead timber available to the timber
industry as part of the Rio Grande
National Forest’s timber sale program.
This proposal has been initiated
because existing conditions vary from
the Desired Conditions defined in Forest
Plan MAP 5.13. This disparity indicates
a need for improved forest stand
conditions, reforestation of areas
severely impacted by spruce beetle,
reducing long-term fuel buildup in areas
severely impacted by spruce beetle,
salvage of dead trees before they lose
their economic value, and provision of
wood products to benefit the local and
regional economy.
When seeking to reduce the standing
dead fuel component, the goal is to
reduce the duration and intensity of a
potential wildland fire, thus influencing
the severity of its impact. Standing dead
fuel is expected to become heavy down
fuel within 20–50 years.
Proposed Action
The Rio Grande National Forest
proposes to salvage Engelmann spruce
trees that have been killed by, or are
infested with, spruce beetle.
E:\FR\FM\10OCN1.SGM
10OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 198 (Friday, October 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60230-60231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24216]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS 2008-0035]
Sampling and Testing Procedures for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in
Beef Manufacturing Trimmings
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
that it will hold a public meeting on October 14 and 15, 2008, to
discuss sampling and testing procedures used by FSIS and industry for
Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in beef manufacturing trimmings and
draft guidance to industry concerning this pathogen. Copies of the
guidance materials are available on the FSIS Web site.
DATES: The public meeting will be held on October 14 and 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on
October 14 and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 15 at: L'Enfant
Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024, (202) 484-
1000. FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on the issues
addressed at the public meeting. FSIS will finalize an agenda on or
before the meeting date and will post it on the FSIS Web page https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/News?Meetings--&--Events/. The official transcript of
the meeting will be available for viewing by the public in the FSIS
Docket Room and on the FSIS Web site https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
News?Meetings--&--Events/ when it becomes available.
Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions at that site for submitting comments.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-
delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, FSIS Docket Room, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 2534, Washington, DC 20250.
All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS-2008-0035. Documents referred to in this notice, and 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, except Federal
holidays. Comments also will be posted on the Agency's Web site at
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2008_Notices_Index/
index.asp.
Individuals who do not wish FSIS to post their personal contact
information--mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number--on the
Internet may leave this information off of their comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pre-registration for this meeting is
recommended. To pre-register, go to the FSIS Web site at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Reg_Ecoli_101408/index.asp.
For additional information, please contact Keith Payne by telephone
at (202) 690-6522 or by e-mail at keith.payne@fsis.usda.gov. Persons
requiring a sign language interpreter or special accommodations should
contact Keith Payne as soon as possible.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The presence of E. coli O157:H7 in raw beef products continues to
be a concern to FSIS. Based on E. coli O157:H7 test results from FSIS,
other Federal and State entities, and industry, E. coli O157:H7
continues to contaminate finished product. Controls in food safety
systems, including sanitary dressing procedures, do not consistently
prevent, eliminate, or reduce E. coli O157:H7 to an undetectable level.
Therefore, testing may be a means to ensure that contaminated product
does not enter commerce. The meeting will focus on sampling and testing
of beef manufacturing trimmings for E. coli O157:H7.
Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting
FSIS will discuss the issues associated with the uniformity and
[[Page 60231]]
consistency of sampling and testing procedures used by FSIS and
industry for E. coli O157:H7 in beef manufacturing trimmings and to
solicit comment on how to improve uniformity and consistency in such
sampling and testing. FSIS will also discuss the laboratory enrichment
procedure that it began using in January 2008 (73 FR 53406; September
16, 2008) and its likely impact on sensitivity for identifying more
positives in beef.
The discussion will also include the draft ``Compliance Guideline
for Sampling Beef Trimmings for Escherichia coli O157:H7.'' It can be
found on the FSIS Web page at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_
Guidance/index.asp. FSIS is particularly interested in discussing the
importance of distinguishing the occasional or sporadic positive from a
series of positive results that indicate a systemic cause or breakdown
of the process controls (``high event days''). This determination is
important for decisions regarding the microbiological independence of
production lots and the disposition of product, as well as the
necessary feedback loop between slaughter operations and further
processing operations to ensure implementation of effective corrective
and preventive actions.
FSIS will also discuss the draft guidance on the use of labels
bearing E. coli O157:H7 testing claims (such as statements indicating
that labeled product has been sampled under an N60 procedure). This
guidance is also available on the FSIS Web page at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp. Such special label
claims would be voluntary, and FSIS must approve the labels. The draft
guidance provides information to establishments concerning the
conditions they must meet to be able to use such claims on their raw
beef products. Importantly, the use of such label claims could provide
the further processor with greater assurance regarding prior controls
for E. coli O157:H7 than certificates of analysis (COAs) currently
provide. Many small and very small establishments have indicated that
they have difficulty receiving COAs either from the distributor or
supplier establishment.
In addition, presentations will be given on the training used by
FSIS concerning proper sampling procedures for E. coli O157:H7 and the
training developed by industry on N60 sampling procedures. FSIS also
anticipates that the meeting will help identify issues of concern about
pathogens other than E. coli O157:H7, including Listeria monocytogenes
and Salmonella.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that
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/2008_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, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS
Web page. Through the Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to
provide information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In
addition, FSIS offers an e mail 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 accounts.
Done at Washington, DC on: October 7, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-24216 Filed 10-7-08; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P