Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, 9888-9889 [2012-3888]

Download as PDF 9888 Notices Federal Register Vol. 77, No. 34 Tuesday, February 21, 2012 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service Agricultural Research Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to North Carolina State University of Raleigh, North Carolina, an exclusive license to the soybean variety named ‘‘N7003CN’’. DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 22, 2012. ADDRESSES: Send comments to: USDA, ARS, Office of Technology Transfer, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm. 4–1174, Beltsville, Maryland 20705–5131. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: June Blalock of the Office of Technology Transfer at the Beltsville address given above; telephone: 301–504–5989. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Government’s rights in this plant variety are assigned to the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture. The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective exclusive license may be granted unless, within thirty (30) days from the date of this published Notice, the Agricultural Research Service receives written evidence and argument which establishes that the grant of the license would not be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Richard J. Brenner, Assistant Administrator. BILLING CODE 3410–03–P 17:29 Feb 17, 2012 [Docket No. FSIS–2010–0023] Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Certain Raw Beef Products Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: New schedule for implementation of routine testing and verification activities. AGENCY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a new date for when it will implement routine verification sampling and testing for raw beef manufacturing trimmings for six non-O157 Shiga toxinproducing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145). This new date will provide additional time for establishments and laboratories to validate their test methods. FSIS announced in September 2011 plans to test certain raw beef products for these six STEC serogroups in addition to O157:H7. FSIS has determined that these organisms are adulterants of raw ground beef products and product components under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). DATES: Beginning June 4, 2012, FSIS will implement routine verification activities, including testing, for the six additional STEC discussed in this document (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145), of raw beef manufacturing trimmings (domestic or imported) derived from cattle slaughtered on or after June 4, 2012. To facilitate compliance with the policy, and to allow industry time to implement any necessary changes in their food safety systems, FSIS will generally not regard raw, non-intact beef products or the components of these products found to have these pathogens as adulterated until June 4, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Engeljohn, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 205–0495. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background [FR Doc. 2012–3850 Filed 2–17–12; 8:45 am] VerDate Mar<15>2010 Food Safety and Inspection Service SUMMARY: Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive License SUMMARY: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Jkt 226001 On September 20, 2011, FSIS published a Federal Register notice PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 announcing a final determination that raw, non-intact beef products or raw, intact beef products that are intended for use in raw, non-intact product, that are contaminated with Shiga toxinproducing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, are adulterated within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. 601(m)(1) and (m)(3)(76 FR 58157; Sep. 20, 2011). FSIS announced that it intended to implement a verification sampling and testing program for the six non-O157 STEC, as it already does for E. coli O157:H7. The Agency intended to begin this verification sampling and testing on March 5, 2012. The Agency noted that it would initially sample raw beef manufacturing trimmings and other ground beef components for the six nonO157 STEC, but that it would consider other products, including raw ground beef, contaminated with these STEC to be adulterated (76 FR 58160). The Agency asked for comments on its plans for implementing the program (76 FR 58157, 58164). In addition, FSIS asked for comments on: Agency plans for a baseline survey of relevant STEC prevalence in raw beef products, whether to hold technical or other public meetings, validation guidance for pathogen detection test kits, various cost estimates, the type of outreach and information that would be most useful to establishments preparing for implementation of the Agency’s policy, and information that foreign governments might need to address inspection equivalency or implementation concerns. In response to comments, FSIS extended the public comment period from November 21, 2011, to December 21, 2011, and held a public meeting by teleconference on December 1, 2011 to solicit comments (76 FR 72331; Nov. 23, 2011). FSIS intends to publish a Federal Register notice discussing and responding to the comments that it received. Many of the comments requested a delay of the implementation date for testing for the relevant STECs for various reasons, including the need for test kits to detect these organisms to become more widely available. While FSIS is confident that reliable test kits will be available for commercial use before March 5, allowing additional time for beef establishments to begin sampling and testing with these new E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM 21FEN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Notices kits will facilitate compliance with the non-O157 STEC policy. Accordingly, beginning the week of June 4, 2012, rather than on March 5, FSIS will begin scheduling verification tasks for nonO157 STEC control of raw beef manufacturing trimmings. FSIS will collect excision (N60) samples for testing raw beef manufacturing trimmings derived from cattle slaughtered on or after June 4, 2012, for the seven relevant STECs (O157:H7 plus O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145). For production lots of raw beef manufacturing trimmings not accompanied by documentation showing the date of slaughter of the cattle from which the beef was derived, or for production lots that contain mixtures of raw beef manufacturing trimmings derived from cattle slaughtered before and after June 4, 2012, FSIS will sample the production lot only for O157–STEC. For production lots of raw beef manufacturing trimmings not accompanied by documentation showing that the date of slaughter of the cattle from which the beef was derived, or for production lots that contain mixtures of raw beef manufacturing trimmings derived from cattle slaughtered before and after June 4, 2012, FSIS will sample the production lot only for O157 STEC. For production lots with documentation that the beef in the production lot contains only product derived from cattle slaughtered on or after June 4, 2012, FSIS will test the samples for the seven relevant STECs. The slaughter date of June 4, 2012, is important for implementing the verification testing program for raw beef manufacturing trimmings because FSIS can be certain that, as of this date, trimmings derived from cattle slaughtered on or after this date will have been produced under a slaughter and further processing system that the Agency expects to control for the six additional STEC. With the implementation of verification testing for beef manufacturing trimmings on June 4, FSIS will also consider raw, non-intact beef products or raw, intact products intended for use in non-intact beef products that are contaminated with STEC O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, to be adulterated within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. 601(m)(1) and (m)(3). FSIS will generally not regard raw, non-intact beef products found to have these pathogens as adulterated until it implements this verification testing program. However, if product is associated with an STEC outbreak before that time, the product will be deemed adulterated and subject to VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:29 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 recall, consistent with current FSIS practice. Finally, the Agency notes that in February 2012, it contacted foreign governments already approved for the export of raw beef to the United States and informed them that FSIS would make a limited amount of reagents used in the FSIS laboratory method for nonO157 STECs available to a foreign government if that government wanted to conduct a comparative analysis of its method and methods used with test kits assessed by FSIS. Although these comparative analyses are not a necessary precondition for FSIS to begin verification testing of raw beef manufacturing trimmings on June 4, 2012, FSIS believes that the results of such comparative analyses could be useful. USDA Nondiscrimination Statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s Target Center at 202–720–2600 (voice and TTY). To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call 202–720–5964 (voice and TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: https://www.fsis. usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/ Federal_Register_Notices/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 email subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and other individuals who have PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9889 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_&_Events/Email_Subscription/. Options range from recalls, export information, 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 February 14, 2012. Alfred V. Almanza, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2012–3888 Filed 2–17–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board Public Meeting Dates Announced Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meetings. AGENCY: ACTION: The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (NFAB) has announced its meeting dates for 2012. These meetings are open to the public, and public comment is accepted at any time in writing, at the pleasure of the Chair, and during the last 15 minutes of each meeting, limited to three (3) minutes per person for oral comments. Meeting dates are the third Wednesday of each month unless otherwise indicated: March 21. April 18. May 16. June 20. July (No Meeting). August 15 (Summer Field Trip—TBA). September 19. October 17. November 14 (Second Wednesday). December (No Meeting). January 2, 2013 (First Wednesday, Tentative). SUMMARY: Meetings will begin at 1 p.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. at the Forest Service Center, 8221 South Highway 16, Rapid City, SD 57702. Agendas: The Board will consider a variety of issues related to national forest management. Agendas will be ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM 21FEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9888-9889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3888]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0023]


Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Certain Raw Beef 
Products

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New schedule for implementation of routine testing and 
verification activities.

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

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a 
new date for when it will implement routine verification sampling and 
testing for raw beef manufacturing trimmings for six non-O157 Shiga 
toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups (O26, O45, O103, 
O111, O121, and O145). This new date will provide additional time for 
establishments and laboratories to validate their test methods. FSIS 
announced in September 2011 plans to test certain raw beef products for 
these six STEC serogroups in addition to O157:H7. FSIS has determined 
that these organisms are adulterants of raw ground beef products and 
product components under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA).

DATES: Beginning June 4, 2012, FSIS will implement routine verification 
activities, including testing, for the six additional STEC discussed in 
this document (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145), of raw beef 
manufacturing trimmings (domestic or imported) derived from cattle 
slaughtered on or after June 4, 2012. To facilitate compliance with the 
policy, and to allow industry time to implement any necessary changes 
in their food safety systems, FSIS will generally not regard raw, non-
intact beef products or the components of these products found to have 
these pathogens as adulterated until June 4, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Engeljohn, Ph.D., Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 205-0495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 20, 2011, FSIS published a Federal Register notice 
announcing a final determination that raw, non-intact beef products or 
raw, intact beef products that are intended for use in raw, non-intact 
product, that are contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia 
coli (STEC) O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, are adulterated 
within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. 601(m)(1) and (m)(3)(76 FR 58157; Sep. 
20, 2011).
    FSIS announced that it intended to implement a verification 
sampling and testing program for the six non-O157 STEC, as it already 
does for E. coli O157:H7. The Agency intended to begin this 
verification sampling and testing on March 5, 2012. The Agency noted 
that it would initially sample raw beef manufacturing trimmings and 
other ground beef components for the six non-O157 STEC, but that it 
would consider other products, including raw ground beef, contaminated 
with these STEC to be adulterated (76 FR 58160). The Agency asked for 
comments on its plans for implementing the program (76 FR 58157, 
58164).
    In addition, FSIS asked for comments on: Agency plans for a 
baseline survey of relevant STEC prevalence in raw beef products, 
whether to hold technical or other public meetings, validation guidance 
for pathogen detection test kits, various cost estimates, the type of 
outreach and information that would be most useful to establishments 
preparing for implementation of the Agency's policy, and information 
that foreign governments might need to address inspection equivalency 
or implementation concerns.
    In response to comments, FSIS extended the public comment period 
from November 21, 2011, to December 21, 2011, and held a public meeting 
by teleconference on December 1, 2011 to solicit comments (76 FR 72331; 
Nov. 23, 2011). FSIS intends to publish a Federal Register notice 
discussing and responding to the comments that it received.
    Many of the comments requested a delay of the implementation date 
for testing for the relevant STECs for various reasons, including the 
need for test kits to detect these organisms to become more widely 
available.
    While FSIS is confident that reliable test kits will be available 
for commercial use before March 5, allowing additional time for beef 
establishments to begin sampling and testing with these new

[[Page 9889]]

kits will facilitate compliance with the non-O157 STEC policy. 
Accordingly, beginning the week of June 4, 2012, rather than on March 
5, FSIS will begin scheduling verification tasks for non-O157 STEC 
control of raw beef manufacturing trimmings. FSIS will collect excision 
(N60) samples for testing raw beef manufacturing trimmings derived from 
cattle slaughtered on or after June 4, 2012, for the seven relevant 
STECs (O157:H7 plus O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145). For 
production lots of raw beef manufacturing trimmings not accompanied by 
documentation showing the date of slaughter of the cattle from which 
the beef was derived, or for production lots that contain mixtures of 
raw beef manufacturing trimmings derived from cattle slaughtered before 
and after June 4, 2012, FSIS will sample the production lot only for 
O157-STEC. For production lots of raw beef manufacturing trimmings not 
accompanied by documentation showing that the date of slaughter of the 
cattle from which the beef was derived, or for production lots that 
contain mixtures of raw beef manufacturing trimmings derived from 
cattle slaughtered before and after June 4, 2012, FSIS will sample the 
production lot only for O157 STEC. For production lots with 
documentation that the beef in the production lot contains only product 
derived from cattle slaughtered on or after June 4, 2012, FSIS will 
test the samples for the seven relevant STECs. The slaughter date of 
June 4, 2012, is important for implementing the verification testing 
program for raw beef manufacturing trimmings because FSIS can be 
certain that, as of this date, trimmings derived from cattle 
slaughtered on or after this date will have been produced under a 
slaughter and further processing system that the Agency expects to 
control for the six additional STEC.
    With the implementation of verification testing for beef 
manufacturing trimmings on June 4, FSIS will also consider raw, non-
intact beef products or raw, intact products intended for use in non-
intact beef products that are contaminated with STEC O26, O45, O103, 
O111, O121, and O145, to be adulterated within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. 
601(m)(1) and (m)(3). FSIS will generally not regard raw, non-intact 
beef products found to have these pathogens as adulterated until it 
implements this verification testing program. However, if product is 
associated with an STEC outbreak before that time, the product will be 
deemed adulterated and subject to recall, consistent with current FSIS 
practice.
    Finally, the Agency notes that in February 2012, it contacted 
foreign governments already approved for the export of raw beef to the 
United States and informed them that FSIS would make a limited amount 
of reagents used in the FSIS laboratory method for non-O157 STECs 
available to a foreign government if that government wanted to conduct 
a comparative analysis of its method and methods used with test kits 
assessed by FSIS. Although these comparative analyses are not a 
necessary precondition for FSIS to begin verification testing of raw 
beef manufacturing trimmings on June 4, 2012, FSIS believes that the 
results of such comparative analyses could be useful.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, 
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited 
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, 
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 
202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
    To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY). 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce it on-line 
through the FSIS Web page located at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/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 email 
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_&_Events/Email_Subscription/. Options range 
from recalls, export information, 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 February 14, 2012.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-3888 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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