Eligibility of the Republic of Korea To Export Poultry Products to the United States, 16656-16661 [2014-06652]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16656-16661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06652]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 381

[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0019]
RIN 0583-AD49


Eligibility of the Republic of Korea To Export Poultry Products 
to the United States

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the 
Federal poultry products inspection regulations to add the Republic of 
Korea (Korea) to the list of countries eligible to export poultry 
products to the United States. FSIS has reviewed Korea's poultry laws, 
regulations, and inspection system, as implemented, and has determined 
that they are equivalent to the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), 
the regulations implementing this statute, and the U.S. food safety 
system for poultry.
    Under this final rule, slaughtered poultry or parts or other 
products thereof processed in certified Korean establishments will be 
eligible for export to the United States. All such products will be 
subject to re-inspection at United States ports of entry by FSIS 
inspectors.

DATES: Effective Date: May 27, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andreas Keller, Director, 
International Equivalence Staff, Office of Policy and

[[Page 16657]]

Program Development; Telephone: (202) 720-0082.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On November 27, 2012, FSIS proposed to add the Republic of Korea 
(Korea) to the list of countries eligible to export poultry products to 
the United States (77 FR 70724). This final rule is consistent with the 
provisions of the proposed rule.
    As explained in the proposal, section 17 of the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 
466) prohibits importation into the United States of slaughtered 
poultry, or parts or products thereof, of any kind unless they are 
healthful, wholesome, fit for human food, not adulterated, and contain 
no dye, chemical, preservative, or ingredient that renders them 
unhealthful, unwholesome, unfit for human food, or otherwise 
adulterated. Under the PPIA and the regulations that implement it, 
poultry products imported into the United States must be produced under 
standards for safety, wholesomeness, and labeling accuracy that are 
equivalent to those of the United States. Section 381.196 of Title 9 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) sets out the procedures by which 
foreign countries may become eligible to export poultry and poultry 
products to the United States.
    Section 381.196(a) requires that the standards of a foreign 
country's poultry inspection system, its legal authority for the 
inspection system, and the regulations implementing the system be 
equivalent to those of the United States. These requirements include: 
(1) Ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection performed or supervised by a 
veterinarian; (2) national government controls over establishment 
construction, facilities, and equipment; (3) verification of 
slaughtering of poultry and processing of poultry products by 
inspectors to ensure that product is not adulterated or misbranded; (4) 
separation of establishments certified to export from those not 
certified; (5) maintenance of a single standard of inspection and 
sanitation throughout certified establishments; (6) requirements for 
sanitation and for sanitary handling of product at certified 
establishments; (7) controls over condemned product; (8) a Hazard 
Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system; and (9) any other 
requirements under the PPIA and its implementing regulations (9 CFR 
381.196(a)(2)(ii)).
    The country's inspection program must also impose requirements 
equivalent to those of the United States with respect to: (1) 
Organizational structure and staffing in certified establishments to 
ensure uniform enforcement of laws and regulations; (2) national 
government control and supervision over the official activities of 
employees or licensees; (3) qualified inspectors; (4) enforcement and 
certification authority; (5) administrative and technical support; (6) 
inspection, sanitation, quality, species verification, and residue 
standards; and (7) any other inspection requirements (9 CFR 
381.196(a)(2)(i)).
    Inclusion of the country in 9 CFR 381.196 generally implies that 
the country has a regulatory system equivalent to that of the United 
States for slaughter and further processing of poultry for all nine 
processing categories referred to in 9 CFR 417.2 (Slaughter; raw 
product--ground; raw product--not ground; thermally processed--
commercially sterile; not heat treated--shelf stable; heat treated--
shelf stable; fully cooked--not shelf stable; heat-treated but not 
fully cooked--not shelf stable; and product with secondary inhibitors--
not shelf stable). However, FSIS recognizes that, at the time of the 
initial equivalence request, a country may not expect to manufacture 
and export products to the United States that meet the requirements of 
each of these processing categories. Even so, FSIS determines whether 
the foreign country has equivalent government oversight, statutory 
authority and food safety regulations, sanitation performance 
standards, hazard analysis and critical control point systems, chemical 
residue control and microbiological testing programs, and the 
infrastructure in place to ensure that, if products in any of the nine 
processing categories were to be exported, the products would meet 
United States standards of safety and wholesomeness.\1\
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    \1\ At this time, FSIS is taking steps to publish on its Web 
site a chart that identifies which of the nine processing categories 
FSIS specifically reviewed in FSIS in-country audits, and which the 
Public Health Inspection System (PHIS) is set up to allow to be 
imported into the U.S. This PHIS-based chart will also reflect any 
processing category limitations as a result of animal health 
restrictions for that foreign country, as provided for in 9 CFR part 
94. Because FSIS public health policies may change subsequent to the 
time at which the foreign country is listed in 9 CFR 327.2 or 
381.196, or a foreign country may decide to later certify product 
exported to the U.S. from a processing category not listed for that 
country on the PHIS-based chart, FSIS will determine whether an in-
country audit is necessary before FSIS modifies the PHIS-based 
chart. Regarding a foreign country's initial request for equivalence 
for egg products in accordance with 9 CFR 590.910, all the 
requirements in part 590 must be met as there are no similar 
processing categories as provided for livestock and poultry 
products.
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Evaluation of the Korean Poultry Inspection System

    In 2005, the government of Korea requested approval for the 
importation of Korean poultry products into the United States. Korea 
stated that its immediate intention was to export two types of ginseng 
chicken stew products to the United States. FSIS then began to evaluate 
Korea's inspection system to determine whether it is equivalent to the 
United States system.
    FSIS conducted a document review to evaluate the laws, regulations, 
and other documentation used by Korea to execute its poultry inspection 
program. FSIS examined the information submitted by Korea to verify 
that the following critical points relating to equivalence were 
addressed satisfactorily with respect to standards, activities, 
resources, and enforcement: (1) Government Oversight; (2) Statutory 
Authority and Food Safety Regulations; (3) Sanitation; (4) HACCP 
Systems; (5) Chemical Residue Testing Programs; and (6) Microbiological 
Testing Programs. The document review was satisfactory to FSIS, and 
FSIS scheduled an on-site review to evaluate all aspects of Korea's 
inspection program.
    In 2008, FSIS conducted an on-site audit of Korea's poultry 
inspection system and identified systemic deficiencies within five 
equivalence components. In response to this audit, Korea submitted a 
corrective action plan that addressed FSIS's findings.
    In 2010, FSIS conducted a comprehensive on-site audit to determine 
whether Korea had satisfactorily implemented all the laws, regulations, 
and other issuances that FSIS found to be equivalent during the 
document analysis, and whether the findings of the previous audit had 
been addressed. The 2010 audit revealed that Korea had fully 
implemented the corrective action plan that it had submitted in 
response to the 2008 audit. Nonetheless, the new audit identified new 
systemic deficiencies in three equivalence components: Statutory 
Authority and Food Safety Regulations, Chemical Residue Testing 
Programs, and Microbiological Testing Programs. During the audit, 
establishments made changes to address some deficiencies.
    In addition to the actions taken during the audit, Korea submitted 
a corrective action plan on how it would incorporate the actions it 
took during the audit into its food safety system. FSIS reviewed this 
corrective action plan and, for the reasons explained below, concluded 
that Korea had satisfactorily addressed the findings of 2010 audit.

[[Page 16658]]

    Consequently, on November 27, 2012, FSIS published a proposed rule 
to find that Korea's poultry inspection system (slaughter and 
processing) is equivalent to the United States' poultry inspection 
system and proposing to add the Republic of Korea (Korea) to the list 
of countries eligible to export poultry products to the United States. 
For more detailed information on FSIS's evaluation of the Korean 
poultry inspection system, see the proposed rule (77 FR 70724) and for 
the full audit report go to https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/importing-products/eligible-countries-products-foreign-establishments/foreign-audit-reports.

Final Rule

    After considering the comments received on the proposed rule and 
discussed below, FSIS concludes that Korea's poultry inspection system 
is equivalent to the United States' inspection system for poultry and 
poultry products. Therefore, FSIS is amending its poultry products 
inspection regulations to add Korea to the list of countries eligible 
to export poultry products to the United States (9 CFR 381.196(b)). 
Under FSIS's import regulations, the government of Korea must certify 
to FSIS that those establishments that wish to export poultry products 
to the United States are operating under requirements equivalent to 
those of the United States (9 CFR 381.196(a)).
    Although a foreign country may be listed in FSIS regulations as 
eligible to export poultry to the United States, the exporting 
country's products must also comply with all other applicable 
requirements of the United States. These requirements include 
restrictions under 9 CFR part 94 of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) regulations, which also regulate the 
importation of poultry products from foreign countries into the United 
States.
    Under this final rule, all slaughtered poultry, or parts and 
products thereof, exported to the United States from Korea will be 
subject to re-inspection at the United States ports of entry for, but 
not limited to, transportation damage, product and container defects, 
labeling, proper certification, general condition, and accurate count.
    In addition, FSIS will conduct other types of reinspection 
activities, such as incubation of canned products to ensure product 
safety and taking product samples for laboratory analysis to detect any 
drug or chemical residues or pathogens that may render the product 
unsafe or any species or product composition violations that would 
render the product economically adulterated. Products that pass re-
inspection will be stamped with the official mark of inspection and 
allowed to enter United States commerce. If they do not meet United 
States requirements, they will be refused entry and within 45 days will 
have to be returned to the country of origin, destroyed, or converted 
to animal food (subject to approval of FDA), depending on the 
violation. The import re-inspection activities can be found on the FSIS 
Web site at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international-affairs/importing-products/port-of-entry-procedures/fsis-import-reinspection/ct_index9.

Summary of Comments and Responses

    FSIS received four comments in response to the proposed rule. One 
individual and a consumer advocacy organization opposed the rule, and 
one individual and three trade associations, representing the poultry 
and egg products industries, submitted a single comment that supported 
the proposed rule.
    Following is a discussion of the relevant issues raised in the 
comments and FSIS's responses.
    Comment: One individual stated that all poultry from Korea should 
be banned in the United States. The individual was concerned about the 
safety of food from foreign countries, including Korea, and animal 
welfare and inhumane slaughter in Korea. The individual argued that the 
United States should not import any food from any country.
    Response: Under the PPIA, if a country maintains a poultry safety 
inspection system that is equivalent to that of the United States, it 
is entitled to ship poultry products to the United States should it 
seek to do so.
    FSIS has conducted a thorough review of Korea's laws, regulations, 
written procedures, policies, and other official documents, including 
evaluating whether poultry slaughter establishments maintained good 
commercial practices consistent with those required in United States 
poultry slaughter establishments (see 9 CFR 381.65(a)-(b)). These 
practices ensure that poultry is humanely slaughtered. In addition, 
FSIS conducted two on-site verification audits of Korea's poultry 
inspection system. Taking the findings of the two audits together, FSIS 
has determined that Korea's poultry inspection system is equivalent to 
the United States inspection system for poultry and poultry products. 
The comment has not presented any basis on which FSIS could make a 
contrary determination.
    As stated above, for Korea to be eligible to export poultry to the 
United States, it must implement and maintain a poultry inspection 
system that is equivalent to the United States' system. To determine 
whether Korea maintains an equivalent inspection system, FSIS uses a 
three-part approach that includes (1) on-going document reviews, (2) 
periodic on-site system audits, and (3) ports of entry re-inspections. 
If Korea fails to maintain a poultry inspection system that is 
equivalent to the United States' system, FSIS will act to suspend or 
terminate its eligibility to export to this country.
    Comment: A consumer advocacy organization stated that, although 
Korea will initially export only two types of chicken stew, the 
proposed rule understated the magnitude of future exports to the United 
States because Korea is being added to the list of countries eligible 
to export poultry products to the United States with no restrictions.
    Response: FSIS has no basis for finding that it understated the 
magnitude of future exports from Korea to the United States. As 
described in more detail in the Economic Analysis below, Korea will 
initially export only two types of chicken stew products to the United 
States. Because of the limited market in the United States for these 
products, the projected export volume of these products from Korea is 
likely to be very small, and thus the impact on the United States 
economy is likely to be very small as well.
    However, it is true that Korea would not be precluded from 
exporting other poultry products to the U.S. in the future if those 
products meet all applicable APHIS and FSIS requirements for the 
products, and Korea certifies that the producing establishments comply 
with Korean requirements that FSIS has found to be equivalent to 
applicable FSIS requirements (9 CFR 381.196(a)). Therefore, FSIS agrees 
that the long-term economic impact of this rule could be more 
significant than the immediate impact. FSIS does not have any data, 
however, that it could use to project the long term impact.
    Comment: The consumer advocacy organization also argued that Korea 
should not be added to the list of countries eligible to export poultry 
products because FSIS's 2010 audit found deficiencies in Korea's 
inspection system, and FSIS did not conduct another onsite audit to 
verify that Korea implemented corrective actions in response to the 
2010 audit.
    Response: During the 2010 on-site audit of Korea's poultry 
inspection

[[Page 16659]]

system, FSIS auditors found that Korea had implemented the corrective 
actions that it had proffered in response to the 2008 on-site audit 
findings. In addition, Korea provided records demonstrating that these 
corrective action plans had been implemented in a manner consistent 
with FSIS' inspection requirements. This finding provides a basis for 
confidence that Korea will implement all corrective actions it promises 
in an acceptable manner.
    As the commenter indicated, the auditors found two new problems 
with the Korean system. The first problem identified by the auditors 
was in the Statutory Authority and Food Safety Regulations component: 
Korea's central competent authority (CCA), the Ministry for Food, 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, was not requiring establishments 
to maintain conditions that would allow the government inspectors to 
inspect adequately each carcass. Specifically, FSIS found that: (a) One 
of the three establishments audited did not have conveniently located 
controls (e.g., start-stop switches) that would permit government 
inspection program personnel to stop the line to conduct a protracted 
post-mortem inspection of carcasses when necessary or to prevent 
adulterated product from entering the chill tank; (b) during the on-
site review of records, the Korean inspection regulations did not 
require inspection stations to have online hand-rinsing facilities with 
a continuous flow of water within easy access for inspection personnel 
and establishment personnel to prevent incidental cross-contamination 
of carcasses resulting from post-mortem inspection procedures, and one 
establishment audited did not have such online hand-rinsing facilities; 
and (c) the three establishments audited had 52 footcandles (540 Lux) 
of lighting at post-mortem inspection stations, in compliance with 
Korea's inspection regulation, while the United States requires at 
least 200 foot-candles (2,152 Lux) of shadow-free lighting, with a 
minimum color-rendering index value of 85, for a system configuration 
similar to Korea's inspection system and line speed (Streamlined 
Inspection System (SIS)).
    When FSIS discussed these findings with Korea's CCA during the on-
site audit, Korea's government inspectors at the establishments 
instructed the establishments to make the changes necessary to conform 
to United States requirements for the conditions under which government 
inspection personnel are to perform their inspections. The 
establishments proposed immediate corrective actions, and Korean 
government inspectors accepted establishments' proposals. In the 
establishment that did not have conveniently located controls, it 
implemented immediate corrective action by relocating the controls 
(e.g., start-stop switches) to a convenient location. All the three 
establishments adjusted lighting at post-mortem inspection stations to 
200 foot-candles of shadow-free lighting with a minimum color index 
value of 85. In addition, Korea immediately revised its export 
requirements for the U.S. to require export facilities to have 
inspection stations with online hand-rinsing facilities. This document 
was provided to the auditor before the conclusion of the audit. Korea 
subsequently provided records, including a photograph, showing that the 
audited establishment without on-line hand-rinsing facilities had 
installed such facilities.
    FSIS auditors verified the immediate corrective actions while still 
in Korea. However, the auditors told Korea that it needed to submit a 
comprehensive corrective action plan that included a systematic 
solution to prevent recurrence of these deficiencies.
    Following the audit, in July of 2011, Korea provided supporting 
documentation demonstrating that it had issued new requirements for: 
(1) Inspection stations to have conveniently located controls (e.g., 
start-stop switches); (2) online hand- rinsing facilities with a 
continuous flow of water within easy access; and (3) 200 foot-candles 
of shadow-free lighting with a minimum color-rendering index value of 
85. These requirements, together with the immediate corrective actions 
taken by the establishments and with Korea's history of taking 
effective action to resolve deficiencies found in an audit, provide a 
basis for FSIS to have confidence that the deficiencies that the 
auditors found in the establishments have been corrected and will not 
recur.
    The second problem regarding the implementation of laboratory 
quality systems within Korea's National Residue Program and 
Microbiological Testing Program was identified in two equivalence 
components, Chemical Residue Testing Programs and Microbiological 
Testing Programs. Specifically, the CCA did not have adequate control 
over the implementation of quality systems in the government 
laboratories that are part of Korea's poultry inspection system. While 
residue and microbiological testing methods appeared to be implemented 
in an appropriate manner, Korea's CCA was not verifying that the 
quality control and assurance programs implemented by the government 
laboratories were adequate. For example, the frequency and the 
documentation of equipment verification, calibration, and maintenance 
related to relevant testing methods varied among the laboratories and 
were not consistent with international standards. Therefore, Korea did 
not consistently implement adequate standards for the laboratories.
    Following the 2010 audit, Korea submitted documents showing that it 
had implemented quality control and assurance programs. The 
documentation provided shows that Korea adopted procedures consistent 
with U.S. procedures to ensure that laboratory equipment and materials 
are appropriately verified, calibrated, and maintained to meet program 
requirements (Accreditation Guide 04/10, quality system recommendation 
in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 international standards). Korea 
submitted documents to show that the Korean CCA has adequately trained 
laboratory managers and staff in the quality control and assurance 
program procedures. Records show that Korea has audited the government 
laboratories involved in poultry inspection at least once per year, and 
that the laboratories are meeting Korea's quality system requirements. 
FSIS's review of proficiency testing reports for the year 2012 
submitted by Korea in September 2013 found that the participating 
Korean government laboratories are effectively using the FSIS 
laboratory testing methods to ensure that products eligible for export 
to the U.S. are free of contamination. The documents that Korea 
submitted to FSIS collectively demonstrate that the Korea CCA has 
effectively implemented procedures in its quality control and assurance 
programs that are equivalent to U.S. procedures.
    Comment: Finally, the consumer advocacy organization stated that 
FSIS should not find Korea equivalent when FSIS is not performing 
annual audits of all countries currently listed as eligible to export 
to the United States.
    Response: FSIS will conduct on-site audits of Korea's inspection 
system each year for the next three years. After three years, FSIS will 
reassess how frequently it needs to conduct on-site audits of Korea's 
system. Additionally, all product imported from Korea will be subject 
to FSIS re-inspection.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866 by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and has

[[Page 16660]]

been determined to be not significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

Economic Impact Analysis

    This rule adds Korea to the list of countries eligible to export 
poultry products into the United States. Korea will export two types of 
ginseng chicken stew products to the United States. Given the limited 
market in the United States for this product, and the projected export 
volume of this product from Korea, the impact on the United States 
economy is likely to be very small. According to data from Korea, only 
two Korean establishments will export ginseng chicken stew to the 
United States. The average combined annual production of these two 
establishments is 3.2 million pounds (2006-2010 average), and their 
projected total export volume to the United States will be about 
380,000 pounds in year one (the first year of exporting to the United 
States), gradually increasing to about 2.25 million pounds in year 
five, according to the Korean data.
    Ginseng chicken stew is sold commercially in frozen pouches. The 
United States market for ginseng chicken stew is so small that no data 
on domestic production, consumption, or importation could be found. 
Using label application data, FSIS identified two official 
establishments that produce and sell ginseng chicken stew. On the basis 
of information from these establishments, FSIS believes (1) they are 
very likely the only two establishments that are producing ginseng 
chicken stew in the United States, (2) the market for ginseng chicken 
stew is limited, (3) the annual production is about 18,000 pouches for 
one establishment and 10,000 pouches for the other, and (4) each pouch 
weighs about two pounds. Therefore, the combined production of these 
two establishments is about 56,000 pounds per year ((18,000 + 10,000) x 
2). The special flavor and taste make ginseng chicken stew unlikely to 
be a substitute for other kinds of chicken stew in the United States. 
Therefore, although this rule may affect these two United States 
establishments, the impact to the United States economy is likely to be 
insignificant.
    Expected benefits from this rule will be primarily for consumers in 
the form of more choices in the marketplace. As mentioned above, the 
volume of trade stimulated by the rule is likely be so small as to have 
little effect on supply and prices. Another potential benefit of this 
rule would result in efficiency gains of United States poultry 
producers due to the increased competition from Korea.
    The cost of this rule will be incurred by domestic producers in the 
form of competition from Korea. The two establishments that are 
currently producing ginseng chicken stew are likely to encounter 
competition pressure, for the projected import volume in year one is 
already 6.8 times the combined production volume of these two 
establishments. The imported volume, however, is likely to have little 
impact on the overall United States economy. Also, these two 
establishments may change their production mix if they find it 
difficult to compete with imports.

Effect on Small Entities

    The FSIS Administrator has made a determination that this rule will 
not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601). 
As mentioned above, the expected trade volume will be very small, and 
the effect will be on only two very small establishments that produce 
ginseng chicken stew domestically.

Potential Long-Term Effect

    When foreign countries apply for eligibility of their meat, 
poultry, or egg products for entry into this country, FSIS determines 
whether their inspection systems are equivalent to the system 
maintained by the United States. FSIS does not make equivalence 
determinations on the basis of particular products; rather, the 
equivalence decision is based on the evaluation of the countries' 
inspection systems.
    Although Korea indicates that it intends to export two types of 
ginseng chicken stew products for now, it would not be precluded from 
exporting other poultry products in the future if the products meet all 
applicable APHIS and FSIS requirements for those products. If 
additional Korean establishments export product to the United States, 
the long-term economic impact could be more significant. However, no 
data is available to assess such future impacts.

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. Under this rule: (1) All State and local laws and 
regulations that are inconsistent with this rule will be preempted; (2) 
no retroactive effect will be given to this rule; and (3) no 
retroactive proceedings will be required before parties may file suit 
in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    No new paperwork requirements are associated with this final rule. 
Foreign countries wanting to export poultry and poultry products to the 
United States are required to provide information to FSIS certifying 
that their inspection system provides standards equivalent to those of 
the United States, and that the legal authority for the system and 
their implementing regulations are equivalent to those of the United 
States. FSIS provided Korea with questionnaires asking for detailed 
information about the country's inspection practices and procedures to 
assist that country in organizing its materials. This information 
collection was approved under OMB number 0583-0094.

E-Government Act

    FSIS and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are 
committed to achieving the purposes of the E-Government Act (44 U.S.C. 
3601, et seq.) by, among other things, promoting the use of the 
Internet and other information technologies and providing increased 
opportunities for citizen access to Government information and 
services, and for other purposes.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will officially notify the World Trade Organization's 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO/SPS Committee) in 
Geneva, Switzerland, of this rule and will announce it on-line through 
the FSIS Web page located at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register/interim-and-final-rules.
    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. 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/subscribe. Options 
range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives, 
and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and

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have the option to password protect their accounts.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    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.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 381

    Imported products.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, FSIS is amending 9 CFR 
part 381 as follows:

PART 381--POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 381 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 138f, 450; 21 U.S.C. 451-470; 7 CFR 2.7, 
2.18, 2.53.


Sec.  381.196  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  381.196(b) to add the ``Republic of Korea'' in 
alphabetical order to the list of countries.

    Done at Washington, DC, on March 20, 2014.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-06652 Filed 3-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P