Effective Date for Foreign Inspection Certificate Requirements, 12974 [2015-05670]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 12974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05670]


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 48 / Thursday, March 12, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 12974]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

RIN 0583-AD39
[Docket Number FSIS-2015-0006]


Effective Date for Foreign Inspection Certificate Requirements

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is extending the 
effective date for foreign inspection certificate requirements to March 
18, 2015, to ensure that countries have sufficient time to adjust to 
the new requirements for additional product information.

DATES: Compliance date: Foreign Inspection certificate requirements: 
March 18, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For further information contact Dan 
Engeljohn, Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program 
Development, FSIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 205-0495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On September 19, 2014, FSIS published a final rule, ``Electronic 
Import Inspection Application and Certification of Imported Products 
and Foreign Establishments; Amendments to Facilitate the Public Health 
Information System (PHIS) and Other Changes to Import Inspection 
Regulations'' (79 FR 56220). The final rule amended the meat, poultry, 
and egg products import regulations to provide for the Agency's Public 
Health Information System (PHIS) Import Component. The rule also 
removed from the regulations the discontinued ``streamlined'' import 
inspection procedures for Canadian product and required Sanitation 
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at official import inspection 
establishments. In addition, the rule amended the regulations to delete 
overly prescriptive formatting and narrative requirements for foreign 
inspection certificates and to make the certificate requirements the 
same for imported meat, poultry, and egg products. The Agency also 
proposed to require additional information on the foreign inspection 
certificate so it would have complete foreign product information.
    The effective date of the final rule was November 18, 2014. 
However, to ensure that foreign countries have sufficient time to 
adjust to the new requirements for certifying the additional product 
information on foreign inspection certificates, FSIS will allow 
countries to continue using existing inspection certificates until 
March 18, 2015. FSIS announced the March 18, 2015, effective date for 
foreign inspection certificates in a Constituent Update that published 
on October 31, 2014 (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/meetings/newsletters/constituent-updates/archive/2014/ConstUpdate103114). In addition, in a letter issued to foreign 
countries, the Agency advised that it would allow countries to continue 
using existing foreign inspection certificates until March 18, 2015 
(https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/3c9c0fa4-fa3c-4ae1-bfb0-0286623009f2/Import-Rule-Letter-to-Foreign-Gov.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this 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 available on the FSIS Web page. Through 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/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How to File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    Fax: (202) 690-7442.
    Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done, at Washington, DC on: March 9, 2015.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-05670 Filed 3-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P