Department of Agriculture October 6, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is publishing this notice to inform federally-inspected meat and poultry establishments that the Agency has determined that, under certain circumstances, the installation of a satellite dish on establishment premises by the Agency is essential to the efficient conduct of inspection. FSIS is also advising these establishments that, where these circumstances exist, FSIS expects that the establishments will provide space on their premises for FSIS to install a satellite dish. Because the use of information technology has become an integral part of FSIS' inspection process, FSIS has determined that inspection personnel must have reliable, high-speed Internet access to more efficiently and effectively perform their duties. The Agency intends to use satellite technology to provide high-speed Internet access to inspection personnel in approximately 2000 establishments nationwide.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to increase the fees and charges for Federal voluntary egg, poultry, and rabbit grading, certification, and audit services, and to establish a separate billing rate for the audit services. The fees and charges need to be increased to cover the increase in salaries of Federal employees, salary increases of State employees cooperatively utilized in administering the programs, and other increased Agency costs. The AMS is required to collect fees from users of these services to cover the costs of services rendered.