Food Safety and Inspection Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
This notice is announcing that the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a meeting of the full Committee by an audio conference call that is open to the public on March 28, 2012. The Committee will discuss: Food Safety Questions from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service to Support Ground Beef Purchase for the Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs. Specifically NACMCF will address food safety questions to assist the 2012-2013 ground beef purchase for the School Lunch Program on microbiological criteria, pathogen testing methodology, and sampling plans.
Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli
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).
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on General Principles
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sponsoring a public meeting on March 28, 2012. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 27th session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Paris, France, April 2-6, 2012. The Under Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 27th session of the CCGP and to address items on the agenda.
Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing a new inspection system for young chicken and turkey slaughter establishments that would replace the current Streamlined Inspection System (SIS), the New Line Speed Inspection System (NELS), and the New Turkey Inspection System (NTIS). The Agency is also proposing several changes that would affect all establishments that slaughter poultry other than ratites, regardless of the inspection system under which they operate. This proposed rule is a result of the Agency's 2011 regulatory review efforts conducted under Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), are sponsoring a public meeting on February 28, 2012. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, March 5-9, 2012. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 33rd Session of the CCMAS and to address items on the agenda.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are sponsoring a public meeting on February 14, 2012. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 44th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Shanghai, P.R. China April 23-28, 2012. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and EPA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 44th Session of the CCPR and to address items on the agenda.
Electronic Export Application and Certification Charge; Flexibility in the Requirements for Export Inspection Marks, Devices, and Certificates; Egg Products Export Certification
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend the meat and poultry inspection regulations to provide for an electronic export application and certification system. The electronic export application and certification system will be a component of the Agency's Public Health Information System (PHIS). The export component of PHIS will be available as an alternative to the paper-based application and certification process. FSIS is proposing to charge users for the use of the proposed system. FSIS is proposing to establish a formula for calculating the fee. FSIS intends to publish notice of the fee, using the formula, in the Federal Register on an annual basis. FSIS is also proposing to provide flexibility in the requirements for official export inspection marks, devices, and certificates. In addition, FSIS is proposing to amend the egg product export regulations that parallel the meat and poultry product export regulations.
Food Ingredients and Sources of Radiation Listed or Approved for Use in the Production of Meat and Poultry Products; Technical Amendment
This document contains technical amendments to the final labeling regulations that were published in the Federal Register on December 23, 1999. The regulations related to harmonizing and improving the efficiency of the procedures used by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for reviewing and listing the food ingredients and sources of radiation listed or approved for use in the production of meat and poultry products.
Cooperative Inspection Programs: Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products; Correction
This document corrects typographical errors in the final regulations establishing a new voluntary cooperative program under which certain very small and small State-inspected establishments will be eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on May 2, 2011, and became effective on July 1, 2011.
Food Source Attribution; Public Meeting
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is hosting a public meeting to discuss Federal efforts to advance tri-agency understanding of food source attribution and develop harmonized food source attribution estimates useful to informing targeted food safety strategies. The public meeting will also introduce the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC), which was formed to collaborate on analytic projects. The meeting will also serve as a platform to introduce IFSAC's draft Strategic Plan. Foodborne illness attribution was selected as the initial focus in light of the CDC foodborne illness burden estimates released in 2011 and in response to stakeholder input to develop a unified approach to attribution. FSIS, FDA, and CDC are also interested in input from stakeholders regarding existing data and methods for food source attribution in the United States and the opportunities and challenges in implementing the IFSAC Strategic Plan.
Nutrition Labeling of Single-Ingredient Products and Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products; Delay of Effective Date and Correction
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is delaying the effective date of the final regulations that require nutrition labeling of the major cuts of single-ingredient, raw meat and poultry products and ground or chopped meat and poultry products that were published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2010. The original effective date of these regulations was January 1, 2012. FSIS is taking this action in response to a request from eight trade associations. The trade associations requested that FSIS exercise enforcement discretion for a six month period following the January 1, 2012, effective date of the final rule. However, FSIS has concluded that a two month delay in the effective date will allow industry sufficient time to comply with the requirements of the final rule. The new effective date of the final rule is March 1, 2012. FSIS is also making a correction to the final rule to clarify an amendatory instruction.
Prior Label Approval System: Generic Label Approval
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend the meat and poultry products inspection regulations to expand the circumstances in which FSIS will generically approve the labels of meat and poultry products. The Agency also is proposing to combine the regulations that provide for the approval of labels for meat products and poultry products into a new CFR part.
Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption; Establishment of Dockets; Request for Comments, Data, and Information; Extension of Comment Period
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are extending the comment period to January 27, 2012, for the notice entitled ``Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption; Establishment of Dockets; Request for Comments, Data, and Information,'' that appeared in the Federal Register of September 15, 2011 (76 FR 57050). In that notice, FDA and FSIS requested comments on research, data, and other information that will better inform both Agencies about current and emerging practices by the private sector regarding sodium reduction in foods; current consumer understanding of the role of sodium in hypertension and other chronic illnesses; sodium consumption practices; motivation and barriers in reducing sodium in consumers' food intakes; and issues associated with the development of targets for sodium reduction in foods to promote reduction in excess sodium intake. FDA and FSIS are extending the comment period in response to a request from an industry association for additional time to allow interested persons to submit comments.
Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Certain Raw Beef Products
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing that it will hold a public meeting on the Agency's implementation plans and methods for controlling non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in raw, intact and non-intact beef products and product components. To provide stakeholders with ready access to the public meeting, FSIS will conduct the meeting by teleconference. This document provides information on the meeting. In the Agency's September 20, 2011, document announcing these plans and methods (76 FR 58157), FSIS asked for comments on a variety of issues (76 FR 58164). That comment period, which was originally scheduled to end on November 21, 2011, is now being extended and will end on December 21, 2011.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task Force on Animal Feeding
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are sponsoring a public meeting on January 18, 2012. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 6th Session of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding (AFTF) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Berne Switzerland, February 20-24, 2012. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA, recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 6th Session of the AFTF and to address items on the agenda.
Common or Usual Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Containing Added Solutions-Reopening of Comment Period
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reopening for 60 days the comment period for the proposed rule, ``Common or Usual Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Containing Added Solutions.'' It is also providing information concerning data used to develop the proposed rule and providing examples of labels about which FSIS has concerns.
Classes of Poultry
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the definitions and standards for the official U.S. classes of poultry so that they more accurately and clearly describe the characteristics of poultry in the market today. Poultry classes are defined primarily in terms of the age and sex of the bird. Genetic improvements and poultry management techniques have reduced the grow-out period for some poultry classes, while extensive cross breeding has produced poultry with higher meat yields but blurred breed distinctions. FSIS is taking this action to ensure that the labeling of poultry products is truthful and not misleading.
Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption; Establishment of Dockets; Request for Comments, Data, and Information; Correction
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) are correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of September 15, 2011 (76 FR 57050). In that notice, FDA and FSIS established dockets to obtain comments, data, and evidence relevant to the dietary intake of sodium, as well as current and emerging approaches designed to promote sodium reduction. The document published with two typographical errors in the References section. This document corrects those errors.
Pre-Harvest Food Safety for Cattle; Public Meeting
This notice is announcing that the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), are hosting a public meeting to seek input on pre-harvest pathogen control strategies designed to reduce the likelihood that beef will be contaminated with pathogens of public health concern, such as Shiga toxin- producing E. coli and Salmonella, during the slaughter process.
Approaches To Reducing Sodium Consumption; Public Meeting
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) are announcing a public meeting entitled ``Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption.'' FDA and FSIS recently published a Federal Register notice that announced the establishment of dockets to obtain comments, data, and evidence relevant to the dietary intake of sodium as well as current and emerging approaches designed to promote sodium reduction. The purpose of the public meeting is to provide interested persons an opportunity to discuss the topics raised in the earlier notice.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are sponsoring a public meeting on October 20, 2011. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany from November 14-18, 2011. In addition, two working groups will meet on November 12 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to discuss the Proposed Draft Revision of the Guidelines on Formulated Supplementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children, and the Proposed Draft Revision of the Codex General Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and the FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 33rd Session of the CCNFSDU and to address items on the agenda.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is sponsoring a public meeting on October 4, 2011. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items, and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Cairns, Australia October 17-21, 2011. The Under Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 19th Session of the CCFICS, and to address items on the agenda.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are sponsoring a public meeting on November 15, 2011. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 43rd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Miami, Florida, from December 5-9, 2011. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and the FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 43rd Session of the CCFH and to address items on the agenda.
Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to carry out verification procedures, including sampling and testing manufacturing trim and other raw ground beef product components, to ensure control of both Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) and six other serogroups of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145). The Agency intends to implement sampling and testing for the additional STEC. FSIS has determined that they, as well as O157:H7, are adulterants of non-intact raw beef products and product components within the meaning of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). The Agency is publishing guidance for use in validating commercial pathogen detection test kits that may be capable of detecting the STEC of concern. Finally, the Agency is planning a comprehensive survey of its field personnel who are stationed in beef slaughtering and processing establishments, similar to the 2007 ``checklist'' survey, to determine the processing practices that are employed to reduce the likelihood of contamination of intact and non- intact beef products with these STEC.
Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption; Establishment of Dockets; Request for Comments, Data, and Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are announcing the establishment of dockets to obtain comments, data, and evidence relevant to the dietary intake of sodium as well as current and emerging approaches designed to promote sodium reduction. FDA and FSIS are particularly interested in research that will help both organizations understand current and emerging practices by industry in sodium reduction in foods; current consumer understanding of the role of sodium in hypertension and other chronic illnesses, sodium consumption practices; motivation and barriers in reducing sodium in their food intakes; and issues associated with the development of targets for sodium reduction in foods to promote reduction of excess sodium intake. Excess sodium intake is linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke. FDA and FSIS recognize ongoing efforts by a number of members of the restaurant and packaged food industries to reduce sodium and appreciate the complexities of reducing sodium in foods. Continued input and support from industry and other stakeholders are important to support further progress on this significant public health issue.
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
This notice is announcing that the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings of the full Committee and subcommittees on September 27-30, 2011. The Committee will discuss: (1) Control strategies for reducing foodborne Norovirus infections, and (2) Study of microbiological criteria as indicators of process control or insanitary conditions.
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing, pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, that the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) will hold a public meeting on September 22 and 23, 2011, to review and discuss pre-harvest and validation. All issues will be presented to the full Committee. The Committee will then divide into two subcommittees to discuss the issues. Each subcommittee will provide a report of their comments and recommendations to the full Committee before the meeting concludes on September 23, 2011.
Availability of Final Compliance Guide for the Use of Video or Other Electronic Monitoring or Recording Equipment in Federally Inspected Establishments
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of the final compliance guide on the use of video or other electronic monitoring or recording equipment in federally inspected establishments. FSIS has received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) related to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOP) video records. FSIS made changes to the final compliance guide based on comments received on the draft guide. FSIS has posted this final compliance guide on its Significant Guidance Documents Web page (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp).
Common or Usual Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Containing Added Solutions
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend its regulations to establish a common or usual name for raw meat and poultry products that do not meet standard of identity regulations and to which solutions have been added. Products with added solutions are sometimes referred to as ``enhanced products.'' The Agency is proposing that the common or usual name for such products include an accurate description of the raw meat or poultry component, the percentage of added solution incorporated into the raw meat or poultry product, and the individual ingredients or multi-ingredient components in the solution listed in the descending order of predominance by weight. FSIS is also proposing that the print for all words in the common or usual name appear in a single font size, color, and style of print and that the name appear on a single-color contrasting background. In addition, the Agency is proposing to remove the standard of identity regulation for ``ready-to-cook poultry products to which solutions are added.''
Salmonella Verification Sampling Program: Response to Comments on New Agency Policies and Clarification of Timeline for the Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP)
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responding to comments on a January 28, 2008 Federal Register notice (73 FR 4767- 4774), which described upcoming policy changes in the FSIS Salmonella Verification Program and outlined a new voluntary Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP) for meat and poultry slaughter establishments that agree to share internal food safety data with FSIS in order to receive waivers of regulatory requirements. SIP benefits public health in that it encourages slaughter establishments to test for microbial pathogens and to respond to the ongoing results by taking steps when necessary to regain process control and thus to minimize the presence of pathogens of public health concern. In addition, SIP enables FSIS to use establishment data to enhance public health protection. In this notice, the Agency is announcing several policy developments and changes regarding SIP. This notice also includes Agency responses to comments on SIP and on other issues discussed in the January 2008 Federal Register notice.
Changes to the Schedule of Operations Regulations
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the meat, poultry products, and egg products regulations pertaining to the schedule of operations. FSIS is amending these regulations to define the 8-hour work day as including time that inspection program personnel need to spend at the workplace donning and doffing required gear, time spent walking to their workstations after donning required gear, and time spent walking from their work stations prior to doffing required gear.
International Standard-Setting Activities
This notice informs the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Public Law 103-465, 108 Stat. 4809. This notice also provides a list of other standard-setting activities of Codex, including commodity standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts. This notice, which covers the time periods from June 1, 2010, to May 31, 2011, and June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012, seeks comments on standards under consideration and recommendations for new standards.
Notice of Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection (Marking, Labeling, and Packaging)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to request a revision of a currently approved information collection regarding the regulatory requirements for marking, labeling, and packaging of meat, poultry, and egg products; and for establishments that produce mechanically separated poultry. FSIS has revised its total annual burden estimate in light of the latest available data. Also, FSIS is requesting permission to use a new form related to the label approval process.
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Food Safety Education Campaign-Tracking Survey)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a new information collection for a tracking survey associated with the upcoming Food Safety Education Campaign. FSIS is giving the public 30 days to respond instead of the normal 60 days because of the need to expeditiously conduct the tracking survey so that the Food Safety Education Campaign will be able to begin in July as planned.
Public Meetings on the Proposed Rule for Mandatory Inspection of Catfish and Catfish Products
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing that it will hold two public meetings to receive comments on the proposed regulation to implement a program for mandatory inspection of catfish and catfish products (Docket No. FSIS-2008-0031), published February 24, 2011 in the Federal Register.
Notice of Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection (Application for Inspection, Accreditation of Laboratories, and Exemptions)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to request a revision of a currently approved information collection. The information collection addresses the paperwork requirements specified in the regulations relating to the application for inspection, accreditation of laboratories, and exemptions. FSIS is revising the information collection to increase the estimate of the total burden hours, and because the OMB approval will expire on July 31, 2011.
Cooperative Inspection Programs: Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the Federal meat and poultry products inspection regulations to establish a new voluntary cooperative program under which State-inspected establishments with 25 or fewer employees will be eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce. In participating States, State-inspected establishments selected to take part in this program will be required to comply with all Federal standards under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). These establishments will receive inspection services from State inspection personnel that have been trained in the enforcement of the FMIA and PPIA. Meat and poultry products produced under the program that have been inspected and passed by designated State personnel will bear an official Federal mark of inspection and will be permitted to be distributed in interstate commerce. FSIS will provide oversight and enforcement of the program.
Availability of Salmonella Compliance Guide for Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry Establishments That Produce Ready-to-Eat Products
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of a compliance guide for small and very small meat establishments on the safe production of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products with respect to Salmonella and other pathogens. FSIS has posted this compliance guide on its Significant Guidance Documents Web page (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp). FSIS encourages small and very small meat establishments that manufacture these products to avail themselves of this guidance document. FSIS is also soliciting comments on this compliance guide. The Agency will consider carefully all comments submitted and will revise the guide as warranted.
New Formulas for Calculating the Basetime, Overtime, Holiday, and Laboratory Services Rates; Rate Changes Based on the Formulas; and Increased Fees for the Accredited Laboratory Program.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending its regulations to establish formulas for calculating the rates that it charges meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, and importers and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime, and holiday inspection, and identification, certification, and laboratory services. The 2011 basetime, overtime, holiday, and laboratory services rates in this final rule will be applied on the effective date. For future years, FSIS will use the formulas established to calculate the annual rates. FSIS will publish the rates annually in Federal Register notices prior to the start of each calendar year and will apply them on the first FSIS pay period at the beginning of the calendar year. The Agency is also increasing the codified flat annual fee for its Accredited Laboratory Program for FY 2012 and FY 2013.
Not Applying the Mark of Inspection Pending Certain Test Results
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to change its procedures and withhold a determination as to whether meat and poultry products are not adulterated, and thus eligible to enter commerce, until all test results that bear on the determination have been received. Inspection program personnel periodically sample products for adulterants to verify an establishment's regulatory compliance. The Agency's practice has been to allow these products to bear the mark of inspection, and to enter commerce, even though the test results have not been received. FSIS has asked, but has not required, official establishments to maintain control of products represented by a sample pending test results. Because establishments, including official import inspection establishments, are not consistently maintaining control of product, despite FSIS's request that they do so, adulterated product is entering commerce. Therefore, FSIS is announcing its tentative determination not to apply the mark of inspection until negative results are available and received for any testing for adulterants conducted by the Agency. FSIS invites comments on this proposed change in policy and procedures. FSIS will evaluate comments received in response to this notice. In a subsequent Federal Register notice, FSIS will respond to the comments it receives. FSIS will make any appropriate changes to the policy and procedures based on comments, and in that subsequent Federal Register notice will announce the effective date of the new policy.
Exemption for Retail Store Operations
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the dollar limitations on the amount of meat and meat food products, poultry and poultry products that a retail store can sell to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions without disqualifying itself for exemption from Federal inspection requirements. In accordance with FSIS's regulations, for calendar year 2011, the dollar limitation for meat and meat food products is being increased from $60,200 to $61,900 but for poultry products will remain at $50,200. FSIS is retaining or changing the dollar limitations from calendar year 2010 based on price changes for these products evidenced by the Consumer Price Index.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is sponsoring a public meeting on June 16, 2011. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 34th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, July 4-9, 2011. The Under Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 34th session of the CAC and to address items on the agenda.
Update of the 2003 Interagency Quantitative Assessment of the Relative Risk to Public Health From Foodborne Listeria Monocytogenes Among Selected Categories of Ready-to-Eat Foods; Request for Comments, Scientific Data and Information
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are requesting comments and scientific data and information that would assist the agencies in their plan to update a risk assessment on the relationship between foodborne Listeria monocytogenes in selected categories of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and human health. The purpose of the risk assessment is to incorporate newly available scientific data and information into the risk assessment in order to update estimates of the relative risk of illness and death associated with the consumption of different types of RTE foods that may be contaminated with L. monocytogenes and to evaluate the relative effectiveness of strategies to reduce or prevent exposure to L. monocytogenes from the consumption of RTE foods, including, for example, the impact of changing refrigerated time and temperature storage prior to consumption.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV)
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Fruit and Vegetable Programs of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), are sponsoring a public meeting on April 5, 2011. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 16th session of the CCFFV of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Mexico City, Mexico from May 2-6, 2011. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and AMS recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 16th Session of the CCFFV and to address items on the agenda.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are sponsoring a public meeting on April 25, 2011. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Qu[eacute]bec City, Canada May 9-13, 2011. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 39th session of the CCFL and to address items on the agenda.
New Performance Standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter in Young Chicken and Turkey Slaughter Establishments: Response to Comments and Announcement of Implementation Schedule
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a Federal Register Notice on May 14, 2010 (75 FR 27288) in which it announced the forthcoming implementation of new performance standards for the pathogenic micro-organisms Salmonella and Campylobacter for chilled carcasses in young chicken (broiler) and turkey slaughter establishments. The new performance standards were developed in response to a charge from the President's Food Safety Working Group and based on recent FSIS Nationwide Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Programs. The standards will be applied to sample sets collected and analyzed by the Agency to evaluate establishment performance with respect to requirements of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Rule. The Agency received detailed comments submitted in response to the notice. This notice responds to those comments submitted and explains the changes adopted by the Agency after carefully evaluating comments. These changes include:
Australia's Meat Safety Enhancement Program; Notice of Affirmation of Equivalence Decision
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is affirming its 1999 decision that Australia's Meat Safety Enhancement Program (MSEP), an alternative to the conventional meat inspection system also maintained by the Australian Government food regulatory authority [Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)], is equivalent to the FSIS domestic meat inspection system. MSEP has been renamed the Australian Export Meat Inspection System (AEMIS), but the system itself will remain the same as that determined to be equivalent by FSIS in 1999 when FSIS announced that slaughter inspection in MSEP establishments meets all requirements of U.S. law for the import of product to the United States, and provides the same level of public health protection as U.S. domestic slaughter inspection. In this notice, MSEP is used for events that occurred under that name, MSEP/ AEMIS for unchanging features of the program, and AEMIS for current and projected activities. In January 2011, Australia informed FSIS that AEMIS will be progressively implemented in all Australian beef, sheep, and goat establishments eligible to export to the United States.
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are sponsoring a public meeting on March 16, 2011. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 31st session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Tromso, Norway, April 11-16, 2011. The Under Secretary for Food Safety and FDA recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 31st session of the CCFFP and to address items on the agenda.
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