[Federal Register: January 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 6)]
[Notices]
[Page 1566-1567]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09ja04-34]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 02-026N]
FSIS Policy on Delinquent Payments for Reimbursable Overtime and
Holiday Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Services
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is providing
notice that it will not provide reimbursable overtime and holiday meat,
poultry, and egg product inspection services to persons who have
delinquent accounts. FSIS charges fees for the overtime and holiday
meat, poultry, and egg product inspection services it provides to
official establishments, official plants, importers, and exporters. In
addition, FSIS will pursue the collection of debts owed to it for such
services.
DATES: This notice is effective February 9, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact
Michael B. Zimmerer, Director, Financial Management Division, Office of
Management, FSIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 5601 Sunnyside
Avenue, Mail Drop 5262 Beltsville, MD 20705, (301) 504-5885.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FSIS is providing notice of the actions it will take in regard to
the provision of reimbursable overtime and holiday meat, poultry, and
egg products inspection services to persons who are delinquent in
paying for such services. The Agency is authorized to charge fees for
the overtime and holiday meat, poultry, and egg product inspection
services it provides by 7 U.S.C. 2219a and 21 U.S.C. 468, 695, and
1053.
FSIS regulations provide that reimbursable overtime and holiday
meat, poultry, and egg products inspection services will not be
performed for persons who have a delinquent account. These regulations
are set forth in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in
sections 307.6(c), 381.39(c), and 590.130. The regulations provide that
bills are payable upon receipt and become delinquent 30 days from the
date of the bill.
As of the effective date of this notice, if payment for
reimbursable overtime and holiday meat, poultry, and egg products
inspection services, including payment of interest, penalty, and
administrative charges, is delinquent, the Agency will take the
following actions:
[sbull] FSIS will send the recipient of the service a ``dunning
notice.''
[sbull] FSIS will send a certified letter, along with a second
dunning notice, to the recipient of the services if the requested
payment in full is not received within 30 days of the initial dunning.
If payment in full of the delinquent account is not received by FSIS
within 14 days from the date the certified letter and second dunning
notice are received, no further reimbursable overtime or holiday meat,
poultry, and egg products inspection services will be provided until
payment in full of the delinquent debt, including any interest,
penalty, and administrative charges assessed, is received.
[sbull] If a debtor either has failed to make payment in full, of a
delinquent debt or has not entered into a written repayment agreement
with FSIS, the Agency will transfer the delinquent debt to the U.S.
Department of Treasury for cross-servicing in accordance with the Debt
Collection Improvement Act of 1996. At the discretion of the Secretary
of the U.S. Department of Treasury, referral of a delinquent nontax
debt may be made to (A) any executive department or agency operating a
debt collection center for collection action; (B) a private collection
contractor operating under a contract for servicing or collection
action; or (C) the U.S. Department of Justice for litigation.
This notice applies to the provision of reimbursable overtime and
holiday meat, poultry, and egg products inspection services provided
pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2219a and 21 U.S.C. 468, 695, and 1053, and
regulations enacted thereunder. FSIS will continue to provide non-
overtime and non-reimbursable holiday meat, poultry, and egg products
inspection services under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C.
601 et. seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et
seq., and the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.) to
persons, regardless of whether they are delinquent in paying for the
reimbursable overtime or holiday meat, poultry, or egg products
inspection services provided to them.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it and make copies of this Federal Register
publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS
provides a weekly Constituent Update, which is communicated via
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service. In addition, the update
is available on-line through the FSIS web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
The update is used to provide information regarding
FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS
public meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could
affect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The
constituent Listserv consists of industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be
included. Through the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader, more diverse audience than would
otherwise be possible.
For more information contact the Congressional and Public Affairs
Office, at (202) 720-9113. To be added to the free e-mail subscription
service (Listserv) go to the ``Constituent Update'' page on the FSIS
Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update/update.htm. Click on the
``Subscribe to
[[Page 1567]]
the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out and submit the
form.
Done at Washington, DC, on January 5, 2004.
Garry L. McKee,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-401 Filed 1-8-04; 8:45 am]