[Federal Register: July 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 43095-43096]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31jy06-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0017]
Technical Service Center Operations
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice, request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reviewing the
organization, operations, and services provided by its Technical
Service Center (TSC) in Omaha, Nebraska, with the intent of improving
TSC programs that provide technical advice, guidance, and information
to FSIS personnel, the regulated industry, and the general public. FSIS
is particularly interested in improving TSC programs that assist small
businesses. FSIS seeks comment from the public as part of this effort
to improve TSC operations.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 30,
2006.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to
type short comments directly into the comment field on this web page or
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.regulations.gov
and, in the ``Search for Open Regulations'' box, select ``Food Safety
and Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click on
``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select the FDMS Docket Number
FSIS-2006-0017 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting
and related materials available electronically. After the close of the
comment period, the docket can be viewed using the ``Advanced Search''
function in Regulations.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-
delivered items: Send to Program Evaluation and Improvement Staff, Food
Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room
3833 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3700.
Electronic mail: fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.
All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS-2006-0017.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted to
the regulations.gov Web site and on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_Notices_Index/index.asp.
The comments also will be available for public inspection in
the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Matthew Michael, Director, Program
Evaluation and Improvement Staff, Office of Program Evaluation,
Enforcement & Review, FSIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 3833
South Building, 14th and Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-
3700; telephone (202) 720-6735; fax (202) 690-1030; e-mail:
matthew.michael@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 1997, FSIS established the TSC to serve as a vital component in
implementing the Agency's science-based inspection system. As part of
the 1996 FSIS reorganization, the TSC was established to provide
frontline inspectors and supervisors consistent technical guidance and
expertise on the interpretation, enforcement, and application of
regulations, policies, and systems. FSIS' intent was to concentrate in
one location the technical expertise previously located in numerous
headquarters and field offices in order to provide comprehensive and
consistent technical advice quickly during the implementation of this
initiative. The center's creation was critical to the successful
implementation of the 1996 Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) systems regulation, which established new requirements for the
regulated industry and changed many of the tasks carried out by
inspectors.
In November 2004, FSIS asked the National Advisory Committee on
Meat and Poultry Inspection to provide input on how well the TSC is
functioning, and what the center should be doing in light of the fact
that HACCP implementation was complete. In its report to FSIS, NACMPI
fully supported the continuation of the center to provide technical
assistance to the Agency and the industry and made a number of
suggestions to improve the center's effectiveness, including improving
consistency of answers, compiling helpful resources for the industry,
and expanding formal correlation between FSIS and industry.
The TSC continues to assist the FSIS workforce, plant owners and
operators, state and foreign government officials, industry
representatives, and others by:
Providing technical advice, guidance, and information
related to the interpretation, application, implementation and
enforcement of regulations, policies and systems concerning meat and
poultry processing, slaughter, imports and egg products inspection
activities;
Contributing to the development of Agency policy on
various matters, particularly issues involving inspection at slaughter
and processing;
Correlating inspection procedures and requirements with
FSIS' Office of Field Operations personnel and industry;
[[Page 43096]]
Guiding the implementation of new and modified inspection
programs and procedures;
Interacting with other program areas to assure information
exchange and uniformity of regulatory issues within the Agency;
Working with the FSIS Center for Learning to develop and
deliver training;
Analyzing data in major Agency databases for recurring and
specific project requirements; and
Identifying emerging data analysis and management needs,
including developing, piloting, implementing, and maintaining databases
and reporting systems, and raising policy and program issues based on
that analysis.
Significantly, the TSC does not provide a forum for resolving
disputes between inspection personnel and plant management, nor does it
rule on appeals. This is a function of the chain of command and the
appeals process is described in 9 CFR 306.5. The role of the TSC is to
assist decision making by providing all parties with the standards and
other technical information needed to understand, implement, apply, and
enforce regulatory requirements. Two TSC staffs, both within the FSIS
Office of Policy, Program & Employee Development, provide the services
described above. The Technical Assistance/Correlation Staff (TAC)
provides technical expertise, guidance and correlation. The Program
Analysis Staff (PAS) conducts data analysis and special studies
concerning Agency program operations.
FSIS is now seeking broader input on the organization, operations,
and services provided by the TSC, with the intent of improving TSC
programs. As part of a comprehensive evaluation of TSC operations and
services, the Agency is seeking comments from the public and especially
from small businesses. Feedback from small businesses is being
requested specifically as a result of the Agency's initiative to
improve its outreach to small and very small plants to further improve
their food safety programs.
Questions
All relevant comments are welcome, but FSIS specifically seeks
responses from the regulated industry to the following questions:
In what way has the availability of TSC services helped
you with your operations?
When you have contacted the TSC, has the response been
prompt, clear, thorough, and courteous?
Is the technical guidance provided by the TSC consistent
with regulations and policy as written? Is the technical guidance
consistent with guidance given by FSIS inspection program personnel?
Have you used the TSC website? If so, has it been useful?
If you have contacted the TSC multiple times regarding the
same topic, has the guidance been consistent over time?
How could the TSC improve its services?
Have you had difficulty in reaching the TSC staff?
What recommendations do you have for TSC in communicating
information to you?
What specifically could the TSC do to improve its services
to small businesses?
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_Notices_Index/index.asp
.
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, recalls, 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 e-mail 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. Through
Listserv and 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 http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/
Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers
can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to
password protect their account.
Done at Washington, DC, on July 26, 2006.
Barbara J. Masters,
D.V.M. Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-12217 Filed 7-28-06; 8:45 am]
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