[Federal Register: July 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 41702-41703]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31jy07-27]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 41702]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2007-0026]
Public Health Based Inspection System in Poultry Slaughter
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service will hold a public
meeting to discuss public health based inspection in poultry slaughter
to address Campylobacter, Salmonella, and other issues of public health
concern. FSIS is seeking public input on the ideas, concepts, data, and
analyses it will use to form the basis of a technical plan. The public
meeting will afford FSIS and its stakeholders an opportunity to discuss
the rationale and process for the Agency's enhanced approach, as well
as the background leading up to its current thinking on the concept.
DATES: FSIS will hold the public meeting on Tuesday, August 7, 2007, 9
a.m. to 1 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at George Mason University, School
of Public Policy, Arlington Original Building, Room 244, 3401 Fairfax
Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201. Directions to the site and the agenda
will be posted on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/index.asp
.
The meeting will be audio cast for those who cannot attend in
person. Members of the public are encouraged to pre-register for the
meeting. Online registration information and audio information will be
located at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/index.asp
.
FSIS welcomes comments on the topics to be discussed at the public
meeting. The Agency's technical papers relating to the topic will be
posted at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/index.asp
.
Comments on these papers and questions may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic mail: An electronic mail box has been established
specifically for risk-based inspection (RBI) comments for the public
meeting on August 7. Comments may be submitted to:
riskbasedinspection@fsis.usda.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs: Send to Ellyn Blumberg,
RBI Public Meeting, United States Department of Agriculture, Food
Safety and Inspection Service, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW., Mail
Drop 405 Aerospace, Washington, DC 20250.
Hand- or courier-delivered items: Deliver to Ellyn Blumberg at 901
D Street, SW., Washington, DC. Have security guard call (202) 690-6520.
Facsimile: Fax documents to (202) 690-6519.
All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS-2007-0026. The comments also will be posted on the Agency's
Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Payne for technical information
at (202) 690-6522 or e-mail keith.payne@fsis.usda.gov; Sally Fernandez
for meeting information at (202) 690-6524, Fax (202) 690-6519, or e-
mail sally.fernandez@fsis.usda.gov. Persons requiring a sign language
interpreter or other special accommodations should notify the Agency
contacts no later than July 26, 2007, at the numbers above or by e-
mail.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health
regulatory agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for
ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg
products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. FSIS
is accountable for protecting the lives and well-being of 295 million
U.S. citizens and millions more around the world.
To meet the realities of food safety and public health challenges,
FSIS intends to enhance its inspection system and to develop and
implement new, science-based policies. FSIS is considering proposing a
new inspection system in poultry slaughter establishments that will
improve public health. Although rulemaking is not expected immediately,
FSIS is seeking public input on the ideas, concepts, data, and analyses
that it will use to form the basis for a technical plan and in the
development of a future proposed rule.
The Agency's thinking has evolved and benefited from its experience
with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based
Inspection Models Project (HIMP). The new system will be designed to
provide more time and more flexibility than the current systems for
FSIS personnel to conduct focused, off-line verification activities
according to risk factors at each establishment and at points in
slaughter and processing where food safety hazards and associated risks
may be introduced. The public meeting will afford FSIS and its
stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the rationale and process for
the Agency's enhanced approach, as well as for the Agency to present
the background that has led the Agency to its current thinking on the
concept. In addition, the Agency will present the scientific
foundations for future decision-making, including how to address
Salmonella and Campylobacter and the use of generic E. coli as an
indicator of process control.
All interested parties are welcome to attend the meeting and to
submit written comments and suggestions through September 7, 2007. The
comments and the official transcript of the meeting, when they become
available, will be posted on the Agency's Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/.
All comments received in response to this notice will be considered
part of the public record.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web site located
at:
[[Page 41703]]
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2007_Notices_Index/.
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, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade and farm
groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, and
other individuals who have asked to be included. The Update is
available on the FSIS Web site. Through the Listserv and Web site, FSIS
is able to provide information to a much broader and more diverse
audience. In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail 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/.
Subscription
service options include recalls and export information, as well as
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, 2007.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-14805 Filed 7-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P