[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 23, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72331-72332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30271]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 226 / Wednesday, November 23, 2011 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 72331]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Parts 416, 417, and 430
[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0023]
Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Certain Raw Beef
Products
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Public meeting; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: 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.
DATES: The teleconference will be held on December 1, 2011, from 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m. EST. Submit comments on or before December 21, 2011.
ADDRESSES:
Registration: Pre-registration for this meeting is required. To
pre-register, access the FSIS Web site, at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/. We are asking that anyone interested in
making a public comment during the teleconference indicate so on the
registration form. Call-in information for the teleconference will be
provided and will be available on the FSIS Web site at the link listed
above.
Public Comment: In addition to this teleconference, interested
persons may submit comments 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 on
or before December 21, 2011, using either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and
follow the online instructions at that site for submitting comments.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered
items: Send to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), FSIS, OPPD, RIMD,
Docket Clearance Unit, Patriots Plaza III, 8-164, 355 E Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20024-3221.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2010-0023. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to: http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go
to the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information: Contact
Daniel Engeljohn, Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program
Development, at (202) 205-0495, or by fax at (202) 720-2025.
For teleconference information: Contact Joan Lindenberger, Public
Affairs Specialist, Congressional and Public Affairs Office, by
telephone at (202) 720-6755, or by email to
Joan.lindenberger@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On September 20, 2011, FSIS published a document regarding non-O157
Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) Escherichia coli (E. coli). The document
also requested comments regarding the Agency's implementation plans and
methods for controlling these pathogens in raw, non-intact beef
products and product components (76 FR 58157). The comment period was
set to end on November 21, 2011.
In the September document, FSIS announced that it intends to carry
out verification procedures, including sampling and testing of
manufacturing trim and other raw ground beef components, to ensure
control of both E. coli O157:H7 and six other serogroups of STEC E.
coli (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145). 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. The Agency also announced that it is publishing
guidance for use in validating commercial pathogen detection test kits
that may be capable of detecting the STEC of concern.
Finally, FSIS stated that it is planning a 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 product with these STEC.
In October 2011, the Agency announced its planned revision to the
FSIS Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (MLG) 5B, ``Detection and
Isolation of Non-O157 Shiga-Toxin Producing Escherichia coli (STEC)
from Meat Products,'' to expand laboratory testing for the detection of
the six targeted serogroups. Chapters MLG 5B.01, MLG 5B Appendix 1.00,
MLG 5B Appendix 2.00 and MLG Appendix 1.06 are now available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Microbiological_lab_guidebook/index.asp.
FSIS intends to use these methods, beginning March 5, 2012, in
testing raw ground beef or in source material used to make ground beef,
as well as mechanically tenderized steaks and roasts, for E. coli
serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145. If the Agency finds any
of those serogroups in these types of products, it will prohibit the
product from entering commerce. Like E. coli O157:H7, these serogroups
can cause severe illness and even death; young children and the elderly
are at highest risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
also identifies these particular serogroups as those responsible for
the greatest numbers of non-O157 STEC illnesses,
[[Page 72332]]
hospitalizations and deaths in the United States.
Beef slaughter and further processing plants should now begin to
assess their food safety systems to ensure that they are capable of
controlling these pathogens. Given FSIS's planned course of action,
establishments that produce the listed products should take steps to
ensure that the laboratory test they use to verify the controls they
employ is effective in reliably detecting the presence of these
pathogens. Establishments can rely upon the FSIS laboratory methodology
released in October and updated on November 4, 2011, which has been
demonstrated to reliably identify these pathogens, or they can use an
equivalent methodology of their choice.
II. Purpose of the Meeting and Agenda
To provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the
Agency's implementation plans and methods for controlling non-O157 STEC
in raw, intact and non-intact beef products and product components,
FSIS will hold a public meeting by teleconference. The meeting will be
held on December 1, 2011. Submit comments on or before December 21,
2011. The teleconference format is being used to provide individuals
with easier access to the meeting, particularly those who may lack the
resources or time to attend a meeting in person. Access to the 800
number for the teleconference number should be toll free for both
domestic and international callers.
Interested persons are encouraged to join the teleconference at or
near the start time. FSIS may end the teleconference early if
participants are no longer calling in to make comments.
III. Transcripts
As soon as the meeting transcripts are available, they will be
accessible at http://www.regulations.gov. The transcripts may be viewed
at the FSIS Docket Room, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza III, 8-164, 355 E Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20024-3221.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this document online through the FSIS Web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
FSIS will also 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 groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic 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_&_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 accounts.
Done at Washington, DC, on November 18, 2011.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator, FSIS.
[FR Doc. 2011-30271 Filed 11-18-11; 4:15 pm]
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