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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
Congressional and Public Affairs
Caryn Long (202) 720-9113
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2002 – The Food Safety and Inspection Service today announced that it will delay the implementation date of the final rule on retained water in raw meat and poultry products until Jan. 9, 2003 in order to ensure time for more effective compliance with the rule. Notification of this delay will soon publish in the Federal Register. This final rule was originally intended to take effect on Jan. 9, 2002.
The final rule limits the amount of water retained by raw, single-ingredient meat and poultry products. Under this regulation, meat and poultry carcasses and their parts will not be permitted to retain water, unless it is an unavoidable consequence of the processes used to meet food safety requirements. Products with retained water must be labeled accordingly. This rule will provide consumers with more information about what is in the meat and poultry they purchase and will assist them in making more informed choices.
FSIS is delaying the rule’s effective date in response to a petition from four trade associations representing meat and poultry industries, who requested that the effective date be extended until August 2004. FSIS has decided, however, that a one-year postponement of the effective date will allow sufficient time for the meat and poultry industry to prepare for implementation of the rule.
The final rule on water retention also made several technical amendments in the sections of the poultry products inspection regulations that concern poultry chilling practices. The effective date of these amendments will remain Jan. 9, 2002.
For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460