[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-556]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Chapter III

[Docket No. 93-024N]

 

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Round Table; 
Solicitation of Participation

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation of participation.

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SUMMARY: Secretary Espy announced in late May 1993 that he was 
requesting the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to present him 
with a plan for making the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) system of process control mandatory in all the Nation's 
federally inspected meat and poultry establishments. At the Secretary's 
direction to ensure greater input from all constituent and other 
interests, it was determined by FSIS that it would be beneficial to 
provide all constituent groups with a forum to comment on development 
of a mandatory HACCP system. Therefore, FSIS announces that a HACCP 
Round Table discussion will be held.
    This notice outlines the Round Table process and solicits 
participation in the Round Table from the constituent groups identified 
below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Furthermore, this notice offers 
the opportunity for persons who believe that an affected interest is 
not represented below to request participation at the Round Table.

DATES: A HACCP Round Table discussion will be held in about 60 days of 
the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 
Individuals and organizations interested in participating in the Round 
Table must submit their names by January 25, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit their names to Mr. Mark 
Manis, Director, Import Inspection Division, International Programs, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
room 0114, South Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Mark Manis at (202) 720-2952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSIS views this Round Table as an 
opportunity to allow free and frank discussion of the legitimate 
concerns of all constituents prior to the issuance of a proposed 
regulation on HACCP. This meeting is envisioned as a substantive 
opportunity to assist FSIS through a thorough discussion of the issues 
regarding HACCP. This will aid FSIS when it begins drafting the rule 
for implementing a HACCP system of production in all meat and poultry 
establishments.
    The Round Table will be facilitated by a neutral third party. The 
facilitator will seek the full participation of all Round Table 
participants, will ensure that all identified issues are addressed by 
the Round Table participants, and will invite comments at the end of 
the Round Table. After the Round Table meeting, the facilitator will 
provide a transcript of the meeting, and will prepare a final report, 
which will include any comments submitted at the Round Table meeting 
and will summarize the positions of all Round Table participants.
    The Round Table meeting will be open to the public. Issue papers 
will be prepared in advance of the meeting by the participants, and 
will be publicly available through the FSIS hearing clerk. All issues 
relative to a HACCP system shall be open for consideration.
    FSIS has preliminarily identified the following categories of 
constituents:
     Meat and Poultry Industry and Their Representatives 
(Including Grocers and Retailers)
     Consumers and Their Representatives
     Scientists and Professional Scientific Organizations
     Producers and Farmers
     FSIS Employees and Their Representatives
     Federal, State, and Local Governments
     Public Health Officials and Medical Doctors
    Any individual or organization that is interested in participating 
in the Round Table must communicate that interest, and identify his or 
her constituent category, to Mr. Mark Manis whose address and phone 
number appear in this notice in the paragraph entitled FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT, within 2 weeks of the date of the publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register. After the 2-week notification 
period, FSIS will: (1) Compile a list, for each category, of those who 
expressed an interest in participating in the Round Table meeting; and 
(2) share that list, by category, with the members of each category. 
FSIS will then request, within 2 weeks after sending the list to 
members of each category, that the members of each category select 
representatives to serve as both Round Table and Steering Committee 
participants.
    To ensure the effectiveness of this process, the estimated number 
of Round Table participants will be between 25 and 30, and the total 
number of attendees will be determined by the capacity of the meeting 
room. FSIS will request each constituent category to appoint one 
representative to serve on the Steering Committee. FSIS will request 
that five representatives be appointed for the Round Table by each of 
the following constituent categories: Meat and Poultry Industry and 
Their Representatives; Consumers and Their Representatives; and 
Scientists and Professional Scientific Organizations. FSIS will request 
that four representatives be appointed for the Round Table from the 
Producers and Farmers category. FSIS will request that three 
representatives be appointed for the Round Table from the FSIS 
Employees and Their Representatives; and Federal, State, and Local 
Governments categories. FSIS will request that two representatives be 
appointed for the Round Table from the Public Health Officials and 
Medical Doctors category.
    If any constituent category is unable to designate its 
representatives, USDA will assist in the selection.
    Furthermore, any person who believes that an affected interest is 
not represented by the identified categories of constituent groups may 
request, within 2 weeks of the date of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register, Round Table participation for that affected 
interest.
    Once the representatives are appointed, FSIS will convene a 
Steering Committee to be held in the Washington, DC, area in advance of 
the Round Table meeting. The Steering Committee will address all 
relevant pre-meeting issues and determine the: (1) Round Table issues; 
(2) process for developing issue papers prior to the Round Table; (3) 
timeframes; (4) meeting schedule; (5) Round Table discussion rules; and 
(6) any other matter which would assist in an effective and full 
discussion.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: January 5, 1994.
H. Russell Cross,
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-556 Filed 1-10-94; 8:45 am]
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