[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6371]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 18, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 93N-0195]

 

Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guide; 
Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the 
availability of a draft guidance document entitled ``Fish and Fishery 
Products Hazards and Controls Guide,'' which the agency has developed 
on seafood hazards and controls. FDA has prepared this document as, 
among other things, an adjunct to regulations proposed by FDA on 
procedures for the safe processing of fish and fishery products.

DATES: Written comments by April 28, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ``Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and 
Controls Guide'' may be ordered from the National Technical Information 
Service (NTIS), U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Rd., 
Springfield, VA 22161. Orders must reference NTIS order number PB94-
140985 for a paper copy and order number PB94-501319 for a WordPerfect 
diskette copy, and include a payment of $27.00 for each copy of the 
document. Payment may be made by check, money order, charge card 
(American Express, VISA, or MasterCard), or billing arrangements made 
with NTIS. Charge card orders must include the charge card account 
number and expiration date. For telephone orders or further information 
on placing an order, call NTIS at 703-487-4650 for regular service, or 
800-553-NTIS for rush service. Submit written comments to the Dockets 
Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, rm. 1-23, 
12420 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20857. Comments should be identified 
with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this 
document. The ``Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guide'' 
and received comments are available for public examination in the 
Dockets Management Branch between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald W. Kraemer, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-400), Food and Drug Administration, 
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-254-3885.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FDA is in the process of developing a 
guidance document entitled ``Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and 
Controls Guide.'' The draft guide is now available to the public 
through NTIS.
    The guide is designed to serve several purposes. First, FDA 
anticipates that it will help members of the commercial fish and 
fishery products industry identify and control potential hazards 
associated with the fish and fishery products that they handle and 
process. In addition to human food safety hazards and controls, the 
guide will address controls associated with quality, marketability, and 
economic fraud.
    The guide also is designed to help members of the seafood industry 
develop and implement Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) 
plans for their operations, as will be required if FDA adopts the 
proposed regulations. The proposed regulations provide that seafood 
processors and importers must establish HACCP systems of preventive 
controls to ensure the safety of the food they produce. The guide 
provides information that processors and importers can use in the 
development of their HACCP plans. This information consists largely of 
an identification of hazards that can affect seafood and a discussion 
of the control measures that can keep these hazards from actually 
occurring or that can at least minimize the likelihood of their 
occurrence.
    Another purpose of the guide is to help consumers and the public to 
understand seafood safety in terms of the hazards that are presented by 
seafood and the controls that can be applied to those hazards.
    FDA believes that the guide will assist Federal and State 
regulatory officials in developing uniform and consistent regulatory 
strategies and controls for seafood. This guide should be useful in the 
evaluation of HACCP plans and systems by both State and Federal 
regulatory officials.
    Comments concerning the draft Guide were solicited with the 
announcement of the proposed regulations in the Federal Register of 
January 28, 1994. FDA will study the comments it receives, revise the 
draft guide as warranted, and then issue the guide. The agency intends 
to issue the guide by the time that the proposed HACCP regulations for 
seafood are issued in final form, should the agency decide to do so.
    Interested persons may, on or before April 28, 1994, submit to the 
Dockets Management Branch (address above) written comments regarding 
this draft guide. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, 
except that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be 
identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of 
this document. Received comments and the draft guide may be seen in the 
office above between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Comments received after April 28, 1994, will be considered in the 
drafting of subsequent editions of the guide, as the agency finds it 
necessary. FDA will publish subsequent editions based on public 
comments and as circumstances warrant, e.g., as new knowledge on 
hazards is obtained or new types of controls are developed.

    Dated: March 14, 1994.
Michael R. Taylor,
Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 94-6371 Filed 3-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F