[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 83 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10497]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 2, 1994]
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FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 381
[Docket No. 93-008E]
RIN 0583-AB68
Poultry Products Produced by Mechanical Deboning and Products in
Which Such Poultry Products Are Used
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: On March 3, 1994, the Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR)
announcing its intent to pursue the development of amendments to the
Federal poultry products inspection regulations to define and
standardize, or establish other requirements for poultry products
produced by mechanical deboning, including possible provisions for the
composition, characteristics, and use of such products, and
requirements for manufacturing and labeling such products. FSIS has
received requests to extend the comment period so that additional data
and information can be provided. FSIS has determined that the requests
should be granted and, therefore, is extending the comment period for
30 days.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 1, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Written comments to: Policy Office, Attn: Diane Moore, FSIS
Hearing Clerk, room 3171, South Building, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Oral
comments should be directed to Mr. John W. McCutcheon, (202) 720-2709.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John W. McCutcheon, Deputy
Administrator, Regulatory Programs, Food Safety and Inspection Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, Area Code (202)
720-2709.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 15, 1993, FSIS published in the
Federal Register an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) (58 FR
33040) soliciting comments, information, scientific data, and
recommendations regarding its consideration of the need for labeling of
poultry product produced by mechanical deboning and products in which
such poultry product is used. FSIS received 2,744 comments in response
to the ANPR, most of which were general reactions to the labeling
issues. The Agency also issued on March 3, 1994, an ANPR (59 FR 10230)
announcing its intent to pursue the development of amendments to the
Federal poultry products inspection regulations to define and
standardize, or establish other requirements for poultry products
produced by mechanical deboning, including possible provisions for the
composition, characteristics, and use, and requirements for
manufacturing and labeling such products.
The ANPR provided an in-depth discussion on the labeling of
mechanically deboned poultry, as well as other issues related to
boneless poultry product produced by mechanical deboning and expressed
the Agency's tentative positions regarding these issues. The ANPR
stated that FSIS was considering, among other things, that certain
poultry products produced by mechanical deboning, i.e., those with
greater than 0.6 percent bone solids content, but no more than 1
percent bone solids content, be separately identified on the labels of
products in which they are used as ingredients by a distinct name.
Also, the ANPR stated that FSIS was considering, among other things,
that some boneless poultry products derived from mechanical deboning
machinery, i.e., those with 0.6 percent or less bone solids, be
identified on the label of products in which they are used as poultry
or poultry meat, e.g., ``chicken'' and ``turkey meat.'' FSIS's intent
in issuing the March 1994 ANPR was to ascertain the information and
data necessary to solidify its position on the labeling, use, and
production of poultry products produced by mechanical deboning in order
to help the regulation development process.
Interested persons were given until May 2, 1994, in which to
comment on the ANPR. FSIS has received requests from several meat and
poultry manufacturers and trade associations to extend the comment
period to allow additional time for data to be gathered and submitted.
FSIS recognizes that the ANPR solicited information on a number of new
concepts; e.g., labeling of products with greater than 0.6 percent bone
solids content. It is important to the Agency to get substantive data
on these concepts as the Agency further develops its policy position.
FSIS is interested in receiving this data and is, therefore, extending
the comment period for 30 days.
Done at Washington, DC, on April 26, 1994.
William J. Hudnall,
Acting Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-10497 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-M