[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