[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14569]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 317 and 381

[Docket No. 94-018N]

 

Nutrition Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of extension of compliance date.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing an 
extension of the date for enforcing compliance with its nutrition 
labeling regulations. The effective date of the final nutrition 
labeling regulations published on January 6, 1993, will remain July 6, 
1994. However, FSIS will not take enforcement action on such meat and 
poultry product labeling until August 8, 1994. In addition, FSIS is 
providing notice that temporary label approvals, granted by the Food 
Labeling Division in conjunction with the July 6, 1994, rule, will now 
expire on August 8, 1994.

DATES: Although the effective date of the final nutrition labeling 
regulations remain July 6, 1994, FSIS will not take enforcement action 
on such meat and poultry product labeling until August 8, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Edwards, Director, Product 
Assessment Division, Regulatory Programs, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 
254-2565.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 6, 1993, FSIS published in the 
Federal Register a final rule titled ``Nutrition Labeling of Meat and 
Poultry Products'' (58 FR 638). Corrections and technical amendments to 
this final rule were published on August 18, 1993 (58 FR 43787), and on 
September 10, 1993 (59 FR 47624), respectively. The technical 
amendments, which were issued as an interim final rule, were confirmed 
as final on March 16, 1994 (59 FR 12157). The effective date of the 
final rule is July 6, 1994.
    The final rule amends the Federal meat and poultry products 
inspection regulations to permit voluntary nutrition labeling on 
single-ingredient, raw meat and poultry products, and establishes a 
mandatory nutrition labeling program for all other meat and poultry 
products, with certain exceptions. FSIS's nutrition labeling 
regulations are designed to parallel, to the extent possible, the 
nutrition labeling regulations issued by the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) for all other foods. Both agencies cooperated 
closely in the development and timeframe for implementation of their 
respective rules.
    FDA's final nutrition labeling regulations became effective on May 
8, 1994. However, Congress recently amended the Nutrition Labeling and 
Education Act of 1990 (NLEA) to extend the compliance date for certain 
FDA-regulated food products packaged prior to August 8, 1994, to comply 
with the nutrition labeling requirements. The legislation (S. 2087) was 
passed by both houses of Congress, and signed into law by the President 
on May 27, 1994. Although it is not subject to the NLEA, FSIS has 
decided not to take any enforcement action on nutrition labeling of 
meat and poultry products until August 8, 1994. FSIS believes that this 
date is reasonable and practical, and reflects its continued 
cooperation with FDA on nutrition labeling issues. FSIS also believes 
that the extended timeframe further minimizes the cost of complying 
with the regulations and allows for a more orderly and uniform 
compliance implementation for nutrition labeling of all foods.
    In anticipation of the July 6, 1994, effective date, the Food 
Labeling Division has granted temporary label approvals under 9 CFR 
317.4(d) and 381.132(b) of the regulations. These temporary approvals 
were granted for labels which comply with current regulations, but 
which would not comply with the regulations when the final rule issued 
on January 6, 1993, is effective. These temporary approvals are 
automatically extended until August 8, 1994.
    FSIS encourages manufacturers to revise their labels as soon as 
possible. On and after August 8, 1994, products with labeling that does 
not comply with the nutrition labeling regulations will be misbranded 
and subject to enforcement action by FSIS.

    Dated: June 10, 1994.
William J. Hudnall,
Acting Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-14569 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P