[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 150 (Friday, August 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19260]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 317

[Docket No. 94-024N]

 

Nutrition Labeling of Ground Beef and Hamburger: Extension of 
Compliance Date

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 for ground beef and hamburger. The compliance 
enforcement date for the nutrition labeling regulations published on 
January 6, 1993, is August 8, 1994. FSIS is issuing this notice to 
clarify its policy on the enforcement of nutrition labeling of ground 
beef and hamburger pending publication of a final regulation concerning 
percentage labeling for lean and fat on ground beef and hamburger.

DATES: The compliance enforcement date is extended indefinitely until 
further notice.

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 May 24, 1994, FSIS issued a proposed rule 
(59 FR 26916) with a shortened 45-day comment period to permit 
percentage labeling on lean and fat on ground beef and hamburger. On 
July 5, 1994, FSIS announced that it was granting a request filed by 
the Center for Science in the Public Interest to extend the comment 
period of the proposed rule for an additional 45 days until August 22, 
1994 (59 FR 34396). Extending the comment period will allow additional 
survey data to be collected and submitted to FSIS concerning consumer 
perceptions of terms such as ``percent lean,'' ``lean,'' and ``reduced 
fat.'' As a result of the extension, the comment period of the proposed 
rule on labeling of ground beef and hamburger now extends beyond the 
nutrition labeling compliance date of August 8, 1994. On June 16, 1994, 
FSIS announced that although the effective date of the nutrition 
labeling regulations was July 6, 1994, the Agency would not take 
enforcement action on meat and poultry products until August 8, 1994 
(59 FR 30875).
    FSIS has received several requests to clarify its enforcement 
posture for nutrition labeling policies for ground beef and hamburger 
pending the completion of the rulemaking process. Many of those 
requesting clarification contend that extending the comment period on 
the proposed rule caused confusion regarding FSIS' enforcement posture 
for nutrition labeling of ground beef and hamburger. After carefully 
considering the issue, FSIS has decided to extend the effective date 
for enforcing compliance with the nutrition labeling regulations for 
ground beef and hamburger until evaluation of comments received on the 
May 24 proposed rule is completed, and a final rule is issued. FSIS 
believes such action is reasonable and practical because the Agency 
extended the comment period on the proposed rule (59 FR 34396) in order 
to collect information about consumer understanding of nutrition 
labeling terms on these products. Extending enforcement action on 
nutrition labeling of ground beef and hamburger should avoid the 
situation of having three potentially different labeling schemes for 
ground beef and hamburger products within several months, and will 
prevent a lapse of information that consumers might expect or want on 
ground beef and hamburger packages. The extension will also allow 
manufacturers and retailers to use existing label inventories during 
this interim period.
    FSIS will publish a final rule on ground beef and hamburger 
labeling in the Federal Register after it analyzes the public comments 
and consumer survey results received in response to the proposed rule.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: August 2, 1994.
William J. Hudnall,
Acting Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-19260 Filed 8-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P