[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 6975] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-2929] ======================================================================== Proposed Rules Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 24 / Monday, February 6, 1995 / Proposed Rules [[Page 6975]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service 9 CFR Parts 318 and 381 [Docket No. 93-008P/E] RIN 0583-AB68 Poultry Products Produced by Mechanical Separation and Products in Which Such Poultry Products Are Used AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On December 6, 1994, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed to amend the poultry products inspection regulations to prescribe a definition and standard of identity and composition, as well as labeling and other requirements for mechanically separated poultry products--mechanically separated (kind) (MS(K))--and requirements for meat or poultry products containing MS(K) as an ingredient. The proposed action would help ensure that meat and poultry products distributed to consumers are not labeled in a false or misleading manner and are not misbranded. FSIS has received requests to extend the comment period so that interested parties may have more time to consider the points in the proposal and to develop their comments more thoroughly. FSIS has determined that these requests should be granted and is, therefore, extending the comment period for an additional 30 days. DATES: Comments must be received on or before: March 6, 1995. ADDRESSES: Written comments to: Policy, Evaluation and Planning Office, Attn. Diane Moore, FSIS Docket 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: 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 December 6, 1994, FSIS published in the Federal Register a proposed rule (59 FR 62629) to amend the poultry products inspection regulations to prescribe a definition and standard of identity and composition for the finely comminuted poultry product that results from the mechanical separation and removal of most of the bone from poultry carcasses and parts of carcasses (``Mechanically Separated (Kind)(MS(K))),'' including requirements for bone solids content (measured as calcium content) and bone particle size; to specify certain limitations for the use of MS(K); to establish recordkeeping requirements for bone solids content and bone particle size; and to establish labeling requirements for MS(K), and for poultry products and meat food products containing MS(K) as an ingredient. The proposal is intended to establish the Agency's requirements with respect to poultry products produced by mechanical separation, including the requirement that they be distinctly labeled, e.g., ``mechanically separated chicken.'' The proposed labeling and other requirements are intended to help ensure that meat and poultry products distributed to consumers are not labeled in a false or misleading manner and are not misbranded. The proposed rule provided extensive discussion on: the historical background relating to the development, use, and regulation of MS(K); the health and safety aspects of MS(K); the state of technology for producing MS(K); the results of analysis of comments received in response to two advance notices of proposed rulemaking (ANPR's) on MS(K) that the Agency had published, respectively, on June 15, 1993, (58 FR 33040), and, on March 3, 1994, (59 FR 10230); and the proposed regulatory requirements. The first ANPR had addressed the need for labeling poultry products containing MS(K) as an ingredient and the second had concerned definitions, standards, labeling, and other requirements for MS(K). Interested persons were given until February 6, 1995, to submit comments on the proposed regulatory amendments. FSIS has received requests from several meat and poultry trade associations and manufacturers of processed meat and poultry products to extend the comment period for the proposal. They have asked for additional time to study and develop information on issues relating to the proposal. FSIS considers these requests to be reasonable and is interested in receiving the additional comments that would be submitted during an extended comment period. Accordingly, the comment period for the proposal is being extended for 30 days. Done at Washington, DC, on February 2, 1995. Michael R. Taylor, Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety. [FR Doc. 95-2929 Filed 2-3-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P