[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10305-10306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4520]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
9 CFR Part 327

[Docket No. 94-010F]


Imported Product: Withdrawal of Czechoslovakia; Addition of the 
Czech Republic to the List of Eligible Countries

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the 
Federal meat inspection regulations (9 CFR 327.2) to affirm that the 
newly formed country of the Czech Republic continues to be eligible to 
have its meat products imported into the United States. The regulations 
are also amended to delete Czechoslovakia from the list of countries 
eligible to have their meat products imported into the United States.
    Based on mutual agreement, Czechoslovakia peacefully divided into 
the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic on January 1, 1993. The meat 
inspection program recognized by the United States as meeting the 
requirements of the Federal meat inspection regulations and eligible to 
have its meat products imported into the United States is a program of 
the Czech Republic.

DATES: This rule will be effective on April 25, 1995 unless we receive 
written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit adverse 
comments on or before March 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Adverse comments or notice of intent to submit adverse 
comments should be sent in triplicate to Regulations Development, 
Policy, Evaluation and Planning Staff, Attention: Diane Moore, FSIS 
Docket Clerk, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 3171, South 
Agriculture Building, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 
20250. Comments should refer to Docket No. 94-010F. All comments will 
be available for public inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, in Room 3171, South Agriculture 
Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John C. Prucha, Deputy 
Administrator, International Programs, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, USDA, Washington, DC 20250 (202) 720-2644.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In 1972, Czechoslovakia completed the eligibility process for 
importation of meat products into the United States. The country 
maintained its eligibility until it split into two separate republics 
on January 1, 1993: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
    In October 1993, inspection officials of the Czech Republic 
notified FSIS that the new country continues to maintain a meat 
inspection system under the same laws and regulations as existed when 
it was a part of Czechoslovakia. These laws and regulations were 
previously determined by FSIS to be ``at least equal to'' the meat 
inspection standards applied to products produced in the United States. 
Further, FSIS recently determined that the Czech Republic employs 
qualified and competent inspectors to ensure that the standards are 
effectively enforced for products prepared for importation into the 
United States.
    The part of Czechoslovakia which became the Slovak Republic has 
never had any certified meat inspection plants nor had any meat or meat 
products imported into the United States. Due to this history and 
absence of other pertinent information, FSIS is uncertain if the Slovak 
Republic's meat inspection system is ``at least equal to'' that of the 
United States. Therefore, the Slovak Republic will be required to 
request and receive approval from FSIS before it will be deemed 
eligible to have its meat and meat products imported into the United 
States.

Effective Date

    We are publishing this rule without a prior proposal because we 
view this action as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse public 
comment. This rule will be effective, as published in this document, 
April 25, 1995 unless we receive written adverse comments or written 
notice of intent to submit adverse comments by March 27, 1995. Adverse 
comments are comments that suggest the rule should not be adopted or 
that suggest the rule should be changed.
    If we receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent 
to submit adverse comments, we will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register [[Page 10306]] 
withdrawing this rule before the effective date and publish a proposed 
rule for public comment.
    As discussed above, if we receive no written adverse comments or 
written notice of intent to submit adverse comments within 30 days of 
publication of this direct final rule, this direct final rule will 
become effective 60 days following its publication.

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined not to be significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not been reviewed by the Office 
of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 12778

    This direct final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 
12778, Civil Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and 
local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) 
has no retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative 
proceedings before parties may file suit in court challenging this 
rule.

Effects on Small Entities

    The Administrator has made a determination that this direct final 
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities, in accordance with the requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601). This action adds the Czech 
Republic to the list of countries eligible to have their meat products 
imported into the United States and removes Czechoslovakia. The current 
amount of product exported to the United States from the Czech Republic 
is expected to remain the same as was exported to the United States 
from the former Czechoslovakia.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 327

    Imported products; Meat inspection.

PART 327--IMPORTED PRODUCTS

    1. The authority citation for part 327 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 601-695; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.55.


Sec. 327.2  [Amended]

    2. Paragraph (b) of Sec. 327.2 is amended by removing 
``Czechoslovakia'' and adding the ``Czech Republic'' to the 
alphabetical list of countries eligible to have their products from 
cattle, sheep, swine, and goat imported into the United States.

    Done at Washington, DC, on February 14, 1995.
Michael R. Taylor,
Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 95-4520 Filed 2-23-95; 8:45 am]
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