[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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