[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 161 (Monday, August 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43356-43358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20471]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 381

[Docket No. 94-027F]
RIN 0583-AB84


Transporting Undenatured Poultry Feet to Other Establishments for 
Processing Prior to Export

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the 
poultry products inspection regulations to permit the transportation of 
undenatured poultry feet from one federally inspected poultry 
establishment to another establishment for further processing before 
the feet are exported. Establishments are permitted to ship undenatured 
poultry feet to another establishment for export provided that the 
receiving establishment maintains records that identify the incoming 
undenatured poultry feet, their source, and their location at all times 
during processing. The receiving establishment is required to certify 
in writing that the poultry feet have not been, nor will be, commingled 
with other products intended for human consumption within the United 
States. This rulemaking was initiated in response to a petition 
submitted to the Agency by DanD Food Marketing, Inc., Springfield, MO.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 20, 1995.

 
[[Page 43357]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Paula M. Cohen, Director, 
Regulations Development, Policy, Evaluation and Planning Staff, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-7164.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 9 of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 458) 
prohibits the sale or transportation, from an official establishment, 
of any slaughtered poultry from which the feet have not been removed, 
except as may be authorized by regulations of the Secretary. Section 
381.147(b) of the poultry products inspection regulations (9 CFR 
381.147(b)) permits the processing of poultry feet for use as human 
food when handled in a manner approved by the [FSIS] Administrator in 
specific cases. Section 381.190(b) also permits poultry feet collected 
and handled in an acceptable manner at an official establishment to be 
shipped from the official establishment and in commerce directly for 
export for further processing as human food, if they have been 
examined, found to be suitable for such purpose, and labeled as 
prescribed.
    In 1994, DanD Food Marketing, Inc., Springfield, MO, a poultry 
slaughterer and processor, petitioned FSIS to amend the poultry 
products inspection regulations to permit the transportation of 
undenatured poultry feet from one or more establishments to another 
establishment, where the feet would be further processed for export. 
The petitioner provided FSIS with documents that set forth the 
procedures and safeguards that would be used by the receiving 
establishment when handling and processing the undenatured poultry 
feet. FSIS has reviewed the information submitted by the petitioner and 
has determined that the proposed procedures would ensure that the 
undenatured poultry feet are neither diverted to nor commingled with 
any product intended for domestic use.
    The foreign demand for poultry feet continues to increase. However, 
as currently written, 9 CFR 381.190(b) does not permit an exporter of 
poultry feet to ship undenatured product from one slaughter 
establishment to a central establishment for processing before export. 
To prevent the possible commingling of the poultry feet with poultry 
products intended for domestic consumption, exporters must ship the 
poultry feet directly overseas from the original slaughter 
establishment. As a result, it is difficult for the exporters to keep 
up with the foreign demand for the poultry feet due to a lack of space 
and manpower in some slaughter establishments. This final rule allows 
processing establishments to use a central establishment for pre-export 
processing of poultry feet provided the establishment official at the 
receiving processing establishment remains accountable for the 
identification of the source and the location of the poultry feet at 
all times prior to their export. When poultry feet are handled in 
accordance with 9 CFR 381.190(c), sanitary transportation conditions 
are maintained, and the possibility of the product becoming 
contaminated or adulterated while en route to another establishment for 
processing prior to export is minimized. Therefore, we are amending the 
regulations to allow the transportation of undenatured poultry feet 
from one or more establishments to another official establishment for 
further processing before export.
    Section 381.175(a) of the poultry products inspection regulations 
requires that every person, firm, or corporation engaged in certain 
activities related to poultry production and distribution maintain 
records which fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in 
the business. Section 381.175(b) details the kinds of records that must 
be maintained, but does not specify the format for such recordkeeping. 
``Transactions'' have been traditionally interpreted by FSIS to be 
sales, purchases, transportation, receipt, or handling of poultry 
products that would demonstrate the sources of the poultry products.
    This final rule requires those processing establishments that 
receive undenatured poultry product from slaughter establishments for 
further processing before export overseas to maintain records that 
identify the incoming product, i.e., poultry feet, and their source, 
and identify the location of the product at all times during the 
processing and preparation for export. In addition, an establishment 
official must certify that the poultry product has not been and will 
not be commingled with any products intended for human consumption 
within the United States.
    These recordkeeping requirements enable FSIS and the receiving 
processing establishments to accurately identify and locate the 
undenatured poultry product intended for export while still in the 
central establishment. As a result, FSIS can easily determine that the 
product has not been commingled with any products intended for domestic 
consumption.

Discussion of Comments

    FSIS received one comment in response to the proposed rule. The 
commenter, a turkey products processor, is in favor of the proposal for 
the following reason: having the ability to transport products of this 
nature, specifically turkey feet, between facilities will allow the 
company to process the product for the ultimate consumer in a safe and 
sanitary manner, using the most economical means possible.

Executive Order 12866

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant and 
therefore has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
Executive Order 12778

    This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
Civil Justice Reform. States and local jurisdictions are preempted 
under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) from imposing any 
marking or packaging requirements on federally inspected poultry 
products that are in addition to, or different than, those imposed 
under the PPIA. States and local jurisdictions may, however, exercise 
concurrent jurisdiction over poultry products that are outside official 
establishments for the purpose of preventing the distribution of 
poultry products that are misbranded or adulterated under the PPIA, or, 
in the case of imported articles, which are not at such an 
establishment, after their entry into the United States. Under the 
PPIA, States that maintain poultry inspection programs must impose 
requirements on State inspected products and establishments that are at 
least equal to those required under the PPIA. These States may, 
however, impose more stringent requirements on such State inspected 
products and establishments.
    This final rule is not intended to have retroactive effect.
    There are no applicable administrative procedures that must be 
exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of this 
final rule. However, the administrative procedures specified in 9 CFR 
Sec. 381.35 must be exhausted prior to any judicial challenge of the 
application of the provisions of this final rule, if the challenge 
involves any decision of an FSIS employee relating to inspection 
services provided under the PPIA.

Effect on Small Entities

    The Administrator has determined that this final rule will not have 
a significant economic impact on a 

[[Page 43358]]
substantial number of small entities, as defined by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601). This final rule requires establishments 
that receive undenatured poultry product for processing prior to export 
to record the source of the incoming product, identify its location at 
all times during processing and preparation for export, and certify 
that the product has not been, nor will be, commingled with any product 
intended for domestic use. While some establishments may have to change 
their current recordkeeping practices and make changes to their 
production practices to accommodate the proposed recordkeeping 
requirements, no significant economic impact will be imposed on the 
establishments.

Paperwork Requirements

    Under this final rule, receiving poultry processing establishments 
are required to maintain records that indicate the source of the 
incoming undenatured poultry product, and track the poultry product 
through processing and preparation for export. In addition, an official 
of the receiving establishment must certify in writing that the product 
has not been, nor will be, commingled with any product intended for 
consumption in the United States. Establishments may develop their own 
systems for gathering and maintaining this information. These 
recordkeeping requirements have been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under control number 0583-0104.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 381

    Exports, Poultry and poultry products, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Transportation.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, FSIS is amending 9 CFR 
part 381 as follows:

PART 381--POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 381 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 138f; 7 U.S.C. 450; 21 U.S.C. 451-470; 7 CFR 
2.17, 2.55.

    (2) Section 381.190(b) is amended by revising the phrase ``in 
subpart C or T'' in the first sentence to read ``in this paragraph (b) 
and subpart C or T'' and designating that sentence as paragraph (b)(1); 
by designating the second, third, and fourth sentences as paragraphs 
(b)(2)(i) through (iii); by revising new paragraph (b)(2)(i); in new 
paragraph (b)(2)(ii) by redesignating the subparagraphs formerly 
designated as (1) through (3) as (A) through (C); and by adding a new 
paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:
Sec. 381.190  Transactions in slaughtered poultry and other poultry 
products restricted; vehicle sanitation requirements.

* * * * *
    (b)(1) * * *, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (b) 
and subpart C or T.
    (2)(i) Poultry heads and feet that are collected and handled at an 
official establishment in an acceptable manner may be shipped from the 
official establishment directly for export as human food, if they have 
been examined and found to be suitable for such purpose, by an 
inspector and are labeled as prescribed in this paragraph.
* * * * *
    (3)(i) Poultry heads and feet that are collected and handled at an 
official establishment in an acceptable manner may be shipped from the 
official establishment and in commerce directly to another official 
establishment for processing before export, provided the receiving 
establishment maintains records that:
    (A) Identify the source of the incoming undenatured poultry 
product;
    (B) Identify the location of the product at all times during 
processing and preparation for export; and
    (C) Contain a written certification from an official of the 
receiving establishment that the undenatured poultry product intended 
for export has not been, and will not be, commingled with any product 
intended for consumption in the United States.
    (ii) The receiving establishment may only ship the undenatured 
poultry product intended for export in accordance with the inspection 
and labeling requirements of paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
* * * * *
    Dated: August 11, 1995.
Michael R. Taylor,
Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 95-20471 Filed 8-18-95; 8:45 am]
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