[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 188 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50425-50426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24721]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
9 CFR Parts 304, 308, 310, 320, 327, 381, 416, and 417

[Docket No. 93-016-5N]


Public Hearing on Criteria for Equivalence of Foreign Inspection 
Systems

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will hold a 
hearing, ``Public Hearing on Criteria for Equivalence of Foreign 
Inspection Systems,'' to discuss issues related to the equivalence of 
foreign inspection systems to the United States' system. At the 
hearing, FSIS will provide material outlining the issues involved in 
determining the equivalence of foreign inspection systems. Participants 
will have the opportunity to discuss this material and present their 
own information and views related to the

[[Page 50426]]

equivalence of foreign inspection systems.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on October 9 and 10, 1996, from 
8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Registration and distribution of meeting 
materials will begin at 8:00 a.m. on October 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Back of the South Building 
Cafeteria (between the 2nd and 3rd Wings). Send an original and two 
copies of comments on equivalence issues to: FSIS Docket Clerk, DOCKET 
#93-016-5N, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, Room 3806, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 
20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for the hearing and obtain 
advance copies of reference material, call (703) 812-6299 for 
international calls; (800) 485-4429 for domestic calls; FAX (202) 501-
7642, or E-mail usdafsis/[email protected]. If you require a 
sign language interpreter or other special accommodations, contact Ms. 
Shelia Johnson at (202) 501-7138 by October 1, 1996.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 8, 1994, the President of the 
United States signed into law the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, PL 103-
465 (108 Stat 4966). Among other things, this Act modified U.S. laws to 
ensure consistency with the new agreements. For example, the Federal 
Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act were 
modified so that foreign countries wishing to export meat and poultry 
products to the United States must have inspection system controls 
``equivalent to'' those of the United States. To be consistent with the 
new language in the Acts, FSIS published a direct final rule on July 
28, 1995, amending its regulations pertaining to foreign countries 
inspection systems by replacing the phrase ``at least equal to'' with 
the words ``equivalent to'' (60 FR 38667).
    FSIS has been examining the application of ``equivalence'' as it 
relates to meat and poultry trade between countries. To gather 
information from the public relating to issues of equivalence, FSIS 
will hold a hearing, ``Public Hearing on Criteria for Equivalence of 
Foreign Inspection Systems,'' on October 9 and 10. The hearing will 
focus on such issues as: the definition of ``equivalence,'' risk 
assessment, features of systems used to determine equivalence, sanitary 
measures, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, 
microbiological standards, and inspection activities carried out by 
parties other than Government officials. For hearing participants 
wishing to receive advanced copies of reference material to be made 
available at the hearing, see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    At the hearing, there will be an opportunity for participants to 
discuss the equivalence issues addressed in the reference material. 
Also, written comments may be submitted to the FSIS Docket Room (See 
ADDRESSES).

    Done at Washington, DC, on September 20, 1996.
Michael R. Taylor,
Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-24721 Filed 9-23-96; 2:18 pm]
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