[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 241 (Friday, December 13, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65490-65491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31637]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Parts 317 and 381
[Docket No. 96-022P]
RIN 0583-AC15
Nutrition Labeling; Reference Daily Intakes
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to
establish Reference Daily Intakes (RDI's) for vitamin K, selenium,
manganese, chromium, molybdenum, and chloride for use in calculating
the ``percent daily values'' of these nutrients per serving of a meat
or poultry product. Percent daily values are presented in the
``Nutrition Facts'' boxes on meat, poultry, and other food product
labels. FSIS is also proposing to modify the units of measure of the
RDI's for calcium, folate, biotin, and phosphorous. The proposed
actions would help provide consumers with accurate, informative
labeling on meat and poultry products that conforms with the labeling
on other foods.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 11, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit an original and two copies of comments to: FSIS
Docket Clerk, Docket #96-022P, Room 3806, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-3700. Reference material cited in this document
and any comments received will be available for public inspection in
the FSIS Docket Room from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles R. Edwards, Director,
Facilities, Equipment, Labeling & Compounds Review Division, Office of
Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation, (202) 418-8900.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The meat and poultry inspection regulations at 9 CFR part 317,
subpart B, and 381, subpart Y, establish, among other things, the
voluntary nutrition labeling requirements for raw, single-ingredient,
meat and poultry products and the mandatory nutrition labeling
requirements for all other meat and poultry products. The FSIS
nutrition labeling regulations parallel, to the extent possible, those
administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), because FSIS
and FDA agree that conveying nutrition information to consumers in a
clear, uniform way for all types of foods helps them in making informed
dietary choices. FSIS's nutrition labeling regulations list the same
reference values for vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients as do
FDA's regulations.
FDA amended its nutrition labeling regulations on December 28,
1995, with a final rule (60 FR 67164, ``Food Labeling: Reference Daily
Intakes'')
[[Page 65491]]
establishing RDI's for vitamin K, selenium, manganese, chromium,
molybdenum, and chloride. The FDA rule also modified the units of
measure used in expressing the RDI values for calcium, folate, biotin,
and phosphorus. RDI's for vitamins and minerals and daily reference
values (DRV's) for other nutrients are used by food companies in
calculating the ``percent daily values'' that appear in the ``Nutrition
Facts'' boxes on food product labels. The RDI's themselves do not
appear on the labels.
The RDI's adopted by FDA for the vitamin and minerals addressed in
that Agency's final rule are based on recommendations made during the
1980's by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). FSIS agrees with
FDA's decision to adopt these RDI's and proposes to require use of the
same RDI's, as applicable, in developing nutrition labeling for meat
and poultry products. Specifically, FSIS proposes to amend 9 CFR
317.309(c)(8)(iv) and 381.409(c)(8)(iv) to include the following RDI
values: Vitamin K, 80 micrograms; selenium, 70 micrograms; molybdenum,
75 micrograms; and chloride, 3,400 milligrams.
In the same December 1995 final rule, FDA changed the units of
measure for expressing the RDI's for biotin and folate from milligrams
to micrograms and for calcium and phosphorous from grams to milligrams.
These are the same units that the NAS used for expressing quantities of
these minerals in the recommendations followed by FDA. FSIS concurs
with FDA's choice of these units and is proposing to amend 9 CFR
317.309(c)(8)(iv) and 381.409(c)(8)(iv) by changing the units of
measure for calcium, folate, biotin, and phosphorus to the following:
Calcium, milligrams; folate, micrograms; biotin, micrograms; and
phosphorous, milligrams.
Executive Order 12988
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All state
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant under
Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget.
The Administrator has made an initial determination that this
proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, as defined by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601). Small meat and poultry establishments
are exempt from nutrition labeling, as long as labeling of their
products bears no nutrition claims or information. The proposed rule
will not impose any new requirements on affected establishments.
Rather, it will provide greater flexibility for declaring nutrient
information on the labeling of meat and poultry products.
Paperwork Requirements
This proposed rule contains no information collection or
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
List of Subjects
9 CFR Part 317
Food labeling, Food packaging, Meat inspection.
9 CFR Part 381
Food labeling, Poultry and poultry products.
For reasons discussed in the preamble, FSIS is proposing to amend 9
CFR parts 317 and 381 of the Federal meat and poultry products
inspections regulations as follows:
PART 317--LABELING, MARKING DEVICES, AND CONTAINERS
1. The authority citation for part 317 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority : 21 U.S.C. 601-695; 7 CFR 2.18, 2.53.
2. Section 317.309 would be amended by revising paragraph
(c)(8)(iv) to read as follows:
Sec. 317.309 Nutrition label content.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(8) * * *
(iv) The following RDI's and nomenclature are established for the
following vitamins and minerals which are essential in human nutrition:
Vitamin A, 5,000 International Units
Vitamin C, 60 milligrams
Calcium, 1,000 milligrams
Iron, 18 milligrams
Vitamin D, 400 International Units
Vitamin E, 30 International Units
Vitamin K, 80 micrograms
Thiamin, 1.5 milligrams
Riboflavin, 1.7 milligrams
Niacin, 20 milligrams
Vitamin B6, 2.0 milligrams
Folate, 400 micrograms
Vitamin B12, 6 micrograms
Biotin, 300 micrograms
Pantothenic acid, 10 milligrams
Phosphorus, 1,000 milligrams
Iodine, 150 micrograms
Magnesium, 400 milligrams
Zinc, 15 milligrams
Selenium, 70 micrograms
Copper, 2.0 milligrams
Manganese, 2.0 milligrams
Chromium, 120 micrograms
Molybdenum, 75 micrograms
Chloride, 3,400 milligrams
* * * * *
PART 381--POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS
3. The authority citation for part 381 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 138f; 7 U.S.C. 450; 21 U.S.C. 451-470; 7 CFR
2.18, 2.53.
4. Section 381.409 would be amended by revising paragraph
(c)(8)(iv) to read as follows:
Sec. 381.409 Nutrition label content.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(8) * * *
(iv) The following RDI's and nomenclature are established for the
following vitamins and minerals which are essential in human nutrition:
Vitamin A, 5,000 International Units
Vitamin C, 60 milligrams
Calcium, 1,000 milligrams
Iron, 18 milligrams
Vitamin D, 400 International Units
Vitamin E, 30 International Units
Vitamin K, 80 micrograms
Thiamin, 1.5 milligrams
Riboflavin, 1.7 milligrams
Niacin, 20 milligrams
Vitamin B6, 2.0 milligrams
Folate, 400 micrograms
Vitamin B12, 6 micrograms
Biotin, 300 micrograms
Pantothenic acid, 10 milligrams
Phosphorus, 1,000 milligrams
Iodine, 150 micrograms
Magnesium, 400 milligrams
Zinc, 15 milligrams
Selenium, 70 micrograms
Copper, 2.0 milligrams
Manganese, 2.0 milligrams
Chromium, 120 micrograms
Molybdenum, 75 micrograms
Chloride, 3,400 milligrams
* * * * *
Done at Washington, DC, on: December 6, 1996.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-31637 Filed 12-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P