[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2551-2552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1235]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

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

[Docket No. 93-016-11N]


Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOP's) and 
E. coli Testing Requirements--Conference

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a 
conference, ``Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation 
SOP's) and E. coli Testing Requirements,'' on January 23, 1997. The 
purpose of the conference is to review and discuss initial operational 
procedures for the Sanitation SOP and E. coli testing requirements that 
are effective on January 27, 1997.

DATES: The conference will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on 
January 23, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The conference will be held at the Arlington Hilton, 950 N. 
Stafford Street, Arlington VA 22203, (703) 528-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for the conference, 
contact Lisa

[[Page 2552]]

Parks at (202) 501-7138, FAX (202) 501-7642, or E-mail usdafsis/
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 25, 1996, FSIS published a final 
rule, ``Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) Systems'' (61 FR 38805). This rule introduced sweeping changes 
to the meat and poultry inspection system. The first stage in the 
implementation of the rule begins on January 27, 1997, when slaughter 
and processing establishments must have written sanitation standard 
operating procedures to prevent direct product contamination and ensure 
food safety, and slaughter establishments must begin testing for E. 
coli as a means of verifying process control for preventing fecal 
contamination.
    To provide interested parties an opportunity to further discuss 
issues relating to the implementation of Sanitation SOP's and E. coli 
testing requirements, FSIS will meet with the public from 1 p.m. to 5 
p.m. on January 23, 1997.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: January 13, 1997.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-1235 Filed 1-14-97; 1:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P