[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 29326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14116]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 104 / Friday, May 30, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 29326]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-031N]


Australia's Pilot Proposal for Its Export-Meat Inspection Program

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announces that 
it is making available for public comment an Australian proposal for a 
pilot program intended to demonstrate the equivalence of Australia's 
proposed system of export meat inspection with traditional meat 
inspection, which is performed by Government inspectors. This proposal 
is described in a document entitled ``Summary of Australia's Project 2 
Proposal,'' prepared by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection 
Service.
    For the duration of the pilot program, the Australian Government 
requests that meat from the plants participating in the pilot maintain 
access to export markets, including the United States. FSIS seeks 
public comment on whether the inspection program detailed in the 
Australian proposal would ensure equivalence and the safety, 
wholesomeness, and truthful labeling of product produced under such a 
system.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 29, 1997.

ADDRESSES: An electronic version of the Australian document is 
available online at FSIS's homepage at http://www.usda.gov/fsis. Hard 
copies of the document are available from the FSIS Docket Clerk in the 
FSIS Docket Room, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday.
    Send comments on the Australian proposal to FSIS Docket Clerk, 
Docket #97-031N, at the above address. Comments received will be 
available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room during the 
above-stated hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Manis, Director, 
International Policy Development Division, Office of Policy, Program 
Development, and Evaluation; (202) 720-6400, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    As a result of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (commonly referred to as the ``SPS 
Agreement''), contracting parties, including the United States, are 
committed to harmonizing their human, animal, and plant health import 
requirements by basing their sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import 
requirements on ``equivalent'' sanitary measures or standards. Among 
other things, the SPS Agreement obliges the United States to respond to 
requests by other contracting parties to establish the equivalency of 
specified meat and poultry processing measures with those of the United 
States.
    The Australian Government has requested that the United States and 
certain other governments consider its proposal to pilot-test a revised 
meat inspection system. This revised system reorients inspection to 
focus on pathogenic microorganisms and chemical residues. The HACCP-
based pilot program is called ``Project 2.'' The proposal is described 
in a document entitled ``Summary of Australia's Project 2 Proposal,'' 
prepared by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
    Of particular interest to the United States is the aspect of the 
pilot program that replaces traditional Government meat inspection with 
inspection by plant employees under stringent Government oversight. For 
the duration of the project, the Australian Government requests that 
meat from the four affected plants participating in the pilot maintain 
access to export markets, including the United States.
    The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, solicits public comment on Australia's ``Project 2'' 
proposal. Does the proposal provide adequate Government oversight to 
ensure equivalence and the safety, wholesomeness, and truthful labeling 
of product produced under such a system?
    FSIS will take public comment into account in evaluating the 
Australian proposal. The Agency's decision will be announced in a 
notice in the Federal Register at the end of the public comment period.

    Done at Washington, D.C., on: May 23, 1997.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-14116 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P