[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59304-59305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29034]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

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

[Docket No. 97-051N]


Reopening of Comment Period on the Generic HACCP Models and 
Guidance Materials

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
the reopening of the comment period to solicit additional public 
comment on the 13 generic Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) models, the Guidebook for the Preparation of HACCP Plans, and 
Hazards and Controls Guide for Meat and Poultry Products. The comment 
period is being reopened so that ongoing public meetings on plant 
communication can include further discussion on the usefulness of the 
generic models and guidance materials in preparing for HACCP 
implementation.

DATES: Written comments on the generic models and guidance materials 
must be submitted on or before February 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The models, Guidebook, and Guide may be viewed in the FSIS 
Docket Reading Room, Room 102 Cotton Annex Building, 300 12th Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700 and at Government Depository Libraries 
throughout the country. Comments on the models and other documents 
should be directed to Ms. Diane Moore, FSIS Docket Clerk, at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Patricia F. Stolfa, Assistant 
Deputy Administrator, Regulations & Inspection, Office of Policy, 
Program Development, and Evaluation, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, at (202) 205-0699, FAX (202) 401-1760.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 25, 1996, FSIS published a final 
rule, ``Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control 
Point (HACCP) Systems'' (61 FR 38806). This rule introduces 
sweeping changes to the meat and poultry inspection system and 
directly targets pathogenic organisms on those products that can 
cause foodborne illness. In the preamble to the proposed rule, FSIS 
announced it would develop generic models to facilitate preparation 
of mandated HACCP plans, especially by ``small'' and ``very small'' 
establishments.

    FSIS announced the availability of the models and guidance 
materials on June 12, 1997, and solicited public comment on those 
documents. (62 FR 32053) The models included Generic HACCP Model for 
Raw, Ground Meat and Poultry Products; Generic HACCP Model for Raw, Not 
Ground Meat and Poultry Products; Generic HACCP Model for Poultry 
Slaughter; Generic HACCP Model for Mechanically Separated (Species)/
Mechanically Deboned Poultry; Generic HACCP Model for Thermally 
Processed Commercially Sterile Meat and Poultry Products; Generic HACCP 
Model for Irradiation; Generic HACCP Model for Meat and Poultry 
Products with Secondary Inhibitors, Not Shelf-Stable; Generic HACCP 
Model for Heat Treated, Shelf-Stable Meat and Poultry Products; Generic 
HACCP Model for Not Shelf-Stable Heat Treated, Not Fully Cooked Meat 
and Poultry Products; Generic HACCP Model for Fully Cooked, Not Shelf-
Stable Meat and Poultry Products; Generic HACCP Model for Beef 
Slaughter; Generic HACCP Model for Pork Slaughter; and Generic HACCP 
Model for Not Heat Treated, Shelf-Stable Meat and Poultry Products. The 
initial comment period expired on August 11, 1997.
    FSIS is reopening the comment period to allow plant owners and 
operators to further discuss the generic models and other documents 
during the second round of meetings held as part of the Agency's Plant 
Communications Initiative. Seven meetings, including a teleconference, 
are scheduled to be held across the country from August 18 through 
December 6, 1997. FSIS is interested in learning about the types of 
technical assistance that would be helpful to small plant managers in 
development of their HACCP systems.


[[Page 59305]]


    Done in Washington, DC, on: October 24, 1997.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-29034 Filed 10-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P