[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 1735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-575]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 7 / Monday, January 12, 1998 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 1735]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 310

[Docket No. 97-080W]
RIN 0583-AC40


Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) Systems--Sample Collection--Technical Amendments and 
Corrections: Direct Final Rule

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Partial withdrawal of direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is withdrawing 
the part of a direct final rule that added a Salmonella performance 
standard for fresh pork sausage to the Federal meat inspection 
regulations. FSIS is withdrawing this regulatory amendment because it 
received an adverse written comment within the scope of the rulemaking 
in response to the direct final rule. Elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register, FSIS has published a proposed rule for the 
performance standard.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit an original and two copies of written comments to: 
FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket #97-080W, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 102, Cotton Annex, 300 12th 
Street, SW., Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Reference materials cited in 
this docket will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket 
Room from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Patricia Stolfa, Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation, 
(202) 205-0699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a direct final rule published in the 
Federal Register on November 14, 1997 (62 FR 61007) FSIS, among other 
things, notified the public of its intent to establish a Salmonella 
performance standard for fresh pork sausages (9 CFR 310.25(b)(1)). FSIS 
solicited comments concerning the direct final rule for a 30-day period 
ending December 15, 1997. FSIS stated that the effective date of the 
proposed amendment would be 60 days after publication of the direct 
final rule in the Federal Register, unless the Agency received adverse 
written comments or a notice of intent to submit adverse comments 
within the scope of the rulemaking by the close of the comment period. 
FSIS also stated that if it received such comments, it would publish a 
notice in the Federal Register withdrawing the direct final rule before 
the scheduled effective date and would publish a proposed rule for 
public comment.
    FSIS received adverse comments within the scope of the rulemaking 
from the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery representing Jimmy Dean 
Foods, Inc. and Odom's Tennessee Pride Sausage, Inc. Therefore, FSIS is 
withdrawing the 9 CFR 310.25(b)(1) Salmonella performance standard 
regulatory amendment and is issuing a proposed rule elsewhere in this 
issue of the Federal Register. There were no adverse comments received 
regarding the other provisions of the direct final rule. Therefore, the 
following provisions will become effective on January 13, 1997: (1) The 
amendment to 9 CFR Sec. 381.94 allowing poultry samples to be taken 
from the end of the slaughter line if collecting samples from the end 
of the chilling process is impracticable; (2) the amendment to 9 CFR 
Sec. 381.94 allowing turkeys to be sampled by sponging the carcass on 
the back and thigh; and (3) the technical correction to 9 CFR 
Sec. 417.2 to reference the Poultry Products Inspection Act.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the amendment revising 
table 2 in Sec. 310.25(b)(1), published at 62 FR 61008 (November 14, 
1997), is withdrawn.

    Done at Washington, DC, on January 5, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-575 Filed 1-9-98; 8:45 am]
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