[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 4622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2298]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 20 / Friday, January 30, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 4622]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-075N]


HACCP; Opportunity for Early Implementation

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announces that 
federally inspected meat and poultry slaughter and processing 
establishments may, upon request, implement and receive inspection 
under the new Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) 
regulations prior to the mandatory implementation date. FSIS expects to 
be able to make early implementation available to most interested 
establishments beginning in spring 1998.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Smith, Acting Assistant 
Deputy Administrator, Inspection Operations, Room 4437 South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-3697.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) regulations 
set forth in 9 CFR part 417 become mandatory in all federally inspected 
meat and poultry slaughter and processing establishments during the 
period between January 26, 1998, and January 25, 2000 (61 FR 38806; 
July 25, 1996). The mandatory implementation date for large 
establishments (500 or more employees) is January 26, 1998; for small 
establishments (10 to 499 employees), it is January 25, 1999; and for 
very small establishments (fewer than 10 employees), it is January 25, 
2000.
    Some small and very small establishments have expressed interest in 
implementing the HACCP regulations set forth in 9 CFR part 417 before 
the mandatory date. Because the implementation of HACCP will likely 
reduce the risk of food borne illness from meat and poultry products, 
the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will make every effort to 
accommodate requests for early HACCP implementation.
    FSIS has expedited the training of inspectors, and expects by March 
1998 to have a sufficient number of HACCP-trained inspectors available 
to respond positively to most requests. However, because the agency 
cannot project the actual number of requests, the granting of requests 
will be contingent on the availability of HACCP-trained inspectors.
    Establishments that desire to be subject to the HACCP regulations 
before the mandatory date should submit a letter to this effect to the 
District Manager for the area in which the establishment is located. 
The letter should contain: (1) The establishment number; (2) the date 
that the establishment requests HACCP inspection to begin; and (3) an 
acknowledgment that the establishment cannot revert to traditional 
inspection once HACCP inspection is provided. Interested establishments 
should understand that early HACCP implementation means advancing the 
effective date of the HACCP regulations for them and that FSIS will 
enforce the HACCP regulatory requirements. FSIS will acknowledge 
receipt of the request and address the practicability of the requested 
implementation date, based on the availability of HACCP trained 
inspectors in a return letter. Because of the resource requirements 
involved in accommodating an establishment's request for early HACCP 
implementation, once the exchange of letters with FSIS confirming the 
agreement to implement HACCP on a given date is complete, the 
establishment will not be able to alter or withdraw from that 
agreement.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: January 26, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-2298 Filed 1-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P