[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48169-48170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24125]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Docket No. 98-051N]


HACCP Implementation for Small Plants; Public Meetings

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding two 
public meetings in September to discuss ways to help owners and 
managers of small plants prepare for the HACCP implementation date of 
January 25, 1999. The meetings will give all stakeholders an 
opportunity to hear what is currently being done to help small plants 
and to discuss additional ways of ensuring that small plants receive 
the assistance they need to make the timely transition to HACCP. In 
addition to the September meetings, FSIS will hold eight meetings in 
October, six meetings in November, and two meetings in December at 
various locations throughout the country in preparation for the 1999 
implementation date for small plants.

DATES: The meetings will be held on September 19 and September 26, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: The September 19 meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 
p.m. in Raleigh, NC, at the Ramada Inn/Blue Ridge, 1500 Blue Ridge Rd., 
Raleigh, NC 27607; telephone (919) 832-4100. The September 26 meeting 
will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in College Park, MD, at the 
Holiday Inn College Park, 10000 Baltimore Blvd., College Park, MD 
20740; telephone (301) 345-6700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for the meeting, contact 
Ms. Sheila Johnson of the FSIS Planning Staff at (202) 501-7138 or by 
FAX at (202) 501-7642. If a sign language interpreter or other special 
accommodation is required, please contact Ms. Johnson as soon as 
possible.


[[Page 48170]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 25, 1996, FSIS published a final 
rule, ``Pathogen Reduction: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) Systems,'' (61 FR 38806). The rule established a HACCP 
implementation schedule for establishments based on their size. Large 
plants began implementing HACCP on January 26, 1998. Small plants have 
a scheduled implementation date of January 25, 1999, and very small 
plants are required to implement HACCP by January 25, 2000.
    After publication of its final HACCP rule, FSIS has been holding a 
series of public meetings to facilitate implementation of HACCP plans, 
especially by small and very small plants. The Agency also has provided 
extensive information and technical assistance that would be helpful to 
plant managers in development of HACCP plans. FSIS also has developed 
and distributed generic HACCP models and guidance materials 
specifically to aid small plant managers.
    The upcoming meetings will discuss small plant initiatives, 
including contacts and a coordinators assistance network, small plant 
demonstration projects, plant sponsorship, and land grant university 
workshops. A panel will address the key elements of implementation, and 
there will be an opportunity to ask questions and seek additional 
information.
    Times and locations of additional small plant implementation 
meetings scheduled for October through December 1998 will be announced 
in a future Federal Register notice.

    Done in Washington, DC, on: September 2, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-24125 Filed 9-8-98; 8:45 am]
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