[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53867-53868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26543]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Docket No. 98-054N]


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 a 
series of public meetings from October through December 1998 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

[[Page 53868]]

receive the assistance they need to make the timely transition to 
HACCP.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the location of the 
meetings.

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 in advance of the meeting.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    On June 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.
    Since publication of its final HACCP rule, FSIS has held 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. All of the meetings will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 
p.m. The following is a list of locations and dates for each of the 
meetings scheduled from October to December 1998.\1\
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    \1\ When no telephone number is available at the meeting site, 
please call the FSIS contact person at the numbers listed in FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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              Meeting location                           Date
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Chicago, IL; Four Point Hotel by Sheraton-   October 3, 1998.
 Chicago O'Hare Airport, 102249 W. Irving
 Park Rd., Schiller, Park, IL; telephone
 (847) 671-6000.
Columbus, OH; Holiday Inn East, 4560 Hilton  October 3, 1998.
 Corporate Dr., Columbus, OH; telephone
 (614) 868-1380.
Philadelphia, PA; Holiday Inn-Independence   October 10, 1998.
 Hall, 400 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA;
 telephone (215) 923-8660.
Olympia, WA; Department of Labor &           October 10, 1998.
 Industries Headquarters Building,
 Auditorium, Room ST121, 7273 Linderson
 Way, SW, Tumwater, WA; telephone (360) 902-
 6288.
Denver, CO; Double Tree Hotel, 13696 E.      October 17, 1998.
 Iliff Pl., Aurora, CO; telephone (303) 337-
 2800.
Kansas City, MO; Wyndham Garden Hotel, One   October 17, 1998.
 East 45th St.; telephone (816) 753-7400.
Des Moines, IA; West Des Moines Marriott,    October 24, 1998.
 1250 74th St.; telephone (515) 267-1500.
Jackson, MS; Mississippi Agriculture and     October 24, 1998.
 Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, I-55
 Exit 98-B; telephone (601) 354-6113.
San Juan, PR; San Juan Marriott Resort;      October 31, 1998.
 1309 Ashford Avenue; telephone (787) 289-
 6027.
Madison, WI; Radisson Inn Madison, 516       November 7, 1998.
 Grand Canyon Dr.; telephone (608) 833-0100.
Albany, NY: Omni Hotel, State and Lodge      November 7, 1998.
 St.; telephone (510) 462-6611.
Atlanta, GA; Terrace Garden Hotel Buckhead,  November 14, 1998.
 3405 Lenox Rd., NE; telephone (404) 261-
 9520.
Boston, MA; Swissotel, One Avenue            November 14, 1998.
 deLafayette; telephone (617) 422-5531.
Fayetteville, AR; Hilton Hotel, 70 North     November 21, 1998.
 East Avenue; telephone (501) 442-5555.
St. Paul, MN; Earl Brown Center, 1890        November 21, 1998.
 Buford Avenue.
Sacramento, CA; California Department of     December 5, 1998.
 Food and Agriculture Auditorium, 1220 N.
 Street.
Dallas, TX; Holiday Inn Select Dallas,       December 5, 1998.
 10650 N. Central Expressway; telephone
 (214) 373-6000.
Honolulu, HI; Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson  December 8, 1998.
 Dr.; telephone (808) 955-4811.
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    Done at Washington, DC, on September 28, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-26543 Filed 10-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-M