[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72101-72102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34755]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 52, 53 and 54

[Docket Number LS-98-13]


Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Regulations Governing the 
Grading and Certification of Livestock, Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat 
Products

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Correcting Amendments.

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SUMMARY: The Livestock Market News (LMN) Branch and the Meat Grading 
and Certification (MGC) Branch of the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) are amending certain regulations to update them and to correct 
minor errors. This action is being taken to improve the accuracy and 
clarity of the regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John E. VanDyke, Chief, LMN Branch, 
telephone 202-720-6231, or Larry Meadows, Chief, MGC Branch, telephone 
202-720-1246.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    AMS has discovered that certain errors exist in the codified 
regulations. This document corrects those errors.
    In part 52, section 52.1843, paragraphs (e)(i) and (ii) should be 
classified as (e)(1) and (2), respectively.
    In the Federal Register of June 30, 1998 (63 FR 35500), AMS 
published a final rule entitled ``Removal of U.S. Standards and Other 
Selected Regulations.'' The final rule revoked Subpart B (7 CFR Parts 
53 and 54). However, in issuing the rule, the agency inadvertently 
neglected to remove the cross-reference to Subpart B in parts 53 and 
54, Subpart A--Regulations. Therefore, this action is being taken to 
correct these inadvertent omissions.

Need for Correction

    The regulations codified in the Code of Federal Regulations and 
published in the Federal Register (63 FR 35500) contain errors which 
may prove to be misleading and need to be clarified.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 52

    Food grades and standards, Food labeling, Frozen foods, Fruit 
juices, Fruits, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, vegetables.

7 CFR Part 53

    Cattle, Hogs, Livestock, Sheep.

7 CFR Part 54

    Food grades and standards, Food labeling, Meat and meat products.

    Accordingly, 7 CFR parts 52, 53 and 54 are corrected by making the 
following amendments:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 52 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.


Sec. 52.1843  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 52.1843, paragraphs ``(e)(i)'' and ``(e)(ii)'' are 
corrected to read ``(e)(1)'' and ``(e)(2)'', respectively.

PART 53--LIVESTOCK (GRADING, CERTIFICATION, AND STANDARDS)

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 53 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    2. Section 53.1, is amended by revising paragraph ``Grade'' (2) and 
the definition for ``Standards'' to read as follows:


Sec. 53.1  Meaning of words.

 * * * * *
    Grade. (1) * * *
    (2) As a verb, this term means to determine the class, grade, or 
other quality of livestock according to applicable standards for such 
livestock.
 * * * * *
    Standards. The standards of the Department contained in Official 
United States Standards for Grades of: Carcass Beef; Veal and Calf 
Carcasses; Lamb, Yearling Mutton, and Mutton Carcasses; and, Pork 
Carcasses.
 * * * * *
    3. In Sec. 53.4, the first sentence is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 53.4  Kind of service.

    Grading service under the regulations shall consist of the 
determination and certification and other identification, upon request 
by the applicant, of the class, grade, or other quality of livestock 
under applicable standards. * * *

[[Page 72102]]

PART 54--MEATS, PREPARED MEATS, AND MEAT PRODUCTS (GRADING, 
CERTIFICATION, AND STANDARDS)

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 54 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    2. Section 54.1, is amended by revising paragraph ``Grade'' (2) and 
the definition for ``Standards'' to read as follows:


Sec. 54.1  Meaning of words.

 * * * * *
    Grade. (1) * * *
    (2) As a verb, this term means to determine the class, grade, or 
other quality of a product according to applicable standards for such 
product.
 * * * * *
    Standards. The standards of the Department contained in Official 
United States Standards for Grades of: Carcass Beef; Veal and Calf 
Carcasses; Lamb, Yearling Mutton, and Mutton Carcasses; and, Pork 
Carcasses.
 * * * * *
    3. Section 54.4 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 54.4  Kind of service.

    (1) Grading service under the regulations shall consist of the 
determination and certification and other identification, upon request 
by the applicant, of the class, grade, or other quality of products 
under applicable standards. Class, grade, and other quality may be 
determined under said standards for meat of cattle, sheep, or swine in 
carcass form only, except upon approval by the Director upon his 
determination of good cause and provided that the meat can be 
identified in conformance with the standards.
    (2) Certification service under the regulations shall consist of 
the determination of the conformity of products to specifications 
approved by the Director or Chief and the certification and other 
identification of such livestock or products in accordance with 
specifications, upon request by the applicant. Determination as to 
product compliance with specifications for ingredient content or method 
of preparation may be based upon information received from the 
inspection system having jurisdiction over the products involved.
    (3) The Carcass Data Service, under the regulations, shall consist 
of the evaluation of carcass characteristics, in accordance with 
applicable official United States Standards of carcasses of animals 
identified with the official eartag as shown in Sec. 54.17, the 
recording of such data, and transmittal of the data to, or as directed 
by, the applicant for the service.
    (4) The Contract Verification Service, under the regulations, 
provides wholesale buyers of noncertified commodity products a method 
of determining whether procurement(s) met contractually specified 
requirements.
    (5) The Quality Systems Certification Program, under the 
regulations, provides meatpackers, processors, producers, or other 
businesses in the livestock and meat trade the ability to have special 
processes or documented quality management systems verified.
    4. Section 54.13 is amended by revising the first sentence in 
paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec. 54.13  Accessibility and refrigeration of products; access to 
establishments.

    (a) * * *
    (b) Grading service will only be furnished for meat that a USDA 
grader determines is chilled so that grade factors are developed to the 
extent that a proper grade determination can be made in accordance with 
the official standards. * * *
    5. In Sec. 54.16, the first sentence is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 54.16  Marking of products.

    All products for which class and grade under the standards are 
determined under the regulations, or the immediate and shipping 
containers thereof, shall be stamped, branded, or otherwise marked with 
an appropriate official identification: Provided, That except as 
otherwise directed by the Chief, such marking will not be required when 
an applicant only desires official certificates. * * *

    Dated: December 22, 1998.
Robert L. Leverette,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Seed Program.
[FR Doc. 98-34755 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P