[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2621-2622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-928]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 2621]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-067N]


Australia's Meat Safety Enhancement Program (MSEP)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments and public meeting notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
the availability of a paper prepared by the Australian Quarantine and 
Inspection Service (AQIS) that sets forth its new Meat Safety 
Enhancement Program (MSEP) for slaughter inspection in establishments 
that process meat for export to the United States and to other 
countries. The public may submit comments on the MSEP document in 
writing or at a public meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held on February 3, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 3 
p.m.
    Written comments must be received on or before February 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the MSEP document are available from the FSIS 
Docket Clerk, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20250-3700. A copy may also be obtained from the Australian 
Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) homepage at http://
www.dpie.gov.au/aqis/homepage/msep1.html. Submit one original and two 
copies of written comments to the FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket #98-067N, 
at the address shown above. Facsimile comments may be sent to 202-690-
0486. The public can review all received comments in the FSIS Docket 
Room from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    The meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel at 10 Thomas 
Circle NW (at Massachusetts Avenue and 14th Street), Washington, DC 
20009, (202) 842-1300. Transcripts of the meeting will be available in 
the FSIS Docket Room, Room 102, 300 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 
20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the MSEP 
document or to register for the meeting, contact Mr. Mark Manis, 
Director, International Policy Division; Office of Policy, Program 
Development, and Evaluation; (202) 720-6400; or by electronic mail to 
[email protected].
    Attendees who require a sign language interpreter or other special 
accommodation should contact Mr. Mark Manis by January 26, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 30, 1997, FSIS announced in the Federal Register (62 FR 
29326) that it was making available a proposal prepared by the 
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for a new slaughter 
inspection model, commonly named ``Project 2.'' FSIS sought public 
comment to determine whether the Australian Project 2 proposal would 
ensure the safety, wholesomeness, and truthful labeling of product 
produced under such a system. This determination was necessary in order 
for the United States to accept meat produced by Australian 
establishments that would participate in the Project 2 trials.
    Results from the Federal Register notice indicated strong public 
support for HACCP and quality assurance systems, such as the Project 2 
proposal provided, as effective means to control food processing 
hazards and thus reduce foodborne illness risks. However, less 
agreement was evident on the fundamental question raised by Project 2: 
What level of federal oversight must be provided to establishments that 
are implementing or have implemented HACCP and quality assurance 
programs?
    FSIS informed AQIS in a letter dated November 7, 1997 \1\, as 
follows: ``While the Project 2 protocol provides adequate assurances 
that process control is likely to be maintained in participating 
establishments, we find the proposed form and intensity of federal 
oversight to be inadequate to verify, over time, in normal operating 
conditions, that these controls will be maintained. While FSIS 
encourages and supports your efforts to demonstrate how Australian meat 
plants operate under plant controlled HACCP and quality assurance 
systems, we believe that the combination of sweeping change in 
establishment processing techniques and a shift from command and 
control inspection presents uncertainties that require federal 
oversight of a type and intensity greater than that proposed by Project 
2.''
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    \1\ The FSIS Docket Room has a copy of the letter for public 
inspection.
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    FSIS also advised AQIS that it would consider the Project 2 
proposal further if it were modified to provide a level of federal 
oversight that is equivalent to that which will be employed by the 
United States through its inspection models project that was then under 
development.
    On January 6, 1998, AQIS wrote to FSIS and proposed options for 
increased Federal oversight as a means to advance its Project 2 
proposal. The substance of these options was that AQIS would agree to 
provide direct inspector oversight and verification of establishment 
sorting operations. FSIS answered this proposal in a letter dated 
February 3, 1998 \2\, as follows:

    \2\ The FSIS Docket Room has a copy of the letter for public 
inspection.
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    ``This responds to your letter of January 6, 1998, in which you 
proposed additional Federal oversight for your planned Project 2 
trials. In summary, we find the enhanced level of oversight you 
propose an encouraging step toward an agreement on equivalence.
    ``Our inspection models project is commencing its baseline phase 
this spring and we invite Australia to join with us in a parallel 
endeavor to determine the most appropriate form and intensity of 
oversight for meat establishments that operate under HACCP. By 
working together in a collegial fashion, we can resolve equivalence 
issues incrementally as they arise. For example, as U.S. 
establishments that participate in our inspection models project 
accept responsibility for meeting FSIS performance standards they 
will take over some of the on-line functions now being performed by 
Federal inspectors. These establishments will continue to be 
eligible to ship product for sale in commerce because plant sorters 
will operate under direct oversight by FSIS inspectors.
    ``If AQIS were to modify its * * * proposal to include the 
additional baseline data collections * * *, develop performance 
standards to compare establishment effectiveness with Federal 
inspection

[[Page 2622]]

effectiveness, incorporate direct oversight of establishment sorting 
activities and a combination of organoleptical and microbiological 
sampling at a level sufficient to detect noncompliance, and agree to 
proceed collaboratively with FSIS during the development of new 
HACCP-based inspection models, the United States would be willing to 
accept meat produced by establishments that participate in the * * * 
trials.''

    In August 1998, AQIS submitted its proposal for a new slaughter 
inspection system described as the ``Meat Safety Enhancement Program'' 
(MSEP). Copies are available from the FSIS Docket Clerk.

Determination of Equivalence

    As a result of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (commonly referred to as the ``SPS 
Agreement''), contracting parties, including the United States, are 
committed to harmonizing their human, animal, and plant health import 
requirements by basing their sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import 
requirements on ``equivalent'' sanitary measures or standards. Among 
other things, the SPS Agreement obliges the United States to respond to 
requests by other contracting parties to establish the equivalence of 
specified meat and poultry processing measures with those of the United 
States.
    The Australian Government has formally requested that the United 
States consider its MSEP proposal to pilot-test a revised slaughter 
inspection system. FSIS has conducted a review of the AQIS MSEP 
document with particular emphasis on three criteria:
    (1) Does the MSEP adequately respond to oversight concerns raised 
by FSIS in its November 7, 1997 letter (referenced above)?
    (2) Does the MSEP meet all conditions presented by FSIS in its 
February 3, 1998 letter (referenced above)?
    (3) Does the MSEP provide an equivalent level of public health 
protection guaranteed by FSIS slaughter inspection methods?
    FSIS has reviewed the MSEP document, and it appears that these 
three criteria are appropriately met in that direct continuous Federal 
oversight and verification of establishment slaughter operations would 
be provided for and all other specified conditions have been met. 
Additionally, FSIS has compared MSEP sanitary measures with those 
provided by its HACCP-based Inspection Models Project, and finds that 
these two programs appear to be conceptually similar in design.
    However, before making any decisions or taking any action on the 
MSEP document, FSIS has decided to request public comment on it.

    Done at Washington, D.C. on: January 8, 1999.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-928 Filed 1-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P