[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 38315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18216]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 136 / Friday, July 16, 1999 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 38315]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 54

[Docket No. LS-98-09]


Notice of Public Meeting on Voluntary, User-Fee Funded Program to 
Inspect and Certify Equipment Used to Process Livestock and Poultry 
Products

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Notice of public 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is developing a 
voluntary, user-fee funded program to inspect and certify equipment 
used to process livestock and poultry products under the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946. This program is required under the provisions of 
the 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Comments received concerning this 
notice and information provided at the public meeting will assist AMS 
in the issuance of the proposed rule concerning the establishment of 
this program.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 14, 1999. A public 
meeting will be held August 10, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit one original and 
two copies of written comments concerning this program to Craig Morris, 
Docket No. LS-98-09, Room 2092 South Agriculture Building, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0249.
    The public meeting will be held in Room 107-A at the USDA Jamie L. 
Whitten Building, 12th and Jefferson Drive, SW., Washington, DC. To 
register for the meeting or to schedule a presentation, contact 
Christine Miles by telephone at 202-720-5705 or by FAX at 202-720-3499. 
If a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is 
necessary, contact Christine Miles at the above number.
    Submit one original and two copies of written presentations to 
Craig Morris, Docket No. LS-98-09, Room 2092 South Agriculture 
Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0249. All 
comments received in response to this notice will be considered part of 
the public record and will be available for viewing in Room 2092 South 
Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0249, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Carpenter, Deputy Administrator, 
Livestock and Seed Program, by telephone at 202-720-5705 or by Fax at 
202-720-3499.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill 
requires development of a voluntary, user-fee funded program to inspect 
and certify agricultural processing equipment, including equipment used 
to process livestock and poultry products (Pub. L. 105-277, sec. 747). 
Previously, this function was carried out by USDA on a mandatory prior 
approval basis by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) as a 
prerequisite for equipment use in Federally inspected meat and poultry 
packing and processing establishments. FSIS continues to verify that 
equipment is of such material and construction as will facilitate its 
thorough cleaning and otherwise avoid adulteration and misbranding of 
product. However, to provide Federally inspected establishments with 
the flexibility to design equipment in the manner they deem best to 
maintain a sanitary environment for food production without having to 
seek prior approval, FSIS published a document in the Federal Register 
of August 25, 1997 (62 FR 45016) which eliminated the mandatory FSIS 
prior approval program.
    At the time FSIS announced its intention to discontinue its prior 
approval program, equipment manufacturers and meat and poultry 
processors expressed interest in continuing the FSIS program, or 
developing a new program through AMS on a voluntary, user-fee funded 
basis to inspect and certify equipment used to process livestock and 
poultry products to a sanitary standard. Subsequently, passage of the 
1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill required development of a program to 
inspect and certify agricultural processing equipment which would be 
similar to other inspection and certification programs under the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627).
    Accordingly, AMS is issuing this advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking to assist in the development of an inspection and 
certification program for equipment used to process livestock and 
poultry products. Further, a public meeting will be held on August 10, 
1999, in Room 107-A at the USDA Jamie L. Whitten Building, 12th and 
Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC. Through this advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking and the public meeting, AMS will be seeking 
information which will enable the Agency to develop an efficient and 
cost-effective program for inspecting and certifying equipment used to 
process livestock and poultry products.
    Specifically, AMS will be seeking information concerning:
    (1) Initiatives underway in the industry to develop a voluntary, 
consensus sanitary standard for the design and manufacture of equipment 
used to process livestock and poultry products;
    (2) Comments on the validity and usability of standards presented 
to AMS for consideration for adoption;
    (3) Suggestions of criteria to be used by AMS to select a sanitary 
standard; and
    (4) Any other information which would aid AMS in implementing and 
administering this program.

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

    Dated: July 13, 1999.
Barry L. Carpenter,
Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Seed Program.
[FR Doc. 99-18216 Filed 7-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P