[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63282-63283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30223]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-053N]


Technical Conference on the Sanitation Performance Standard 
Regulation

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a 
public meeting on December 8-9, 1999, regarding FSIS's final rule, 
``Sanitation Requirements for Official Meat and Poultry 
Establishments.'' At the meeting, participants will have an opportunity 
to discuss technical issues related to the sanitation performance 
standards. A steering committee made up of people from the Agency, 
industry, trade associations, and academia is developing the meeting 
agenda.

DATES: The public meeting will be held December 8-9, 1999, from 8:00 
a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on the 8th and from 8:00 a.m until 2:30 p.m. on 
the 9th.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Double Tree Hotel, 
1616 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, Telephone (402) 346-7600. The 
meeting is open to the public on a space-available basis. To register 
for the meeting, contact Ms. Gaye Gerard of the FSIS's Technical 
Service Center on or before December 6, 1999, by Telephone (402) 221-
7400, FAX (402) 221-7438, or e-mail [email protected]. Attendees who 
require a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation 
should contact Ms. Gerard at the above numbers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karlease Kelly, Technical Service 
Center, Office of Field Operations, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 
US Department of Agriculture, Suite 300, Landmark Center, 1299 Farnam 
Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, Telephone 402-221-7400, FAX 402-221-7421 
or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 20, 1999, FSIS published the 
final rule, ``Sanitation Requirements for Official Meat and Poultry 
Establishments'' (64 FR 56400). This final rule revised the regulatory 
requirements concerning sanitation in official meat and poultry 
establishments. Specifically, the rule consolidated sanitation 
regulations into a single part applicable to both official meat and 
poultry establishments, eliminating unnecessary differences between the 
sanitation requirements for meat and poultry processing, and converting 
many of the highly prescriptive sanitation requirements to performance 
standards. The final rule will be effective on January 25, 2000.
    The purpose of the meeting is to explain the intent of the 
regulation and to discuss technical issues related to the general 
sanitation provisions covered by the new regulations before they become 
effective.

Departmental Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil Rights Impact Analysis''

    Pursuant to Department Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil Rights Impact 
Analysis,'' dated September 22, 1993, FSIS has considered the potential 
civil rights impact of this meeting on minorities, women, and persons 
with disabilities. This notice is designed to provide information to 
the public. Public involvement is important. Consequently, in an effort 
to better ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities 
are made aware of this public meeting FSIS will announce the 
publication of this Federal Register notice in the FSIS Constitutent 
Update.
    FSIS provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is 
communicated via fax to over 300 organizations and individuals. In 
addition, the update is available on line through the FSIS web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register Notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and any other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to our 
constituents/stakeholders. The constituent fax list consists of 
industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied 
health professionals, scientific professionals and other individuals 
that have requested to be included. Through these various channels, 
FSIS is able to provide information with a much broader, more diverse 
audience. For more information and to be added to the constituent fax 
list, fax your request to the Office of Congressional and Public 
Affairs, at (202) 720-5704.


[[Page 63283]]


    Done at Washington, DC on: November 15, 1999.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-30223 Filed 11-18-99; 8:45 am]
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