[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66606-66607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30908]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-048N]


Canada's Modernized Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
the availability of a paper prepared by the Canadian Food Inspection 
Agency (CFIA) that describes its new

[[Page 66607]]

Modernized Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP) for chicken, turkey, and 
fowl slaughter inspection in Canadian establishments that process 
poultry, including those that export to the United States and to other 
countries.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the MPIP 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 CFIA homepage at 
http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/animal/meat/mmop/mpip/mpiptoc--
e.html. Submit one original and two copies of written comments to the 
FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket #99-048N, at the address shown above. 
Facsimile comments may be sent to 202-205-0381. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the MPIP 
document, contact Mr. Clark Danford, Acting Director, International 
Policy Division; Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation; 
(202) 720-6400; or by electronic mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In August 1999, CFIA submitted its proposal for a new slaughter 
inspection system described as the ``Modernized Poultry Inspection 
Program.'' Copies are available as described in the ADDRESSES section 
above. MPIP would be used in Canadian establishments that slaughter 
chicken, turkey, and fowl. CFIA describes MPIP as follows: ``National 
and international poultry inspection systems are constantly evolving. 
Canada and its poultry inspection programs are no exceptions. MPIP 
represents the latest Canadian advance in poultry inspection 
methodology. The CFIA is now making MPIP methodology available to 
federally registered poultry slaughter establishments across Canada. 
MPIP is a HACCP and science-based inspection system. It enhances the 
safety and wholesomeness of Canadian poultry products, and as a result, 
contributes to the viability of the Canadian poultry industry. MPIP 
focuses on the slaughter process within the gate to plate food safety 
continuum.''
    The CFIA has set specific objectives for its MPIP program. These 
objectives include the following:
    ``(a) Control of hazards associated with the contamination of live 
poultry with foodborne pathogens as received at registered 
establishments, and the subsequent spread of these pathogenic bacteria 
during the slaughter and processing of poultry;
    (b) Promote the proactive control (prevent, eliminate or reduce) of 
hazards through the implementation of a CFIA-recognized HACCP system in 
poultry slaughtering establishments;
    (c) Facilitate the change from prescriptive regulatory requirements 
to strictly enforced objective performance standards in poultry 
inspection;
    (d) Facilitate the transition of CFIA staff from hands-on 
inspection to audit-based verification activities for poultry slaughter 
establishments operating under a HACCP system;
    (e) Facilitate the assumption by industry of the detection and 
handling of all carcasses with defects (previously performed by CFIA 
inspectors) under continuous government oversight; and
    (f) Respond to changing international trade requirements, e.g., 
Pathogen Reduction and HACCP Program Rule in the US.''

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 poultry and poultry processing measures with those of the 
United States. The Canadian Government has formally requested that the 
United States consider its MPIP proposal to pilot-test a revised 
slaughter inspection system. A determination of equivalence will be 
necessary before any Canadian MPIP establishment may export its poultry 
to the United States.
    FSIS will evaluate the MPIP documentation using two criteria for 
equivalence:
    (1) Does the MPIP meet all USDA requirements for the import of 
poultry products to the United States?
    (2) Does the MPIP afford American consumers the same level of 
public health protection provided by USDA domestic poultry slaughter 
inspection?
    However, before making any equivalence decisions or taking any 
action on the MPIP document, FSIS is requesting public comment on the 
Canadian proposal.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS has considered, under Department Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil 
Rights Impact Analysis,'' dated September 1993, the potential civil 
rights impact of this notice on minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities. FSIS anticipates that this notice will not have a 
negative or disproportionate impact on minorities, women, and persons 
with disabilities. Notices generally are designed to provide 
information and public awareness of important policy developments. 
Consequently, in an effort to better ensure that minorities, women, and 
persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce 
the publication of this Federal Register notice in the FSIS Constituent 
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. This 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 to a much broader, more diverse audience than would 
otherwise be possible. For more information or to be added to the 
constituent fax list, fax your request to the Agency's Congressional 
and Public Affairs Office, at (202) 720-5704.
    Done at Washington, DC on November 19, 1999.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-30908 Filed 11-26-99; 8:45 am]
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