[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 42 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 11283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5055]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 00-006N]


Exemption for Retail Stores; Adjustment for Dollar Limitations

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has increased 
the limitation on annual sales of meat and meat food products by retail 
stores whose operations are exempt from Federal inspection. The dollar 
limitation for poultry products has been kept unchanged at $39,000 for 
calendar year 2000. The dollar limitation for meat and meat food 
products has been increased from $41,000 to $42,500 for calendar year 
2000. This increase conforms to the price change for meat and meat food 
products indicated by the Consumer Price Index.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 2, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel L. Engeljohn, Ph.D., Director, 
Regulations Development and Analysis Division, Office of Policy, 
Program Development, and Evaluation, FSIS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 112, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250, (202) 720-5627, fax number (202) 690-0486.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

    Under the regulations in 9 CFR 303.1(d) and 381.10(d), FSIS exempts 
certain operations of types traditionally and usually conducted at 
retail stores from routine Federal inspection of meat and poultry 
products. Whether a retail store operation qualifies for an exemption 
depends, in part, on the percentage and volume of trade in meat and 
poultry products that a retail store conducts with non-household 
consumers (hotels, restaurants, or similar institutions). The 
regulations state in dollars the annual maximum amount of meat and 
poultry products that a retail store may sell to non-household 
consumers if that store's operations are to remain exempt from 
inspection.
    FSIS adjusts the dollar limitation during the first quarter of each 
calendar year if the Consumer Price Index, published by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics, indicates at least a $500 increase or decrease in the 
price of the same volume of product during the previous year. FSIS 
publishes a notice of the adjusted dollar limitation in the Federal 
Register.
    The Consumer Price Index for 1999 indicates an average annual price 
increase in meat and meat food products of 3.6 percent and an average 
annual price decrease in poultry products of 2.8 percent. When rounded 
off to the nearest $100, the price increase for meat and meat food 
products amounts to $1,500 and the price decrease for poultry products 
amounts to $200. Prices of meat and meat food products, therefore, have 
changed in excess of $500, and those of poultry have decreased by less 
than $500. In accordance with Secs. 303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 
381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b) of the regulations, FSIS has increased the dollar 
limitation of permitted sales of meat and meat food products from 
$41,000 to $42,500 and has kept the dollar limitation of permitted 
sales for poultry products at $39,000.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure 
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
notice, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of this Federal 
Register publication 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/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 to a much broader, more diverse audience. For more 
information and to be added to the constituent fax list, fax your 
request to the Congressional and Public Affairs Office, at (202) 720-
5704.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: February 24, 2000.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-5055 Filed 3-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P