[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11450-11451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6125]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. 01-018E]


Definitions and Standards of Identity or Composition: Elimination 
of the Pizza Standard

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule: Reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reopening and 
extending the comment period for the proposed rulemaking, ``Definitions 
and Standards of Identity or Composition: Elimination of the Pizza 
Standard,'' that closed on January 2, 2002. This action responds to 
requests from two trade associations and a private company to allow 
additional time for comment.

[[Page 11451]]


DATES: Comments are due April 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send one original and two copies of written comments to FSIS 
Docket No. 01-018P, Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, Room 102, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Post, Ph.D., Director, 
Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff, Office of Policy, Program 
Development and Evaluation, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 205-0279

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 2, 2001, FSIS published a 
proposed rule, ``Definitions and Standards of Identity or Composition: 
Elimination of the Pizza Standard'' (66 FR 55601). In that document, 
the Agency proposed to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to 
remove the standards of identity for ``pizza with meat'' and ``pizza 
with sausage'' and provided a 60-day comment period ending on January 
2, 2002. FSIS received three comments requesting that the Agency extend 
the comment period for the proposed rule. Two comments from industry 
trade associations requested that the Agency extend the comment period 
for an additional 60 days and one comment from a private company 
requested that the Agency extend the comment period for an additional 
90 days. The commenters requested additional time to get input and 
feed-back from trade association members who may be affected by the 
proposed rule and to conduct, gather, and analyze consumer research 
data. Because the comment period included the holiday season, the 
requestors asked for additional time to accommodate loss of time during 
the holidays.
    FSIS has considered the requests and will reopen the comment 
period. However, FSIS is only reopening the comment period for an 
additional 30 days, which will provide additional time for comments to 
be made, while ensuring that the rulemaking proceeds in a timely 
manner. As a result of this reopening and extension, the comment period 
for the proposed rule will close on April 15, 2002.

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 the meeting 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.

Margaret O'K Glavin,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-6125 Filed 3-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P