[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54404-54405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21376]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 02-023N]


FSIS Security Guidelines for Food Processors; Notice of 
Availability

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
the availability of the Agency's current Security Guidelines for Food 
Processors. These guidelines were developed to assist Federal- and 
State-inspected plants that produce meat, poultry, and egg products in 
identifying ways to strengthen their security plans to protect against 
acts of bioterrorism. FSIS recognizes that Federal- and State-inspected 
plants may also be aware of, and be adopting, security guidelines from 
other government agencies, industry organizations, and private sector 
experts. However, plants that do not have access to specialized 
security planning advice should find these guidelines useful as they 
develop and improve their food security plans.
    These guidelines were designed and developed to meet the particular 
needs of meat, poultry, and egg processing plants and to be easily 
understood and readily adaptable by plant officials. While these 
guidelines are voluntary, and plants may choose to adopt measures 
suggested by many different sources, it is vital that all plants take 
steps to assure the security of their operations. The guidelines are 
available in both English and Spanish.

DATES: Submit written comments on the security guidelines to the FSIS 
Docket Clerk no later than October 21, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FSIS Security Guidelines are available from 
the FSIS Docket Clerk, Room 102 Cotton Annex Building, 300 12th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700. Copies also are available on the 
Internet at: http:www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/publications.htm. Send 
all written comments on the proposed security guidelines to the above 
address. All comments received will be considered part of the public 
record and will be available for viewing in the Docket Room between 
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Perfecto Santiago, Assistant 
Deputy Administrator, Program Development Staff, Office of Policy, 
Program Development and Evaluation, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-3700; telephone 
(202) 205-0699 or fax (202) 401-1760.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For nearly a century, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) has been protecting the Nation's food supply. Over 
this long history, FSIS has worked to develop the infrastructure to 
confront new food biosecurity challenges. FSIS has thousands of food 
inspectors and veterinarians working in meat, poultry and egg product 
plants every day, and at ports of entry to this country to prevent, 
detect, and act in response to food safety emergencies.
    In January 2002, President Bush signed into law the FY 2002 Defense 
Appropriations Act, which includes $328 million in emergency funding 
for the USDA to further protect the public by strengthening essential 
programs and services related to biosecurity issues. FSIS will receive 
$15 million for security upgrades and bioterrorism protection. Of that 
amount, $10 million is allocated to conduct a food safety bioterrorism 
protection program. This includes education and specialized training 
for food safety regulatory and inspection personnel; technical 
assistance for State, local and international food safety authorities; 
a food biosecurity awareness campaign targeted to the general public 
and regulated industries; and expanded FSIS laboratory capabilities to 
test meat and poultry products for bacterial and chemical agents. 
Physical security, cyber-security and telecommunications at government 
facilities also will be strengthened.
    FSIS recognizes that American food producers have a vested interest 
in making biosecurity a priority. FSIS will continue to seek input from 
stakeholders in developing guidance on biosecurity matters. To ensure 
that the producers of meat, poultry, and egg products have access to 
information to protect themselves, FSIS developed the guidelines. These 
guidelines include measures food processing establishments may consider 
for the prevention and handling of intentional acts of contamination. 
The guidelines address the need for establishments to develop and 
maintain food security plans that cover both inside and outside 
security. The guidelines also include

[[Page 54405]]

security measures for slaughter and processing, storage, shipping and 
receiving, water and ice supply, mail handling, and personnel.
    FSIS is providing these guidelines to its field employees, who will 
assist plants that seek further information or advice; however, 
inspectors will not mandate adoption of any of the guidelines. The 
Agency intends to continue working to enhance guidance to businesses 
engaged in the production and distribution of regulated food and to 
work with other agencies to provide additional guidance for 
transportation, storage, and handling. The guidelines were developed as 
a first step, but FSIS recognizes the need for food protection 
guidelines from the ranch or farm to the consumer's table. FSIS invites 
public comment to strengthen these steps as part of the Homeland 
Security effort for the food and agricultural sectors.

Additional Public Notification

    Public involvement in 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 and informed about the mechanism for providing their comments, 
FSIS will announce it and make copies of this Federal Register 
publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS 
provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via 
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service. In addition, the update 
is available online 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 Listserv consists of industry, trade, and farm groups, 
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific 
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. 
Through the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able to provide information 
to a much broader, more diverse audience.
    For more information, contact the Congressional and Public Affairs 
Office, at (202) 720-9113. To be added to the free e-mail subscription 
service (Listserv), go to the ``Constituent Update'' page on the FSIS 
web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update.htm. Click on the 
``Subscribe to the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out 
and submit the form.

    Done in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2002.
William J. Hudnall,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-21376 Filed 8-21-02; 8:45 am]
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