[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 107 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 31341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12581]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 107 / Thursday, June 3, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 31341]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-018N]


Workshops

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a 
series of workshops from May through September, 2004, to discuss 
Revision 1 of Directive 10,010.1, ``Microbiological Testing Program and 
Other Verification Activities for Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli 
O157:H7) in Raw Ground Beef Products and Raw Ground Beef Components and 
Beef Patty Components.'' This directive provides FSIS inspection 
personnel with instructions for sampling raw beef products as part of 
verification testing for E. coli O157:H7. It also outlines actions FSIS 
will take when a raw ground beef product sample is found to be positive 
for E. coli O157:H7. Directive 5000.2, ``Review of Establishment Data 
by Inspection Program Personnel'' and Directive 6420.2, ``Verification 
of Procedures for Controlling Fecal Material, Ingesta, and Milk in 
Slaughter Operations'' will also be discussed. Directive 5000.2 states 
that FSIS will review plant food safety records at least once a week. 
Directive 6420.2 clarifies FSIS zero tolerance policies and 
verification methods. The meetings are targeted to small and very small 
plant owner/operators. The first meeting was held in Toledo, Ohio, on 
May 22, 2004. State inspection personnel and other industry 
representatives are encouraged to attend. Each meeting will include 
opportunities for the attendees to ask questions of FSIS 
representatives.

DATES: Further information on these workshops will be announced on the 
FSIS Web site, http://www.fsis.usda.gov, and through the Constituent 
Update; see Additional Public Notification below.
    The upcoming workshops are:

     Los Angeles, California on June 5
     Miami, Florida on June 12
     San Antonio, Texas on June 19
     Boulder, Colorado on June 26
     New York, New York on July 10
     Sacramento, California on July 17
     St. Louis, Missouri on July 24
     Montgomery, Alabama on July 31
     Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 28
     Amarillo, Texas on September 11

ADDRESSES: Information on specific sites will be provided through the 
FSIS Web site and Constituent Update. FSIS highly recommends that 
attendees pre-register for the workshops. To pre-register for a 
workshop attendees can call toll free at 1-866-553-3052 or call 202-
690-6520 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
    A tentative agenda will be available in the FSIS Docket Room and on 
the Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sheila Johnson of the FSIS 
Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach Staff at (202) 690-
6498. If a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is 
required, please contact Ms. Johnson at least two days before the 
workshop.
    For technical information, please contact Ms. Mary Cutshall, 
Director, Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach Staff, 
Office of Public Affairs, Education and Outreach, at (202) 690-6520.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Non-intact raw beef products and intact raw beef products intended 
for processing into non-intact products that are contaminated with E. 
coli O157:H7 are adulterated. The revised Directive 10,010.1, which 
sets out the FSIS verification sampling program for E.coli O157:H7, 
focuses on raw ground beef products and the beef products that are used 
to produce raw ground beef products. The directive also discusses the 
significance of a finding that a sample is ``presumptive positive'' and 
the disposition of products that test positive for E. coli O157:H7.
    Directive 6420.2 covers FSIS verification procedures for meat and 
poultry. Directive 5000.2 pertains to review of industry food safety 
records.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the 
public, and in particular minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line 
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
    The notice will also be published at the Regulations.gov Web site, 
the central online rulemaking portal of the United States government. 
Regulations.gov is offered as a public service to increase 
participation in the Federal government's regulatory activities. The 
site allows visitors to search by keyword or Department or Agency for 
rulemakings that allow for public comment. Each entry provides a quick 
link to a comment form so that visitors can type in their comments and 
submit them to FSIS. The Web site is located at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication 
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to our 
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, 
a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, farm 
and consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific 
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. 
The update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and 
the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, 
more diverse audience.

    Done at Washington, DC, on May 28, 2004.
Barbara J. Masters,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-12581 Filed 6-2-04; 8:45 am]
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