[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69146-69147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28796]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Parts 319 and 381
[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0012]
RIN 0583-AD41
Common or Usual Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Containing
Added Solutions--Reopening of Comment Period
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reopening for
60 days the comment period for the proposed rule, ``Common or Usual
Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Containing Added Solutions.'' It
is also providing information concerning data used to develop the
proposed rule and providing examples of labels about which FSIS has
concerns.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published July 27,
2011, at 76 FR 44855, is reopened. Submit comments by January 9, 2012.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit relevant comments
on the implementation of this proposed rule. Comments may be submitted
by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or
courier-delivered items: Send to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
FSIS, Docket Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Room 8-163A, Mailstop 3782, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2010-0012. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and
[[Page 69147]]
posted without change, including any personal information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go
to the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rosalyn Murphy-Jenkins, Director,
Labeling and Program Delivery Division, Office of Policy and Program
Development, FSIS, USDA, (301) 504-0879.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 27, 2011, FSIS published the
proposed rule ``Common or Usual Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products
Containing Added Solutions'' (76 FR 44855) to amend its regulations to
establish a common or usual name for raw meat and poultry products that
do not meet standard of identity regulations and to which solutions
have been added. The Agency proposed that the common or usual name for
such products include an accurate description of the raw meat or
poultry component, the percentage of added solution incorporated into
the raw meat or poultry product, and the individual ingredients or
multi-ingredient components in the solution listed in the descending
order of predominance by weight. FSIS also proposed that the print for
all words in the common or usual name appear in a single font size,
color, and style of print and that the name appear on a single-color
contrasting background. In addition, the Agency proposed to remove the
standard of identity regulation for ``ready-to-cook poultry products to
which solutions are added.'' The comment period for the proposed rule
ended on September 26, 2011.
The Agency received a request for a 60 day extension of the comment
period. The letter explained that additional time to comment was
necessary because the proposed amendments are important to many meat
and poultry companies. FSIS agrees that the proposed amendments are
important, and, to provide more time for constructive comment, the
Agency is reopening the comment period for the proposed rule. The
comment period will close on January 9, 2012.
The letter also requested the information, data, and evidence that
FSIS considered in developing the proposed rule. In addition, the
request asked the Agency for examples of specific labels in the
marketplace about which it has concerns.
The Agency responded that the information, data, and evidence on
which it based the proposed amendments can be found in the Truthful
Labeling Coalition's (TLC) petition and attachments referenced in the
proposed rule (76 FR 44857). The TLC petition and its attachments are
available in the FSIS Docket Room and on its Web site (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Proposed_Rules/index.asp).
In response to the request for specific labels in the marketplace
that FSIS has concerns about, examples of such labels are included in
the Sorensen Associates Consumer Research Study (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Petition_Truthful_Labeling_Coalition_Attachments.pdf) and ``Attachment B'' of the TLC petition (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Petition_Truthful_Labeling_Coalition.pdf). To
provide further examples, the Agency posted additional representative
samples of marketplace labels (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/2010-0012_Examples.pdf).
The Agency's response to the request for information, data, and
evidence that FSIS considered in developing the proposed rule is posted
on its Web site at (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
Proposed_Rules/index.asp).
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Publications_&_Related_Documents/index.asp.
FSIS will also 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, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS
Web page. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader and more diverse audience. In addition,
FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription service which provides
automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and
information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/. Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers
can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to
password protect their accounts.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and
TTY).
To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-941 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TTY).
Done at Washington, DC, on November 1, 2011.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-28796 Filed 11-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P