[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24456-24457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9813]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0015]
Retail Exemptions Adjusted Dollar Limitations
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the dollar limitations on the amount of meat and meat food products and
poultry and poultry products that a retail store can sell to hotels,
restaurants, and similar institutions without disqualifying itself for
exemption from Federal inspection requirements. In accordance with
FSIS' regulations, for calendar year 2012, the dollar limitation for
meat and meat food products is being increased from $61,900 to $67,300
and for poultry products from $50,200 to $51,700. FSIS is changing the
dollar limitations from calendar year 2011 based on price changes for
these products evidenced by the Consumer Price Index.
DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective April 24, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John O'Connell, Policy Issuances
Division, Office of Policy and Program Development, FSIS, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 6083 South Building, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700; telephone (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) provide a
comprehensive statutory framework to ensure that meat, meat food
products, poultry, and poultry products prepared for commerce
[[Page 24457]]
are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. The
statutes include an exception from the provisions requiring inspection
of the preparation or processing of meat, meat food, poultry, and
poultry products when the preparation or processing produces products
in normal retail quantities, and the operations are of the type that
are traditionally and usually conducted at retail stores and
restaurants (21 U.S.C. 661(c)(2) and 454(c)(2)). FSIS's regulations (9
CFR 303.1(d) and 381.10(d)) elaborate on the conditions where these
exemptions apply to retail operations involving the preparation or
processing of meat, meat food, poultry, and poultry products.
Sales to Hotels, Restaurants, and Similar Institutions
Under these regulations, sales to hotels, restaurants, and similar
institutions (other than household consumers) disqualify a store for
the exemption if the product sales exceed either of two maximum limits:
25 percent of the dollar value of total product sales or the calendar
year dollar limitation set by the Administrator. The dollar limitation
is adjusted automatically during the first quarter of the calendar year
if the Consumer Price Index (CPI), published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, shows an increase or decrease of more than $500 in the
price of the same volume of product for the previous year. FSIS
publishes a notice of the adjusted dollar limitations in the Federal
Register. (See 9 CFR 303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b).)
The CPI for 2011 reveals an annual average price increase for meat
and meat food products at 8.8 percent and for poultry products at 2.9
percent. When rounded to the nearest $100, the dollar limitation for
meat and meat food products increased by $5,400, and the dollar
limitation for poultry products increased by $1,500. Because the dollar
limitation of meat, meat food products, poultry, and poultry products
increased by more than $500, FSIS is increasing the dollar limitation
on sales to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions to $67,300
for meat and meat food products and to $51,700 for poultry and poultry
products for calendar year 2012, in accordance with 9 CFR
303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 381.10 (d)(2)(iii)(b).
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 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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_Notices/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. 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.
Done at Washington, DC, on: April 18, 2012.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-9813 Filed 4-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P