[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72597-72598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28840]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 72597]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 317

[Docket No. FSIS-2008-0017]


Descriptive Designation for Needle- or Blade-Tenderized 
(Mechanically Tenderized) Beef Products

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reopening the 
comment period for its proposed rule on the descriptive designation of 
needle- or blade-tenderized (mechanically tenderized) beef products 
that appeared in the Federal Register on June 10, 2013. FSIS is 
reopening this comment period for 21 days because the extended comment 
period on this proposed rule closed during the recent partial 
Government shutdown.

DATES: The Agency must receive comments by December 24, 2013.

ADDRESSES: 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 on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
    Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Room Manager, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots 
Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163B, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots Plaza 3, 
355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2008-0017. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or to comments received, 
go to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 
8-164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development; Telephone: 
(202) 205-0495, or by Fax: (202) 720-2025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 10, 2013, FSIS published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, ``Descriptive Designation 
for Needle- or blade-tenderized (Mechanically Tenderized) Beef 
Products'' (78 FR 34589). The Agency proposed to require the use of the 
descriptive designation ``mechanically tenderized'' on the labels of 
raw or partially cooked needle- or blade-tenderized beef products, 
including beef products injected with marinade or solution, unless 
these products are to be fully cooked at an official establishment. The 
Agency proposed to require that the product name for the beef products 
include the descriptive designation ``mechanically tenderized'' and an 
accurate description of the beef component. The Agency also proposed to 
require that the print for all words in the product name appear in the 
same style, color, and size and on a single-color contrasting 
background.
    In addition, FSIS proposed to require that the labels of raw and 
partially cooked needle- or blade-tenderized beef products destined for 
household consumers, hotels, restaurants, or similar institutions 
include validated cooking instructions.
    FSIS also announced that it had posted on its Web site guidance for 
developing validated cooking instructions for mechanically tenderized 
product.
    In response to requests from trade associations for additional time 
to provide comments, FSIS extended the original comment period until 
October 8, 2013 (78 FR 48631; Aug. 9, 2013). However, October 8, 2013, 
fell during the partial Government shutdown that occurred from October 
1 to October 16. During this period, Agency personnel were unavailable 
to respond to public inquiries concerning the proposal, to file public 
comments in the administrative record for the rulemaking, or to upload 
comments to the regulations.gov Web page. Therefore, to provide the 
public with a full opportunity to comment on the proposed rule and 
associated guidance document, FSIS has decided to reopen the comment 
period until December 24, 2013. FSIS invites interested persons to 
submit their comments by that date.

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/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register.
    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

[[Page 72598]]

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/wps/portal/fsis/programs-and-services/email-subscription-service. 
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 November 26, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-28840 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P