[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 633-634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31488]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 633]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0026]


Notice of Availability and Opportunity for Comments (Compliance 
Guideline for Controlling Salmonella in Market Hogs)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and opportunity for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
the availability of a compliance guideline for official establishments 
to control and reduce the spread of Salmonella in hog slaughter 
facilities. The guidance provides information on best practices that 
may be applied at a hog slaughter facility to prevent, eliminate, or 
reduce levels of Salmonella on hogs at all stages of slaughter and 
dressing. This guideline will help hog slaughter establishments better 
comply with the relevant regulatory requirements. FSIS has posted this 
guideline on its Web page http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/compliance-guides-index.

DATES: Written comments may be submitted until March 7, 2014.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. 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-2012-0026. 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 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: Liza Murray, DVM, Risk, Innovations, 
and Management Staff, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Patriots Plaza 3, 
Mail Stop 3782, Room 8-126A, Washington, DC 20024; Phone: (301) 504-
0845; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    FSIS is issuing a guidance document to provide information on best 
practices that may be used by hog slaughter facilities in controlling 
and reducing the spread of Salmonella on market hogs.
    An establishment that slaughters and processes market hogs, under 
HACCP, is to operate in a manner that prevents or reduces contamination 
at every step in the process. The establishment is to use 
decontamination and antimicrobial intervention treatments as necessary 
to remove contamination that may result from slaughtering or dressing 
or otherwise occurs on carcasses. The best practices outlined in this 
guidance are recommendations for establishments to improve their 
slaughter management practices to reduce levels of Salmonella on 
carcasses. The establishment that improves contamination control at 
appropriate processing locations will likely produce raw pork products 
that have fewer pathogens, including Salmonella.
    FSIS urges the regulated industry to review the guidance and the 
scientific studies referenced in it. FSIS recommends that hog 
establishments follow this guidance to control and reduce the incidence 
and spread of Salmonella. The resulting improvements will also help 
establishments to better comply with the relevant regulatory 
requirements (9 CFR parts 310.7, 310.10, 310.11, 310.12, 310.18, 
310.25, 416 and 417).
    This guidance also discusses the Nationwide Microbiological 
Baseline Data Collection Program: Market Hog Survey that was conducted 
from August 2010-August 2011. The data collected and discussed in the 
guidance will enable the Agency to work more effectively with industry 
to reduce the risk of foodborne pathogens in FSIS regulated products.
    FSIS welcomes comment on this compliance guidance, which will be 
revised as needed.

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

[[Page 634]]

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/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: December 23, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-31488 Filed 1-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P