[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53685-53686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21554]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2014-0022]


Discontinuing Export Certificates for Food Products That Contain 
Egg Products as an Ingredient

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
that it will no longer issue export certificates for Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA)-regulated prepared or manufactured food products 
that contain egg products as an ingredient because the Agricultural 
Marketing Service has instituted a program to provide this service. 
FSIS will discontinue issuing certificates on November 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. Comments may be submitted by one 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 Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Docket 
Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, 
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2014-0022. 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-
163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 10, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rita Kishore, Deputy Director, Import/
Export Coordination and Policy Development Staff, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; Phone: (202) 720-0082; Fax: (202) 720-7990.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 3, 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the establishment of the 
Processed Egg and Egg Products Export Program. Established under the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), the new 
program \1\ facilitates the export of FDA-regulated prepared or 
manufactured food products containing eggs or egg products. Under the 
new program, AMS certifies a wide range of foods, including cooked 
omelets, frozen egg patties, crepes, hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and 
foods containing egg extracts. AMS performs onsite verification of 
public health certification statements and issues export certificates 
on a fee-for-service basis as part of the program.
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    \1\ USDA Announces Program to Facilitate the Export of Further 
Processed Eggs and Egg Products.
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    While FDA regulates the safe production, sanitary processing, and 
labeling of food products containing egg products (Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act) (21 U.S.C. 301-399(d)), FSIS has been issuing export 
certificates of wholesomeness for prepared or manufactured food 
products that

[[Page 53686]]

contain egg products as an ingredient since it assumed responsibility 
for conducting the Federal egg products inspection program from AMS on 
May 28, 1995.\2\ However, because AMS has now instituted an export 
certification program of its own, to avoid overlap and confusion, FSIS 
will discontinue issuing export certificates for prepared or 
manufactured food products containing egg products. FSIS will stop 
certifying these products for export on November 10, 2014.
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    \2\ Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994, Public Law 103-354, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 
Stat. 3178.
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    FSIS will also update the FSIS Export Library on November 10, 2014 
to show this change in the export certification process. Exporters 
should contact AMS for assistance. Additional information can be found 
on AMS's Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/PYEggExport and 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/PYEggExportProcessedEgg.

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 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.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write 
a letter signed by you or your authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:

Mail

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

Fax

(202) 690-7442

Email

[email protected]

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC, on: September 5, 2014.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-21554 Filed 9-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P