[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 104 (Thursday, June 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25226-25227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11337]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2017-0015]


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, 
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's regulations, for calendar year 2017, the dollar limitation for 
meat and meat food products is being decreased from $79,200 to $75,700 
and for poultry and poultry products from $58,200 to $56,600. FSIS is 
changing the dollar limitations from calendar year 2016 based on price 
changes for these products evidenced by the Consumer Price Index.
    FSIS has provided an 18-month transitional period for mandatory 
inspection of Siluriformes fish and fish products. FSIS is currently 
considering the retail dollar limitations for this product.

DATES: Effective Date: July 3, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; (202) 720-5627.

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 are 
wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. 
Statutory provisions requiring inspection of the processing of meat, 
meat food, poultry, and poultry products do not apply to operations of 
types traditionally and usually conducted at retail stores and 
restaurants in regard to products for sale to consumers in normal 
retail quantities (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 
under which requirements for inspection do not apply to retail 
operations involving the preparation of meat and meat food, and 
processing of 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 retail store 
for 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 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 2016 reveals an annual average price decrease for meat 
and meat food products at 4.4 percent and for poultry products at 2.7 
percent. When rounded to the nearest $100, the dollar limitation for 
meat and meat food products decreased by $3,500 and the dollar 
limitation for poultry products decreased by $1,600. In accordance with 
9 CFR 303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b), because the dollar 
limitation of meat and meat food products and poultry products 
decreased by more than $500, FSIS is decreasing the dollar limitation 
on sales to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions to $75,700 
for meat and meat food products and to $56,600 for poultry products for 
calendar year 2017.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will announce this rule online through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/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/subscribe.
    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

[[Page 25227]]

(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact USDA's TARGET 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done, at Washington, DC on: May 25, 2017.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-11337 Filed 5-31-17; 8:45 am]
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