[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 129 (Friday, July 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31549-31550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14287]



[[Page 31549]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2017-0020]


Availability of FSIS Guidance for Importing Meat, Poultry, and 
Egg Products Into the United States

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
the availability of and requesting comment on guidance for importing 
meat, poultry, and egg products into the United States. This guidance 
is intended to help U.S. importers, customs brokers, official import 
inspection establishments, egg products plants, and other interested 
parties understand and comply with FSIS import requirements.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the guidance is available to view 
and print at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Compliance_Guides_Index/index.asp. No hard copies of the compliance 
guideline have been published.
    FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on issues 
discussed and outlined in this notice. Only comments addressing the 
scope of this notice will be considered.
    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, CD-ROMs: Send to Docket Clerk, 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 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2017-0020. 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 
164-A, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency 
responsible for ensuring that domestic and imported meat, poultry, and 
egg products are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. 
FSIS inspects imported meat, poultry, and egg products under the 
authority of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et 
seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (15 U.S.C. 1031 et 
seq.). Imported meat, poultry, and egg products must originate from 
eligible countries and from establishments or plants that are certified 
to export to the United States (21 U.S.C. 620, 466 and 1046). A country 
becomes eligible following an equivalence determination process 
completed by FSIS in coordination with the country's central competent 
authority (CCA). Foreign establishments or plants become eligible when 
the CCA certifies to FSIS that the establishments or plants meet 
requirements that are equivalent to FSIS requirements. All imported 
shipments of meat, poultry, and egg products must be presented to FSIS 
for inspection, with certain exceptions, as detailed in the guidance 
(e.g., meat, poultry, or dried egg products shipment that does not 
exceed 50 pounds, for personal consumption only). This guidance 
summarizes existing requirements and best practices for complying with 
those requirements. FSIS encourages interested parties (e.g., U.S. 
importers, brokers, official import inspection establishments, and egg 
products plants) to follow this guidance. This guidance represents 
current FSIS thinking, and FSIS will update it as necessary to reflect 
comments received and any additional information that becomes 
available. FSIS is seeking comments on this guidance as part of its 
efforts to continuously assess and improve the effectiveness of policy 
documents.

USDA Nondiscrimination 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.
    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).

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will announce this notice 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.


[[Page 31550]]


    Done at Washington, DC, on: July 3, 2017.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-14287 Filed 7-6-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P