[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32705-32706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14512]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2018-0041]
Guideline on Kit Labeling
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the availability of the Agency's guideline on kit products that contain
a meat or poultry component. The guideline is designed to help
establishments and other food handling facilities determine whether a
kit product needs to be prepared under FSIS inspection and how a kit
product needs to be labeled.
DATES: Submit comments on or before September 9, 2019.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
[[Page 32706]]
notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment
field on the web page or to 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, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-
3700.
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2018-0041. 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,
call (202)720-5627 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roberta Wagner, Assistant
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development by telephone at
(202) 205-0495.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FSIS is announcing the availability of a guideline on the labeling
and inspection of kit products that contain an inspected and fully
labeled meat or poultry component.\1\ A kit product consists of
individually-packaged food components sold together as a single unit.
For example: A ``Nugget Lunch Kit'' which includes fully-cooked nugget-
shaped chicken patties, a container of coleslaw, a slice of corn bread,
and a juice box.
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\1\ The guideline does not apply to boxes of ingredients
(including FSIS-inspected, fully labeled meat and poultry products)
that may also include recipes that are shipped directly to consumers
to help them prepare home-cooked meals. These boxes are typically
prepared and packed without FSIS inspection under the retail
exemption (see 9 CFR 303.1(d) and 381.10(d)).
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There are many varieties of kit products, including but not limited
to: Wraps, pizzas, stew, salads, fajitas, stroganoff, or stir-fry
skillet meals, that include a meat or poultry component. Some of these
items may also require cooking. Often, the meat or poultry component is
separately wrapped and fully labeled, and then assembled together with
various other food components in the same packaging.
The Agency has determined that the act of assembling a kit product
that contains meat or poultry does not need to be done under FSIS
inspection, if the following conditions are met:
1. The meat or poultry component is prepared and separately
packaged under FSIS inspection and labeled with all required features;
2. The outer kit label identifies all of the individual components
in the kit; and
3. The outer kit label clearly identifies the product as a single
unit or ``kit,'' such as ``Chicken BBQ Dinner Kit'' and ``Beef Lasagna
Meal.''
Kit products with a meat or poultry component are still under
FSIS's jurisdiction. These products must meet all applicable FSIS
requirements to ensure that they are not adulterated or misbranded.
After FSIS assesses comments on the guideline and gains additional
information on establishments producing kit products, instructions will
be issued to the Office of Field Operations to clarify what products
constitute kits that should no longer be under inspection.
FSIS encourages establishments to follow this guideline. This
guideline represents FSIS's current thinking, and FSIS will update it
as necessary to reflect comments received and any additional
information that becomes available.
Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act at 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.,
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that
this notice is not a ``major rule,'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
FSIS also will make copies of this 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 our constituents and
stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page.
Through the web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much
broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email
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, 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.
Paul Kiecker,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-14512 Filed 7-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P