[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43373-43374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10918]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2024-0008]


Retail Exemptions Adjusted Dollar Limitations

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: FSIS is announcing the dollar limitations on the amount of 
meat and meat products and 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.

DATES: Applicable June 17, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; 202-720-5046.

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 and meat products 
and 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 and meat 
products and poultry and poultry products do not apply to operations of 
types traditionally and usually conducted at retail stores and 
restaurants in regard to products offered for sale to consumers in 
normal retail quantities (21 U.S.C. 661(c)(2) and 454(c)(2)). FSIS' 
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 products and the 
processing of poultry and poultry products.

Sales to Hotels, Restaurants, and Similar Institutions

    Under the aforementioned regulations, sales to hotels, restaurants, 
and similar institutions (other than household consumers) disqualify a 
retail store from exemption if the retail product sales of amenable 
products exceed either of two maximum limits: 25 percent of the dollar 
value of the total retail product sales or the calendar year retail 
dollar limitation set by the FSIS Administrator. The retail 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 retail 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 2023 reveals an annual average price increase for meat 
and meat products of 2.07 percent, an average annual price increase for 
Siluriformes fish and fish products of 0.31 percent, and an annual 
average price increase for poultry and poultry products of 3.10 
percent.1 2 3 When rounded to the

[[Page 43374]]

nearest $100 dollar, the retail dollar limitation for meat and meat 
products, including Siluriformes fish and fish products, increased by 
$2,000 \4\ and the retail dollar limitation for poultry and poultry 
products increased by $2,200.\5\ In accordance with 9 CFR 
303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b), because the retail dollar 
limitations for meat and meat products and poultry and poultry products 
increased by more than $500, FSIS is increasing the dollar limitation 
on sales to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions to $100,900 
for meat and meat products and to $74,200 for poultry and poultry 
products for calendar year 2024.
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    \1\ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Consumer Price Index 
for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): Meats in U.S. city average, all 
urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted [Series ID 
CUUR0000SAF11211], accessed on February 8, 2024.
    \2\ BLS, CPI-U: Fish and seafood in U.S. city average, all urban 
consumers, not seasonally adjusted [Series ID CUUR0000SEFG], 
accessed on February 8, 2024.
    \3\ BLS, CPI-U: Poultry in U.S. city average, all urban 
consumers, not seasonally adjusted [Series ID CUUR0000SEFF],'' 
accessed on February 8, 2024.
    \4\ The base value for meat and meat products in 2023 was 
$98,910 rounded to the nearest $100 dollar to $98,900. The base 
value included $95,940 for meat and meat products and $2,970 to 
account for Siluriformes fish and fish products. The meat and meat 
products prices increased by 2.07 percent, or $1,986 ($95,940 x 
0.0207 = $1,986), during 2023. The Siluriformes fish and fish 
products prices increased by 0.31 percent, or $9 ($2,970 x 0.0031 = 
$9), during 2023. Combined, the value for meat and meat products 
that includes Siluriformes fish and fish products increased by 
$1,995 ($1,986 + $9). Since this change is more than $500, the 
retail dollar limitation is adjusted to $100,905 [($95,940 + $1,986) 
+ ($2,970 + $9) = $100,905, which is rounded to $100,900].
    \5\ The base value for poultry and poultry products in 2023 was 
$71,984 rounded to the nearest $100 dollar to $72,000. The poultry 
and poultry products prices increased by 3.10 percent, or $2,232 
($71,984 x 0.0310 = $2,232), during 2023. Since this change is more 
than $500, the retail dollar limitation is adjusted to $74,200 
($71,984 + $2,232 = $74,216, which is rounded to $74,200).
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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: 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register 
publication 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 can 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: https://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

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff 
offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering 
USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, 
national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender 
expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, 
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Program information may be made available in languages other than 
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the 
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service 
at (800) 877-8339.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should 
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 
which can be obtained online at https://www.usda.gov/forms/electronic-forms, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a 
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's 
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the 
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date 
of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or 
letter must be submitted to USDA by:
    (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-9410;
    (2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
    (3) Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-10918 Filed 5-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P