[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 69 (Friday, April 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15433-15434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06164]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2025-0010]
Delayed Verification Sampling of Not Ready-to-Eat Breaded Stuffed
Chicken Products
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: FSIS is announcing that it is delaying the date it will begin
sampling not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products for
Salmonella and delaying the date establishments need to reassess their
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans for these
products from May 1, 2025, to November 3, 2025. This additional time is
necessary for FSIS to finalize its instructions to inspectors and
prepare its inspection program personnel (IPP) and laboratories for the
new sampling and testing. In addition, this additional time is
necessary for FSIS to provide industry with guidance on holding and
controlling products pending FSIS' sampling results.
DATES: FSIS will begin sampling NRTE breaded stuffed chicken on
November 3, 2025. Establishments will have until November 3, 2025, to
reassess their HACCP plans for this product.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Assistant
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development by telephone at
(202) 205-0495.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSIS is the public health agency within the
USDA responsible for ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are
safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. In support of this mission, FSIS
published a final determination in the Federal Register on May 1, 2024,
declaring that NRTE breaded stuffed chicken products containing
Salmonella at levels of 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher
are adulterated under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21
U.S.C. 453(g)(1) and (3)) (89 FR 35033). The final determination also
announced FSIS' intention to implement verification procedures,
including sampling and testing of raw incoming chicken components used
to produce NRTE breaded stuffed chicken products (88 FR 35033, 35050-
35051). Additionally, the final determination required all NRTE breaded
stuffed chicken establishments to reassess their HACCP plans for this
product (89 FR 35033, 35050).
FSIS is now announcing a delay in the start date for its sampling
program for NRTE breaded stuffed chicken products. Initially set to
begin on May 1, 2025, the sampling program will now start on November
3, 2025.
FSIS is announcing this delay in finalizing its sampling program
and attendant guidance because it was unable to complete this process
due to competing priorities at the end of the last administration. This
delay will provide additional time for FSIS and industry to prepare for
implementation of the sampling program. As noted in FSIS Notice 15-24,
Salmonella as an Adulterant in Not Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken
Products, May 1, 2024, the Agency intends to issue updated sampling
instructions and training for IPP prior to implementing its sampling
program. FSIS laboratories also will need to update their methods for
this new testing. Before FSIS begins verification sampling, the Agency
will announce in its newsletter, the Constituent Update, information
about the methods it will use for qualitative and quantitative analyses
for Salmonella in NRTE breaded stuffed chicken. While industry is not
required to do their own sampling of NRTE breaded stuffed chicken for
Salmonella, some establishments may voluntarily choose to use FSIS'
methods. Therefore, this additional time will allow industry to prepare
for or develop their own testing if they wish to do so. Moreover, FSIS
laboratories need additional time to prepare for the increased
workload. Proper IPP and lab readiness is essential to maintain the
accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of test results, which are
critical for ensuring food safety and protecting public health.
The delay will also allow FSIS to help establishments comply with
the final determination by providing new recommendations on lotting and
holding product (88 FR 35033, 35051). FSIS may issue a guidance
document or hold webinars to provide guidance. This additional time
will allow industry to ask questions and provide feedback on the Agency
guidance.
Finally, this delay will provide time for new leadership appointed
after January 20, 2025, to review and provide policy input on the
Agency's sampling program and guidance documents for this product.
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 that provides automatic and customized
access to selected food safety news and information. This service is
available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. The available
information ranges 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, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and
employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA
programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, 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.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or
contact USDA through the
[[Page 15434]]
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program
information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at ``How
to File a Program Discrimination Complaint'' and at any USDA office or
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:
[email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Denise Eblen,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2025-06164 Filed 4-10-25; 8:45 am]
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