81 FR 9081 - Educational Meetings on the Final Rule on Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived From Such Fish; Educational Meetings for Importers Inspection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 36 (February 24, 2016)

Page Range		9081-9082
FR Document		2016-03727

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a series of educational meetings to discuss the Final Rule, FSIS Docket No. FSIS-2008-0031, ``Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived from Such Fish,'' as it pertains to importers. The meetings are scheduled for March 2016.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9081-9082]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03727]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each 
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 24, 2016 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 9081]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 300, 441, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 537, 539, 540, 541, 
544, 548, 550, 552, 555, 557, 559, 560, and 561

[Docket No. FSIS-2016-0009]


Educational Meetings on the Final Rule on Mandatory Inspection of 
Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived From Such Fish; 
Educational Meetings for Importers Inspection

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notification of educational meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a 
series of educational meetings to discuss the Final Rule, FSIS Docket 
No. FSIS-2008-0031, ``Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order 
Siluriformes and Products Derived from Such Fish,'' as it pertains to 
importers. The meetings are scheduled for March 2016.

DATES: The meetings are scheduled as follows:
     The first meeting will be held in Newark, NJ on Tuesday, 
March 3, 2016; 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. ET, at the Rutgers University--
Newark, School of Public Affairs, The Great Hall, 15 Washington Street, 
Newark, NJ 07102. For directions and parking instructions please visit: 
https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/directions-and-parking.
     The second meeting will be held in Los Angeles, CA on 
Tuesday, March 17, 2016; 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. PT, at the Hilton Los 
Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
     The third meeting will be held in Houston, TX on Tuesday, 
March 24, 2016; 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. CT, at the Hilton Houston North, 
12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, TX 77060.
    If there is sufficient interest, meetings may also be held in 
Miami, FL and Norfolk, VA. The objective of the meetings is to provide 
information to importers on bringing Siluriformes fish and fish 
products into the United States. Further information on these meetings 
will be posted on the FSIS Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/meetings and through the FSIS Constituent Update.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evelyn Gomez, Office of Outreach, 
Employee Education and Training, (202) 418-8903 or email at 
Evelyn.Gomez@fsis.usda.gov, regarding additional information about this 
meeting or to arrange for special accommodations. The final rule may be 
accessed from the FSIS Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register/interim-and-final-rules.
    Registration: To pre-register for the meetings, including Miami, FL 
and Norfolk, VA, please go to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/meetings. The cutoff dates for pre-registration are as 
follows:

 Newark, NJ: Tuesday, March 1, 2016
 Los Angeles, CA: Tuesday, March 15, 2016
 Houston, TX: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
 Miami, FL and Norfolk, VA: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Questions regarding the mandatory inspection of fish of the order 
Siluriformes and products derived from such fish may be directed to 
AskFish@fsis.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 2, 2015 (80 FR 75590), FSIS published the final rule to 
establish a mandatory inspection program for fish of the order 
Siluriformes and products derived from these fish. The final 
regulations implement the provisions of the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills, 
which amended the Federal Meat Inspection Act, mandating FSIS 
inspection of Siluriformes fish and fish products.
    On March 1, 2016, the final rule on Siluriformes fish and fish 
products goes into effect. By this date, foreign countries seeking to 
continue exporting Siluriformes fish and fish products to the United 
States during an 18-month transitional period are required to submit 
documentation showing that they have laws or other legal measures in 
place that provide authority to regulate the growing and processing of 
fish for human food and to assure compliance with the United States 
Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) regulatory requirements in 21 CFR 123, Fish and Fishery Products. 
The foreign countries are also required to submit lists of 
establishments that currently export and will continue to export 
Siluriformes fish and fish products to the United States.
    Foreign countries seeking to continue to export Siluriformes fish 
and fish products to the United States after the transitional period 
has expired are required to submit to FSIS, by September 1, 2017, 
adequate documentation showing the equivalence of their Siluriformes 
inspection systems with that of the United States. Foreign countries 
submitting such documentation by the deadline are permitted to continue 
exporting Siluriformes fish and fish products to the United States 
while FSIS undertakes an evaluation as to equivalency.
    The purpose of the educational meetings for importers is to provide 
information on the final rule's requirements, with a primary focus on 
the process for importing Siluriformes fish and fish products into the 
United States during the 18-month transitional period and on the date 
of full enforcement. Other topics presented will include the labeling 
requirements for imported Siluriformes fish and fish products, the FSIS 
sampling of these imported products, and the enforcement of the 
requirements.
    For more information on the mandatory inspection of Siluriformes 
fish and fish products, visit the FSIS Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/siluriformes.

Register

    Those planning to attend the meetings are invited to pre-register. 
To pre-register for any of the meetings, including Miami, FL and 
Norfolk, VA, please go to CatfishRegistration@fsis.usda.gov. Persons 
requiring sign language accommodations should contact Ms.

[[Page 9082]]

Evelyn Gomez 15 business days prior to the meeting.

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 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: program.intake@usda.gov.
    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 on: February 18, 2016.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-03727 Filed 2-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

9081

Rules and Regulations Federal Register
Vol. 81, No. 36

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER Hilton Houston North, 12400 the United States during an 18-month
contains regulatory documents having general Greenspoint Drive, Houston, TX 77060. transitional period are required to
applicability and legal effect, most of which If there is sufficient interest, meetings submit documentation showing that
are keyed to and codified in the Code of may also be held in Miami, FL and they have laws or other legal measures
Federal Regulations, which is published under Norfolk, VA. The objective of the in place that provide authority to
50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
meetings is to provide information to regulate the growing and processing of
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by importers on bringing Siluriformes fish fish for human food and to assure
the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of and fish products into the United States. compliance with the United States
new books are listed in the first FEDERAL Further information on these meetings Department of Health and Human
REGISTER issue of each week. will be posted on the FSIS Web site at: Services’ Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/ (FDA) regulatory requirements in 21
fsis/newsroom/meetings and through CFR 123, Fish and Fishery Products.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE the FSIS Constituent Update. The foreign countries are also required
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: to submit lists of establishments that
Food Safety and Inspection Service currently export and will continue to
Evelyn Gomez, Office of Outreach,
Employee Education and Training, (202) export Siluriformes fish and fish
9 CFR Parts 300, 441, 530, 531, 532, products to the United States.
418–8903 or email at
533, 534, 537, 539, 540, 541, 544, 548, Foreign countries seeking to continue
Evelyn.Gomez@fsis.usda.gov, regarding
550, 552, 555, 557, 559, 560, and 561 to export Siluriformes fish and fish
additional information about this
[Docket No. FSIS–2016–0009]
meeting or to arrange for special products to the United States after the
accommodations. The final rule may be transitional period has expired are
Educational Meetings on the Final Rule accessed from the FSIS Web site at: required to submit to FSIS, by
on Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/ September 1, 2017, adequate
Order Siluriformes and Products fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register/ documentation showing the equivalence
Derived From Such Fish; Educational interim-and-final-rules. of their Siluriformes inspection systems
Meetings for Importers Inspection Registration: To pre-register for the with that of the United States. Foreign
meetings, including Miami, FL and countries submitting such
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Norfolk, VA, please go to http://www. documentation by the deadline are
Service, USDA. fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/ permitted to continue exporting
ACTION: Notification of educational meetings. The cutoff dates for pre- Siluriformes fish and fish products to
meetings. registration are as follows: the United States while FSIS undertakes
• Newark, NJ: Tuesday, March 1, 2016 an evaluation as to equivalency.
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and • Los Angeles, CA: Tuesday, March 15, The purpose of the educational
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 2016 meetings for importers is to provide
a series of educational meetings to • Houston, TX: Tuesday, March 22, information on the final rule’s
discuss the Final Rule, FSIS Docket No. 2016 requirements, with a primary focus on
FSIS–2008–0031, ‘‘Mandatory • Miami, FL and Norfolk, VA: Tuesday, the process for importing Siluriformes
Inspection of Fish of the Order March 22, 2016 fish and fish products into the United
Siluriformes and Products Derived from Questions regarding the mandatory States during the 18-month transitional
Such Fish,’’ as it pertains to importers. inspection of fish of the order period and on the date of full
The meetings are scheduled for March Siluriformes and products derived from enforcement. Other topics presented
2016. such fish may be directed to will include the labeling requirements
DATES: The meetings are scheduled as AskFish@fsis.usda.gov. for imported Siluriformes fish and fish
follows: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: products, the FSIS sampling of these
• The first meeting will be held in imported products, and the enforcement
Newark, NJ on Tuesday, March 3, 2016; Background of the requirements.
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. ET, at the Rutgers On December 2, 2015 (80 FR 75590), For more information on the
University—Newark, School of Public FSIS published the final rule to mandatory inspection of Siluriformes
Affairs, The Great Hall, 15 Washington establish a mandatory inspection fish and fish products, visit the FSIS
Street, Newark, NJ 07102. For directions program for fish of the order Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/
and parking instructions please visit: Siluriformes and products derived from portal/fsis/topics/inspection/
https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/ these fish. The final regulations siluriformes.
directions-and-parking. implement the provisions of the 2008
• The second meeting will be held in Register
and 2014 Farm Bills, which amended
Los Angeles, CA on Tuesday, March 17, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Those planning to attend the meetings
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

2016; 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. PT, at the mandating FSIS inspection of are invited to pre-register. To pre-
Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Siluriformes fish and fish products. register for any of the meetings,
Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA On March 1, 2016, the final rule on including Miami, FL and Norfolk, VA,
90045. Siluriformes fish and fish products goes please go to
• The third meeting will be held in into effect. By this date, foreign CatfishRegistration@fsis.usda.gov.
Houston, TX on Tuesday, March 24, countries seeking to continue exporting Persons requiring sign language
2016; 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. CT, at the Siluriformes fish and fish products to accommodations should contact Ms.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:16 Feb 23, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM 24FER1

Document Created: 2016-02-23 23:55:14
Document Modified: 2016-02-23 23:55:14

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Notification of educational meetings.
Dates		The meetings are scheduled as follows:
Contact		Evelyn Gomez, Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training, (202) 418-8903 or email at [email protected], regarding additional information about this meeting or to arrange for special accommodations. The final rule may be accessed from the FSIS Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/ portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register/interim-and-final- rules.
FR Citation		81 FR 9081
CFR Citation		9 CFR 300 9 CFR 441 9 CFR 530 9 CFR 531 9 CFR 532 9 CFR 533 9 CFR 534 9 CFR 537 9 CFR 539 9 CFR 540 9 CFR 541 9 CFR 544 9 CFR 548 9 CFR 550 9 CFR 552 9 CFR 555 9 CFR 557 9 CFR 559 9 CFR 560 9 CFR 561

81 FR 9081 - Educational Meetings on the Final Rule on Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived From Such Fish; Educational Meetings for Importers Inspection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFood Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 36 (February 24, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service