82 FR 31549 - Availability of FSIS Guidance for Importing Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Into the United States
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 129 (July 7, 2017)
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 129 (July 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 31549-31550 | |
| FR Document | 2017-14287 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 129 (Friday, July 7, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 31549-31550] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-14287] [[Page 31549]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 129 / Friday, July 7, 2017 / Notices 31549
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Docket: For access to background USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
documents or to comments received, go No agency, officer, or employee of the
Food Safety and Inspection Service to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots USDA shall, on the grounds of race,
Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room color, national origin, religion, sex,
[Docket No. FSIS–2017–0020]
164–A, Washington, DC 20250–3700 gender identity, sexual orientation,
Availability of FSIS Guidance for between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., disability, age, marital status, family/
Importing Meat, Poultry, and Egg Monday through Friday. parental status, income derived from a
Products Into the United States FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: public assistance program, or political
Roberta Wagner, Assistant beliefs, exclude from participation in,
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection deny the benefits of, or subject to
Service, USDA. Administrator, Office of Policy and
Program Development; Telephone: (202) discrimination any person in the United
ACTION: Notice of availability and States under any program or activity
205–0495, or by Fax: (202) 720–2025.
request for comments. conducted by the USDA.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To file a complaint of discrimination,
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and complete the USDA Program
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing Background
Discrimination Complaint Form, which
the availability of and requesting The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s may be accessed online at http://
comment on guidance for importing (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
meat, poultry, and egg products into the Service (FSIS) is the public health docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_
United States. This guidance is intended regulatory agency responsible for 12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you
to help U.S. importers, customs brokers, ensuring that domestic and imported or your authorized representative.
official import inspection meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, Send your completed complaint form
establishments, egg products plants, and wholesome, and correctly labeled and or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email:
other interested parties understand and packaged. FSIS inspects imported meat, Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
comply with FSIS import requirements. poultry, and egg products under the Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400
DATES: Submit comments on or before authority of the Federal Meat Inspection Independence Avenue SW.,
September 5, 2017. Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and Washington, DC 20250–9410.
ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the Poultry Products Inspection Act Fax: (202) 690–7442.
Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
the guidance is available to view and (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), and the
Persons with disabilities who require
print at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (15
alternative means for communication
Regulations_&_Policies/Compliance_ U.S.C. 1031 et seq.). Imported meat,
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
Guides_Index/index.asp. No hard poultry, and egg products must originate
should contact USDA’s TARGET Center
copies of the compliance guideline have from eligible countries and from at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
been published. establishments or plants that are
FSIS invites interested persons to certified to export to the United States Additional Public Notification
submit comments on issues discussed (21 U.S.C. 620, 466 and 1046). A FSIS will announce this notice online
and outlined in this notice. Only country becomes eligible following an through the FSIS Web page located at
comments addressing the scope of this equivalence determination process http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-
notice will be considered. completed by FSIS in coordination with register.
Comments may be submitted by one the country’s central competent FSIS will also make copies of this
of the following methods: authority (CCA). Foreign establishments Federal Register publication available
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This or plants become eligible when the CCA through the FSIS Constituent Update,
Web site provides the ability to type certifies to FSIS that the establishments which is used to provide information
short comments directly into the or plants meet requirements that are regarding FSIS policies, procedures,
comment field on this Web page or equivalent to FSIS requirements. All regulations, Federal Register notices,
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go imported shipments of meat, poultry, FSIS public meetings, and other types of
to http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow and egg products must be presented to information that could affect or would
the on-line instructions at that site for FSIS for inspection, with certain be of interest to constituents and
submitting comments. exceptions, as detailed in the guidance stakeholders. The Update is
Mail, CD–ROMs: Send to Docket (e.g., meat, poultry, or dried egg communicated via Listserv, a free
Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, products shipment that does not exceed electronic mail subscription service for
Food Safety and Inspection Service, 50 pounds, for personal consumption industry, trade groups, consumer
Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence only). This guidance summarizes interest groups, health professionals,
Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room existing requirements and best practices and other individuals who have asked
8–163B, Washington, DC 20250–3700. for complying with those requirements. to be included. The Update is also
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: FSIS encourages interested parties (e.g., available on the FSIS Web page. In
Deliver to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street U.S. importers, brokers, official import addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail
SW., Room 8–163A, Washington, DC inspection establishments, and egg subscription service which provides
20250–3700. products plants) to follow this guidance. automatic and customized access to
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Instructions: All items submitted by This guidance represents current FSIS selected food safety news and
mail or electronic mail must include the thinking, and FSIS will update it as information. This service is available at
Agency name and docket number FSIS– necessary to reflect comments received http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe.
2017–0020. Comments received in and any additional information that Options range from recalls to export
response to this docket will be made becomes available. FSIS is seeking information to regulations, directives,
available for public inspection and comments on this guidance as part of its and notices. Customers can add or
posted without change, including any efforts to continuously assess and delete subscriptions themselves, and
personal information, to http:// improve the effectiveness of policy have the option to password protect
www.regulations.gov. documents. their accounts.
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![31550 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 129 / Friday, July 7, 2017 / Notices
Done at Washington, DC, on: July 3, 2017. marketing communication, and/or ‘‘wrinkled lentil’’ condition.
Alfred V. Almanza, consumer information. The standards Additionally, stakeholders endorsed the
Administrator. serve as a common trading language to following definition: Wrinkled lentils
[FR Doc. 2017–14287 Filed 7–6–17; 8:45 am] define commodity quality in the are sound lentils that are substantially
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P domestic and global marketplace. wrinkled on at least 50 percent of one
Background side.
GIPSA engages in regular outreach Establishment of Special Grade ‘‘Green
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Lentils’’
with stakeholders to ensure commodity
Grain Inspection, Packers and standards maintain relevance with the The USPLTA Grades Committee
Stockyards Administration modern market. Lentil industry members recommended that GIPSA
stakeholders include the USA Dry Pea establish a special grade, ‘‘green
United States Standards for Lentils and Lentil Council (USADPLC), a lentils.’’ Lentil stakeholders concurred
AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and national organization of producers, on the need for a special grade to
Stockyards Administration, USDA. processors, and exporters of U.S. dry distinguish a desirable aesthetic feature.
peas, lentils, and chickpeas; the U.S. GIPSA and the stakeholders worked
ACTION: Final Notice.
Dry Pea and Lentil Trade Association collaboratively to develop a visual
SUMMARY: This action is being taken (USPLTA), a national association reference image that best reflects the
under the authority of the Agricultural representing processors, traders, ‘‘green lentils’’ condition. Additionally,
Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, handlers and merchandisers, and stakeholders endorsed the following
(AMA). The Department of Agriculture’s transporters in the pea, lentil and definition: Green lentils are clear seeded
(USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and chickpea industry; and, other handlers (non-mottled) and possess a natural,
Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is and merchandisers. uniformly green color.
revising the United States Standards for The United States Standards for
Lentils to establish an additional Lentils are available on GIPSA’s public Comment Review
grading factor, definition, grade Web site at: https://
www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/standards/ GIPSA published a Notice in the
requirements, and visual reference Federal Register on May 15, 2017 (82
images for ‘‘wrinkled lentils,’’ and lentils.pdf. USADPLC and USPLTA
reviewed the United States Standards FR 22305), inviting interested parties to
establish a special grade, definition, comment on the proposed revisions to
special grade requirements, designation, for Lentils, which were last revised in
2008. The review resulted in those the United States Standards for Lentils.
and visual reference images for ‘‘green Two comments were received from
lentils.’’ GIPSA believes these revisions stakeholders jointly recommending that
GIPSA revise the standards based on industry associations, supporting the
will improve the application of proposed revisions. No adverse
standards and facilitate the marketing of changing market trends. Specifically,
these groups asked GIPSA to (1) comments were received. Accordingly,
lentils. the lentil standards are being revised as
DATES: Effective Date: August 1, 2017. establish a new grading factor of
‘‘wrinkled lentils,’’ and (2) establish a proposed in the May 15, 2017, notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GIPSA believes that these revisions will
new special grade of ‘‘green lentils.’’
Beverly A. Whalen at USDA, GIPSA, GIPSA provides official inspection facilitate use of the standards and better
FGIS, 10383 N. Ambassador Drive, procedures for lentils in the Pea and reflect current marketing practices. The
Kansas City, Missouri 64153; Telephone Lentil Handbook, which is available on revisions to the standards become
(816) 659–8410; Fax Number (816) 872– GIPSA’s public Web site at: http:// effective August 1, 2017, and the Pea
1258; email Beverly.A.Whalen@ www.gipsa.usda.gov/Publications/fgis/ and Lentil Handbook will be revised to
usda.gov. handbooks/pealentil_insphb.html. incorporate the revisions to the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section standards.
203(c) of the AMA (7 U.S.C. § 1622(c)), Establishment of Grading Factor
‘‘Wrinkled Lentils’’ Final Action
directs and authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture ‘‘To develop and improve USADPLC and USPLTA reported on a GIPSA is revising the lentil standards
standards of quality, condition, trend of an increasing percentage of to (1) establish a new grading factor,
quantity, grade, and packaging and fully developed lentils that possess a definition, factor limits, and visual
recommend and demonstrate such wrinkled seed coat. These lentils do not reference image for wrinkled lentils; and
standards in order to encourage meet the definition for immature lentils. (2) establish a special grade, definition,
uniformity and consistency in Under the current United States designation, and visual reference image
commercial practices.’’ GIPSA is Standards for Lentils, these lentils for green lentils. Accordingly, the
committed to carrying out this authority would grade U.S. #1; however, the following sections of the United States
in a manner that facilitates the wrinkled appearance is considered Standards for Lentils under the AMA
marketing of agricultural commodities. undesirable. The stakeholders jointly are amended: Section 601, Definitions,
Under the AMA, GIPSA establishes recommended that GIPSA establish a is amended to include the following
and maintains standards for graded new grade determining factor ‘‘wrinkled definition: Wrinkled lentils are sound
commodities including rice, whole dry lentil,’’ and also recommended factor lentils that are substantially wrinkled on
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
peas, split peas, feed peas, lentils, and limits for grades No’s. 1, 2, and 3. at least 50% of one side. Section 607,
beans. The AMA standards are GIPSA and the stakeholders worked Grades and grade requirements for
voluntary and widely used in private collaboratively to develop a visual dockage-free lentils, is amended as
contracts, government procurement, reference image that best reflects the follows:
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Document Created: 2017-07-07 02:19:40
Document Modified: 2017-07-07 02:19:40
| 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 | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Submit comments on or before September 5, 2017. | |
| Contact | Roberta Wagner, Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development; Telephone: (202) 205-0495, or by Fax: (202) 720-2025. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 31549 |
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