82 FR 42059 - Availability of FSIS Compliance Guideline for Minimizing the Risk of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli (STEC) and Salmonella in Raw Beef (Including Veal) Processing Operations
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 171 (September 6, 2017)
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 171 (September 6, 2017)
| Page Range | 42059-42061 | |
| FR Document | 2017-18847 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 6, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 42059-42061] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-18847] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS-2017-0028] Availability of FSIS Compliance Guideline for Minimizing the Risk of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli (STEC) and Salmonella in Raw Beef (Including Veal) Processing Operations AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the updated compliance guideline for small and very small businesses on reducing STEC and Salmonella in beef and veal operations. The new guideline will assist small and very small beef (including veal) processing establishments understand and comply with the regulatory requirements associated with controlling STEC and Salmonella in raw non-intact beef products and beef products intended for non- intact use. The guideline also includes information for establishments and retail stores on developing and maintaining records associated with the production of ground beef. DATES: Submit Comments on or before November 6, 2017. ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the compliance guideline is available to view and print at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/compliance-guides-index once copies of the guideline have been published. FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this guidance. 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. [[Page 42060]] Mail, including 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, FSIS, and document title: FSIS Compliance Guideline for Minimizing the Risk of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella in Raw Beef (including Veal) Processing Operations 2017. Comments received will be made available to the public and posted without change, including any personal information, at 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background STEC and Salmonella are pathogens that are associated with foodborne illness from consumption of non-intact beef products (e.g., ground beef, mechanically tenderized steaks). Although the percent positive rates of STEC and Salmonella have decreased, outbreaks and illnesses continue to occur from these products (https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2016-outbreaks.html). Raw non-intact beef products present a significant public health risk because they are frequently consumed after preparation (e.g., cooking hamburger to a rare or medium rare state) that does not destroy STEC that has been introduced below the product's surface. Given the low infectious dose of STEC associated with foodborne disease outbreaks and the very severe consequences of an STEC infection, including serious, life-threatening human illnesses (hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome), raw non-intact beef products and those beef products intended for non-intact use are adulterated within the meaning of the Federal Meat Inspection Act when contaminated with STEC unless further processed to destroy this pathogen (64 FR 2803). Salmonella does not present the same severe health consequences as STEC, and FSIS does not have a zero tolerance for Salmonella in raw non-intact beef products. However, because STEC and Salmonella are hazards that have historically occurred in the production of non-intact beef products, establishments that produce these products or products intended for non-intact use must conduct a hazard analysis and determine if these pathogens need to be addressed by its Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. FSIS is making available the updated compliance guideline to assist establishments that produce raw non- intact beef products in designing a HACCP system to prevent, control, and reduce STEC and Salmonella to acceptable levels in these products. The guideline helps establishments understand the adulterant status of STEC in beef products, how the product's intended use impacts the hazard analysis, and to develop ongoing verification measures to demonstrate that the HACCP system is functioning as intended to reduce STEC to below detectable levels. In addition, the guideline provides updated information for establishments responding to STEC positive results to strengthen their food safety systems so that additional positive results do not occur in the product. While the guideline focuses primarily on STEC policy, the procedures described in this document to reduce STEC will also assist establishments in reducing Salmonella. FSIS is also providing information in the updated guidance to assist federal establishments and retail facilities to develop and maintain grinding records as required by the final rule, Records To Be Kept By Official Establishments and Retail Stores That May Grind Raw Beef Products (80 FR 79231). This guideline incorporates all of the above policy updates and includes the most current Agency thinking, and combines and replaces information from the following previously issued guidance documents: (1) Draft Guidance for Small and Very Small Establishments on Sampling Beef Products for Escherichia coli O157:H7 (August 12, 2008); and (2) Sanitation Guidance for Beef Grinders (January 2012). The target audiences for this compliance guideline are small and very small establishments in support of the Small Business Administration's initiative to provide such establishments with compliance assistance under the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act (SBRFA). However, all FSIS regulated beef establishments may be able to apply the recommendations in this guideline. 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 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., [[Page 42061]] 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, August 31, 2017. Paul Kiecker, Acting Administrator. [FR Doc. 2017-18847 Filed 9-5-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 6, 2017 / Notices 42059
original certification documents arriving USDA Nondiscrimination Statement have the option to password protect
at the country’s port of entry, to verify their accounts.
No agency, officer, or employee of the
that the digital certificate copies align Done at Washington, DC, on: August 31,
USDA shall, on the grounds of race,
with the original certificates arriving 2017.
color, national origin, religion, sex,
with the shipment. A Level 2 Paul Kiecker,
gender identity, sexual orientation,
eAuthentication account is necessary to
disability, age, marital status, family/ Acting Administrator.
access the FCL. An eAuthentication
parental status, income derived from a [FR Doc. 2017–18848 Filed 9–5–17; 8:45 am]
account is the way for a user to interact
public assistance program, or political BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
with USDA Web site portals and
beliefs, exclude from participation in,
applications using a verified identity for
deny the benefits of, or subject to
each User ID and profile. Prior to DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
discrimination any person in the United
implementation of the PHIS Export
States under any program or activity
Component, FSIS will provide further Food Safety and Inspection Service
conducted by the USDA.
guidance on this process.
To file a complaint of discrimination, [Docket No. FSIS–2017–0028]
USDA Export Stamp complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form, which Availability of FSIS Compliance
The USDA export stamp bears the
may be accessed online at http:// Guideline for Minimizing the Risk of
export certificate number, and is used to
www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia
link the consignment to the
docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_ Coli (STEC) and Salmonella in Raw
corresponding export certificate.
12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you Beef (Including Veal) Processing
Beginning on the applicability date of
or your authorized representative. Operations
June 29, 2018, FSIS is changing the
number of digits in the serial number Send your completed complaint form
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection
that appears on both the export stamp or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email:
Service, USDA.
and the corresponding export certificate Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, ACTION: Notice of availability and
from six to seven numbers. Use of an Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 request for comment.
alternative, alpha-numeric unique Independence Avenue SW.,
identifier in place of the USDA export Washington, DC 20250–9410. SUMMARY: The Food Safety and
stamp will be implemented with the Fax: (202) 690–7442. Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
PHIS Export Component on June 29, Email: program.intake@usda.gov. the availability of and requesting
2018. Persons with disabilities who require comments on the updated compliance
alternative means for communication guideline for small and very small
eCert businesses on reducing STEC and
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
In the future, FSIS also intends to should contact USDA’s TARGET Center Salmonella in beef and veal operations.
support electronic export certification at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). The new guideline will assist small
(eCert) in PHIS. eCert is the government- and very small beef (including veal)
to-government transmission of Additional Public Notification processing establishments understand
certification data and is the electronic FSIS will announce this notice online and comply with the regulatory
equivalent of a paper certificate. When through the FSIS Web page located at requirements associated with
developed and implemented, electronic http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal- controlling STEC and Salmonella in raw
export certification will allow FSIS to register. non-intact beef products and beef
transfer certification data directly to the FSIS will also make copies of this products intended for non-intact use.
foreign government’s competent Federal Register publication available The guideline also includes information
authority’s certification system. through the FSIS Constituent Update, for establishments and retail stores on
which is used to provide information developing and maintaining records
Group 1 (June 29, 2018) associated with the production of
regarding FSIS policies, procedures,
• Export Library: regulations, Federal Register notices, ground beef.
1. Australia FSIS public meetings, and other types of DATES: Submit Comments on or before
2. New Zealand information that could affect or would November 6, 2017.
3. UAE be of interest to constituents and ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of
• Non-Export Library: stakeholders. The Update is the compliance guideline is available to
1. Afghanistan communicated via Listserv, a free view and print at https://
2. Andorra electronic mail subscription service for www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/
3. Bahamas industry, trade groups, consumer topics/regulatory-compliance/
4. Bolivia interest groups, health professionals, compliance-guides-index once copies of
5. Burundi and other individuals who have asked the guideline have been published.
6. Cape Verde to be included. The Update is also FSIS invites interested persons to
available on the FSIS Web page. In submit comments on this guidance.
7. Cook Islands
addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail Comments may be submitted by one of
8. Ethiopia
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
subscription service which provides the following methods:
9. Gambia automatic and customized access to Federal eRulemaking Portal: This
10. Guinea selected food safety news and Web site provides the ability to type
11. Liberia information. This service is available at short comments directly into the
12. Mozambique http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. comment field on this Web page or
13. Paraguay Options range from recalls to export attach a file for lengthier comments. Go
14. San Marino information to regulations, directives, to http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow
15. Tanzania and notices. Customers can add or the on-line instructions at that site for
16. Uganda delete subscriptions themselves, and submitting comments.
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Washington, DC 20250–9410, Fax: (202) Instructions: All items submitted by Round Agreements amended the Trade
690–7442, Email: program.intake@ mail or email are to include the Agency Agreements Act of 1979. Pursuant to
usda.gov. name and docket number FSIS–2017– section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act
Persons with disabilities who require 0021. Comments received in response to of 1979, as amended, the President is
alternative means for communication this docket will be made available for required to designate an agency to be
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), public inspection and posted without ‘‘responsible for informing the public of
should contact USDA’s TARGET Center change, including any personal the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). information to http:// standard-setting activities of each
Done, at Washington, DC, August 31, 2017. www.regulations.gov. international standard-setting
Please state that your comments refer organization’’ (19 U.S.C. 2578). The
Paul Kiecker,
to Codex and, if your comments relate main international standard-setting
Acting Administrator.
to specific Codex committees, please organizations are Codex, the World
[FR Doc. 2017–18847 Filed 9–5–17; 8:45 am] Organisation for Animal Health, and the
identify the committee(s) in your
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P comments and submit a copy of your International Plant Protection
comments to the delegate from that Convention. The President, pursuant to
particular committee. Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Docket: For access to background 1995, (60 FR 15845), designated the U.S.
documents or comments received, visit Department of Agriculture as the agency
Food Safety and Inspection Service
the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza responsible for informing the public of
[Docket No. FSIS–2017–0021] 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8–164, the SPS standard-setting activities of
Washington, DC 20250–3700, between each international standard-setting
International Standard-Setting 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday organization. The Secretary of
Activities through Friday. A complete list of U.S. Agriculture has delegated to the Office
AGENCY: Office of Food Safety, USDA. delegates and alternate delegates can be of Food Safety the responsibility to
found in Attachment 2 of this notice. inform the public of the SPS standard-
ACTION: Notice. setting activities of Codex. The Office of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUMMARY: This notice informs the public Mary Frances Lowe, United States Food Safety has, in turn, assigned the
of the sanitary and phytosanitary Manager for Codex Alimentarius, U.S. responsibility for informing the public
standard-setting activities of the Codex Department of Agriculture, Office of of the SPS standard-setting activities of
Alimentarius Commission (Codex), in Food Safety, South Agriculture Codex to the U.S. Codex Office (USCO).
accordance with section 491 of the Building, 1400 Independence Avenue Codex was created in 1963 by two
Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as SW., Room 4861, Washington, DC United Nations organizations, the Food
amended, and the Uruguay Round 20250–3700; Telephone: (202) 205– and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
Agreements Act. This notice also the World Health Organization (WHO).
7760; Fax: (202) 720–3157; Email:
Codex is the principal international
provides a list of other standard-setting USCodex@fsis.usda.gov.
For information pertaining to organization for establishing standards
activities of Codex, including
particular committees, contact the for food. Through adoption of food
commodity standards, guidelines, codes
delegate of that committee. Documents standards, codes of practice, and other
of practice, and revised texts. This
guidelines developed by its committees
notice, which covers Codex activities pertaining to Codex and specific
and by promoting their adoption and
during the time periods from June 1, committee agendas are accessible via
implementation by governments, Codex
2016, to May 31, 2017, and June 1, 2017, the Internet at http://
seeks to protect the health of consumers,
to May 31, 2018, seeks comments on www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-
ensure fair practices in the food trade,
standards under consideration and reports/en/. The U.S. Codex Office also
and promote coordination of food
recommendations for new standards. maintains a Web site at http://
standards work undertaken by
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/
international governmental and
persons to submit their comments on topics/international-affairs/us-codex-
nongovernmental organizations. In the
this notice. Comments may be alimentarius.
United States, U.S. Codex activities are
submitted by one of the following SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: managed and carried out by the United
methods: States Department of Agriculture
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Background
(USDA); the Food and Drug
Web site provides the ability to type The World Trade Organization (WTO) Administration (FDA), Department of
short comments directly into the was established on January 1, 1995, as Health and Human Services (HHS); the
comment field on this Web page or the common international institutional National Oceanic and Atmospheric
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go framework for the conduct of trade Administration (NOAA), Department of
to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow relations among its members in matters Commerce (DOC); and the
the on-line instructions at the Web site related to the Uruguay Round Trade Environmental Protection Agency
for submitting comments. Agreements. The WTO is the successor (EPA).
• Mail, including CD–ROMs, etc.: organization to the General Agreement As the agency responsible for
Mail to the U.S. Department of on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). United informing the public of the SPS
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Agriculture (USDA), FSIS, 1400 States membership in the WTO was standard-setting activities of Codex, the
Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop approved and the Uruguay Round Office of Food Safety publishes this
3782, Room 8–163B, Washington, DC Agreements Act (Uruguay Round notice in the Federal Register annually.
20250–3700. Agreements) was signed into law by the Attachment 1 (Sanitary and
• Hand- or courier-delivered items: President on December 8, 1994, Public Phytosanitary Activities of Codex) sets
Deliver to OPPD, RIMS, Docket Law 103–465, 108 Stat. 4809. The forth the following information:
Clearance Unit, Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Uruguay Round Agreements became 1. The SPS standards under
Street SW., Room 8–164, Washington, effective, with respect to the United consideration or planned for
DC 20250–3700. States, on January 1, 1995. The Uruguay consideration; and
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Document Created: 2017-09-06 00:56:29
Document Modified: 2017-09-06 00:56:29
| 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 comment. | |
| Dates | Submit Comments on or before November 6, 2017. | |
| Contact | Roberta Wagner, Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development; Telephone: (202) 205-0495. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 42059 |
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