Notice2021-18523
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
Primary source
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Published
August 27, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood Safety and Inspection Service
Abstract
Pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the Secretary of Agriculture concerning State and Federal programs with respect to meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection, food safety, and other matters that fall within the scope of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). The committee will convene virtually on September 27 and 28, 2021, in a public meeting where FSIS will present two sets of charges to the Committee: (1) To consider how FSIS should clarify the Agency's positions on the custom and retail exemptions to ensure that meat, poultry, and egg products produced under the exemptions are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged and (2) to consider actions FSIS should take to prevent and reduce illnesses associated with the handling or consumption of frozen, raw, stuffed not ready-to- eat (NRTE) poultry products, which may be breaded and par-fried and may appear ready-to-eat (RTE) to consumers.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48115-48117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18523]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2021-0019]
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notification of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the
Department of Agriculture and the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a
virtual meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry
Inspection (NACMPI). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice
to the Secretary of Agriculture concerning State and Federal programs
with respect to meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection,
food safety, and other matters that fall within the scope of the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act (PPIA). The committee will convene virtually on September 27 and
28, 2021, in a public meeting where FSIS will present two sets of
charges to the Committee: (1) To consider how FSIS should clarify the
Agency's positions on the custom and retail exemptions to ensure that
meat, poultry, and egg products produced under the exemptions are safe,
wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged and (2) to consider
actions FSIS should take to prevent and reduce illnesses associated
with the handling or consumption of frozen, raw, stuffed not ready-to-
eat (NRTE) poultry products, which may be breaded and par-fried and may
appear ready-to-eat (RTE) to consumers.
DATES: The virtual public meeting is scheduled for September 27 and 28,
2021. NACMPI will meet from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST on September 23,
2021 for administrative purposes. This portion of the meeting is not
open to the public. The public meeting is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST on
September 27 and September 28, 2021.
ADDRESSES: The meeting is virtual and will be viewable via a link
provided by email when you register for the meeting. Attendees should
pre-register for the meeting. See the pre-registration instructions
under ``Registration and Meeting Materials.''
Public Comments: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments
on this meeting by September 24, 2021. Comments may be submitted by any
of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
<bullet> Hand- or Courier-Delivered Submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2021-0019. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received,
call (202) 205-0495 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valeria Green, Director, Resource and
Administrative Management Staff, Office of Policy and Program
Development, Telephone: (301) 504-0846 Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3d5c2cfc6d1cac28dc4d1c6c6cde3d6d0c7c28dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="92e4f3fef7e0fbf3bcf5e0f7f7fcd2e7e1f6f3bcf5fde4">[email protected]</span></a>,
regarding specific questions about the Committee or this meeting.
General information about the Committee can also be found at: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/nacmpi">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/nacmpi</a>. For the hearing impaired, contact the Federal
Information Relay Service: <a href="https://www.federalrelay.us/">https://www.federalrelay.us/</a> or 800-877-0996
(Voice, TTY, ASCII or Spanish).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The NACMPI was established in 1971 and is authorized under section
301(a)(4) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C.
661(a)(4)) to carry out the responsibilities imposed by sections 7(c),
24, 205, 301(a)(3), and 301(c) of the FMIA (21 U.S.C. 607(c), 624, 645,
661(a)(3), and 661(c)), and authorized under section 5(s)(4) of the
[[Page 48116]]
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 454(a)(4) to carry
out the responsibilities imposed by sections 5(a)(3), 5(c), 8(b), and
11(e) of the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 454(a)(3), 454(c), 457(b), and 460(e)).
The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the Secretary
concerning meat and poultry inspection; food safety; and other matters
that fall within the scope of the FMIA and PPIA. The current charter
and other information about NACMPI can be found at <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/advisory-committees/national-advisory-committee-meat-and-poultry-inspection-nacmpi">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/advisory-committees/national-advisory-committee-meat-and-poultry-inspection-nacmpi</a>. Membership of NACMPI is
drawn from representatives of consumer groups; producers; processors;
and representatives from the meat, poultry, and egg products
industries; State and local government officials; and academia.
On September 27 and 28, 2021, NACMPI will review and discuss the
following two topics. First, FSIS is seeking recommendations to clarify
the Agency's positions on the custom and retail exemptions to ensure
that meat, poultry, and egg products produced under the exemptions are
safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. The FMIA and the
PPIA prohibit the slaughter of livestock or poultry or preparation of
meat or poultry products for commerce without inspection, if such
products are intended for use as human food, with specific exemptions.
One such exemption, is the custom exemption at 21 U.S.C. 623(a) and
464(c)(1)(B), which allows facilities to operate without Federal
inspection if they slaughter and process livestock for the exclusive
private use of the owner of the livestock, members of the owner's
household, or the owner's nonpaying guests or employees. Custom
operators must return all product derived from exempt animals to the
original owner. Another exemption is the retail exemption at 21 U.S.C.
661(c)(2) and 464(a), which exempts from routine Federal inspection
operations of types traditionally and usually conducted at retail
stores, restaurants, and restaurant central kitchen facilities. FSIS is
seeking recommendations to clarify the Agency's positions on the custom
and retail exemptions to ensure that meat, poultry, and egg products
produced under the exemptions are safe, wholesome, and correctly
labeled and packaged.
FSIS will ask the committee to consider the following:
Custom Exemption
1. Should FSIS conduct rulemaking to set a numerical limit on the
number of individuals allowed to co-own an animal presented for
slaughter/processing under the custom exemption provision (e.g.,
limiting to four the number of individuals allowed to co-own a market
hog presented for slaughter)? If so, what factors should the Agency
consider, if any, to determine the limits for different amenable
species?
2. Should FSIS conduct rulemaking to clarify that collectively-
owned membership organizations or other firms (e.g., a group of
individuals residing across disparate locations organized into a
``livestock ownership co-op'' via an online platform) cannot ``own''
animals for purposes of the custom exemption?
3. Should FSIS conduct rulemaking to clarify that custom operators
should maintain records that demonstrate an exact correspondence
between the individuals owning a particular animal prior to slaughter
and the individuals receiving any part of the products derived from
that animal?
Retail Exemption
1. Should 3rd parties (e.g., independent contractors or delivery
services) be permitted to prepare meat and poultry received from
restaurant and retail operations for delivery to consumers without
Federal inspection being required for the retail or restaurant
operation? And if so, what types of preparation should be allowed?
Examples of preparation might include warming up, defrosting, assembly
of meals, cutting, or packing.
2. Should such 3rd party arrangements be allowed only in
institutional settings (e.g., school cafeterias, hospitals, nursing
homes, or prisons)?
3. Should FSIS conduct rulemaking to clarify what types of
preparation are allowed, and in what settings, when 3rd parties are
permitted to prepare meat and poultry received from retail and
restaurant operations for delivery to consumers without Federal
inspection?
Second, FSIS will ask NACMPI what actions should be taken to
prevent and reduce illnesses associated with the handling or
consumption of frozen, raw, stuffed NRTE poultry products, which may be
breaded and par-fried and may appear RTE to consumers. Between FY 2010
and FY 2019 FSIS investigated 51 outbreaks associated with NRTE
poultry. Among those, eight outbreaks may have been associated with
products that appear RTE to the consumer. These frozen, raw, stuffed
NRTE chicken products, which may be breaded and par-fried and may
appear RTE to consumers, had labeling identifying that the product was
raw and included cooking instructions for preparation. Additionally, in
June 2021, there is an open multistate Salmonella Enteritidis illness
outbreak possibly associated with frozen, raw, breaded stuffed chicken
products with 27 cases from eight states.
FSIS will ask the committee to consider the following:
1. Given FSIS' consumer research findings \1\ and an open
multistate Salmonella Enteritidis illness outbreak, should FSIS re-
verify that companies continue to voluntarily label these products as
raw in several places on the label and include validated cooking
instructions?
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\1\ <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-04/fscrp-yr3-nrte-final-report.pdf">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-04/fscrp-yr3-nrte-final-report.pdf</a>.
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2. What, if any, actions can FSIS take to prevent and reduce
illnesses associated with the handling or consumption of these NRTE
products? For example, should FSIS:
a. Conduct exploratory sampling for pathogens and/or indicator
organisms in these and other similar raw, stuffed or non-stuffed
partially processed products?
b. Require establishments to apply a lethality treatment to ensure
that all products are RTE?
c. Sample these products for Salmonella because consumers
customarily undercook them?
d. Require establishments that produce these products to reassess
their HACCP plans, in light of outbreak data?
e. Conduct targeted consumer outreach? If so, please provide some
ideas on the best approaches.
FSIS will present the two issues described above to the full
Committee. The Committee will then divide into two subcommittees to
discuss the issues. Each subcommittee will provide a report of their
comments and recommendations to the full Committee before the meeting
concludes on Thursday, September 28, 2021. An agenda will be published
online before the public meeting. FSIS will finalize the agenda on or
before the meeting dates and post it on the FSIS website at: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/events-meetings">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/events-meetings</a>.
Registration and Meeting Materials
There is no fee to register for the public meeting, but pre-
registration is mandatory for participants attending. All attendees
must register online at <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/events-meetings">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/events-meetings</a>.
[[Page 48117]]
Public Comments and Participation in Meetings
Stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide oral comments
during the public meeting. Stakeholders must notify FSIS during
registration of their wish to speak at the meeting. Stakeholders who do
not notify FSIS during registration of their wish to speak will not
have the opportunity to comment on the day of the public meeting. Due
to the anticipated high level of interest in the opportunity to make
public comments and the limited time available to do so, FSIS will do
its best to accommodate all persons who registered and requested to
provide oral comments and will limit all speakers to three minutes.
FSIS encourages persons and groups who have similar interests to
consolidate their information for presentation by a single
representative.
Transcripts
As soon as the meeting transcripts are available, they will be
accessible on the FSIS website at: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/advisory-committees/national-advisory-committee-meat-and-poultry-inspection-nacmpi">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/advisory-committees/national-advisory-committee-meat-and-poultry-inspection-nacmpi</a>. The transcripts may also be viewed at the FSIS
Docket Room at the address listed above.
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:
<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register</a>.
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: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe</a>. 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 U.S. Department of
Agriculture (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, 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.
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 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 <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a> 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1565677a726774783b7c7b61747e7055606671743b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0272706d6570636f2c6b6c7663696742777166632c656d74">[email protected]</span></a>. USDA is an equal opportunity provider,
employer, and lender.
Dated: August 24, 2021.
Cikena Reid,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-18523 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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