Notice2023-08617
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 25, 2023
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), FSIS is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on State and Federal meat and poultry inspection programs, 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 June 21-22, 2023, in a public meeting where FSIS will present one charge to the Committee: to offer input on ways FSIS can enhance outreach efforts to best promote equity and bring economic opportunity to underserved communities and individuals, while strengthening the food supply chain and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24969-24971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08617]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2022-0030]
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (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), FSIS is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Advisory
Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The purpose of the
Committee is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on State and
Federal meat and poultry inspection programs, 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 June 21-22, 2023, in a public meeting where
FSIS will present one charge to the Committee: to offer input on ways
FSIS can enhance outreach efforts to best promote equity and bring
economic opportunity to underserved communities and individuals, while
strengthening the food supply chain and ensuring compliance with food
safety regulations.
DATES: The virtual public meeting is scheduled for June 21-22, 2023.
The public meeting is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST on June 21 and 22,
2023.
ADDRESSES: The meeting is virtual and will be viewable via a link
provided by email when you register for the meeting. Attendees must
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 May 25, 2023. 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-2022-0030. 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) 937-4272 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrina Green, Director, Resource and
Administrative Management Staff--Designated Federal Officer, Office of
Policy and Program Development, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#de909f9d938e979eabadbabff0b9b1a8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4806090b051801083d3b2c29662f273e">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone at 202-205-0495 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).
[[Page 24970]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The NACMPI was established in 1971 and is authorized under section
301(a)(4) of the FMIA (21 U.S.C. 661(a)(4)) to carry out the
responsibilities imposed by 21 U.S.C. 607(c), 624, 645, 661(a)(3), and
661(c), and authorized under 21 U.S.C. 454(a)(4) of the PPIA, to carry
out the responsibilities imposed by 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 on meat and poultry inspection programs, 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 consumers; public health and academic communities; state and
local governments; and industry.
On June 21 and 22, 2023, NACMPI will review and discuss how FSIS
can enhance outreach efforts to best promote equity and bring economic
opportunity to underserved communities and individuals, while
strengthening the food supply chain and ensuring compliance with food
safety regulations. FSIS is seeking input on the topic regarding
prospective applicants for FSIS inspection and existing small and very
small establishments currently receiving FSIS inspection.
On January 20, 2021, the Biden Administration issued an Executive
Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
Communities Through the Federal Government. The Executive Order states
in part, ``The Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive
approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and
others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and
adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Affirmatively
advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity
is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.'' On April 9,
2021, the Secretary of Agriculture issued a Civil Rights Policy
Statement supporting the goals of equity and opportunity laid out in
the Executive Order.
On June 16, 2021, USDA published the Federal Register notice
``Identifying Barriers in USDA Programs and Services; Advancing Racial
Justice and Equity and Support for Underserved Communities at USDA''
(86 FR 32013), which proposed the following definitions:
<bullet> The term ``equity'' means the consistent and systematic
fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including
individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied
such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native
American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other
persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with
disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise
adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
<bullet> The term ``underserved communities'' means populations
sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities,
that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate
in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the
list in the preceding definition of ``equity.''
USDA supports the Biden Administration's commitment to providing
services in ways that promote equity and opportunity for all. When the
COVID-19 pandemic began, USDA made significant investments through its
Pandemic Assistance Program, providing immediate relief to producers,
businesses, food workers and others. USDA recognizes we must build back
better and strengthen the food system across the supply chain, from how
our food is produced to how it is purchased, and all the steps in
between.
The goals of USDA's Food System Transformation framework include:
<bullet> Creating a fairer food system that combats market
dominance and helps producers and consumers gain more power in the
marketplace by creating new, more and better local market options.
USDA's investments will deliver a better deal for farmers, ranchers,
growers and consumers.
Consistent with the USDA's goals to better serve American producers
and consumers, FSIS strives to provide inspection and other support to
all stakeholders equitably. Some recent examples of how FSIS assists
small businesses through initiatives to support small and very small
establishments include:
<bullet> Answering regulatory and technical questions via the Small
Plant Help Desk component of askFSIS;
<bullet> Providing direct outreach to small and very small
establishments;
<bullet> Hosting regional small plant round table meetings to give
small and very small establishment owners opportunities to interact
directly with FSIS senior leaders;
<bullet> Organizing monthly industry town hall meetings where FSIS
leaders give information about upcoming initiatives or other topics of
interest to industry;
<bullet> Reducing overtime inspection charges for small and very
small establishments;
<bullet> Supporting small and very small State-inspected
establishments through cooperative partnerships with State inspection
programs and the Cooperative Interstate Shipment agreements; and
<bullet> Providing numerous guidance documents and related webinars
to industry, with a focus on small and very small establishments.
FSIS seeks input on ways to better target outreach to better
promote equity and bring economic opportunity to underserved
communities and individuals while strengthening the food supply chain.
FSIS will ask the committee to consider the following:
Prospective Applicants for FSIS Inspection
1. What obstacles impede individuals in underserved communities
from accessing FSIS' information resources, such as: guidelines and
HACCP models posted on the FSIS website and the Small Plant Help Desk.
2. What barriers do individuals face when applying for FSIS
inspection?
3. What steps, outreach methods, partnerships, or strategies should
FSIS consider regarding awareness of existing resources in underserved
communities?
Small and Very Small Establishments Currently Receiving FSIS Inspection
1. Are there any FSIS regulations or policies that create barriers
or challenges for small and very small, regulated establishments?
2. What are the most critical kinds of information that would help
small and very small establishments in underserved communities?
3. How can FSIS more effectively share scientific information with
small and very small establishments so that they can use the best
available information to support their food safety systems?
4. What organizations are most effective at providing assistance to
small and very small establishments and what can FSIS learn from these
organizations to enhance its own efforts to assist small and very small
establishments?
5. What concrete actions can FSIS take, alone or in partnership
with other stakeholder organizations, to more effectively aid existing
small and very small FSIS regulated establishments in underserved
communities?
FSIS will present the issue described above to the full Committee.
The
[[Page 24971]]
Committee will then divide into two subcommittees to discuss the issue
regarding prospective applicants for FSIS inspection and existing small
and very small establishments currently receiving FSIS inspection,
respectively. Each subcommittee will provide a report of their comments
and recommendations to the full Committee before the meeting concludes
on June 22, 2023. 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>.
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 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/forms/electronic-forms">https://www.usda.gov/forms/electronic-forms</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#b3c3c1dcd4c1d2de9ddaddc7d2d8d6f3c6c0d7d29dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fd8d8f929a8f9c90d39493899c9698bd888e999cd39a928b">[email protected]</span></a>. USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Dated: April 18, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-08617 Filed 4-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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