[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-556]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 11, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Chapter III
[Docket No. 93-024N]
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Round Table;
Solicitation of Participation
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Solicitation of participation.
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SUMMARY: Secretary Espy announced in late May 1993 that he was
requesting the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to present him
with a plan for making the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) system of process control mandatory in all the Nation's
federally inspected meat and poultry establishments. At the Secretary's
direction to ensure greater input from all constituent and other
interests, it was determined by FSIS that it would be beneficial to
provide all constituent groups with a forum to comment on development
of a mandatory HACCP system. Therefore, FSIS announces that a HACCP
Round Table discussion will be held.
This notice outlines the Round Table process and solicits
participation in the Round Table from the constituent groups identified
below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Furthermore, this notice offers
the opportunity for persons who believe that an affected interest is
not represented below to request participation at the Round Table.
DATES: A HACCP Round Table discussion will be held in about 60 days of
the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
Individuals and organizations interested in participating in the Round
Table must submit their names by January 25, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit their names to Mr. Mark
Manis, Director, Import Inspection Division, International Programs,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
room 0114, South Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Mark Manis at (202) 720-2952.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSIS views this Round Table as an
opportunity to allow free and frank discussion of the legitimate
concerns of all constituents prior to the issuance of a proposed
regulation on HACCP. This meeting is envisioned as a substantive
opportunity to assist FSIS through a thorough discussion of the issues
regarding HACCP. This will aid FSIS when it begins drafting the rule
for implementing a HACCP system of production in all meat and poultry
establishments.
The Round Table will be facilitated by a neutral third party. The
facilitator will seek the full participation of all Round Table
participants, will ensure that all identified issues are addressed by
the Round Table participants, and will invite comments at the end of
the Round Table. After the Round Table meeting, the facilitator will
provide a transcript of the meeting, and will prepare a final report,
which will include any comments submitted at the Round Table meeting
and will summarize the positions of all Round Table participants.
The Round Table meeting will be open to the public. Issue papers
will be prepared in advance of the meeting by the participants, and
will be publicly available through the FSIS hearing clerk. All issues
relative to a HACCP system shall be open for consideration.
FSIS has preliminarily identified the following categories of
constituents:
Meat and Poultry Industry and Their Representatives
(Including Grocers and Retailers)
Consumers and Their Representatives
Scientists and Professional Scientific Organizations
Producers and Farmers
FSIS Employees and Their Representatives
Federal, State, and Local Governments
Public Health Officials and Medical Doctors
Any individual or organization that is interested in participating
in the Round Table must communicate that interest, and identify his or
her constituent category, to Mr. Mark Manis whose address and phone
number appear in this notice in the paragraph entitled FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT, within 2 weeks of the date of the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register. After the 2-week notification
period, FSIS will: (1) Compile a list, for each category, of those who
expressed an interest in participating in the Round Table meeting; and
(2) share that list, by category, with the members of each category.
FSIS will then request, within 2 weeks after sending the list to
members of each category, that the members of each category select
representatives to serve as both Round Table and Steering Committee
participants.
To ensure the effectiveness of this process, the estimated number
of Round Table participants will be between 25 and 30, and the total
number of attendees will be determined by the capacity of the meeting
room. FSIS will request each constituent category to appoint one
representative to serve on the Steering Committee. FSIS will request
that five representatives be appointed for the Round Table by each of
the following constituent categories: Meat and Poultry Industry and
Their Representatives; Consumers and Their Representatives; and
Scientists and Professional Scientific Organizations. FSIS will request
that four representatives be appointed for the Round Table from the
Producers and Farmers category. FSIS will request that three
representatives be appointed for the Round Table from the FSIS
Employees and Their Representatives; and Federal, State, and Local
Governments categories. FSIS will request that two representatives be
appointed for the Round Table from the Public Health Officials and
Medical Doctors category.
If any constituent category is unable to designate its
representatives, USDA will assist in the selection.
Furthermore, any person who believes that an affected interest is
not represented by the identified categories of constituent groups may
request, within 2 weeks of the date of publication of this notice in
the Federal Register, Round Table participation for that affected
interest.
Once the representatives are appointed, FSIS will convene a
Steering Committee to be held in the Washington, DC, area in advance of
the Round Table meeting. The Steering Committee will address all
relevant pre-meeting issues and determine the: (1) Round Table issues;
(2) process for developing issue papers prior to the Round Table; (3)
timeframes; (4) meeting schedule; (5) Round Table discussion rules; and
(6) any other matter which would assist in an effective and full
discussion.
Done at Washington, DC, on: January 5, 1994.
H. Russell Cross,
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 94-556 Filed 1-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-M
