[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 4622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2298]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 20 / Friday, January 30, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 4622]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-075N]
HACCP; Opportunity for Early Implementation
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announces that
federally inspected meat and poultry slaughter and processing
establishments may, upon request, implement and receive inspection
under the new Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
regulations prior to the mandatory implementation date. FSIS expects to
be able to make early implementation available to most interested
establishments beginning in spring 1998.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Smith, Acting Assistant
Deputy Administrator, Inspection Operations, Room 4437 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-3697.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) regulations
set forth in 9 CFR part 417 become mandatory in all federally inspected
meat and poultry slaughter and processing establishments during the
period between January 26, 1998, and January 25, 2000 (61 FR 38806;
July 25, 1996). The mandatory implementation date for large
establishments (500 or more employees) is January 26, 1998; for small
establishments (10 to 499 employees), it is January 25, 1999; and for
very small establishments (fewer than 10 employees), it is January 25,
2000.
Some small and very small establishments have expressed interest in
implementing the HACCP regulations set forth in 9 CFR part 417 before
the mandatory date. Because the implementation of HACCP will likely
reduce the risk of food borne illness from meat and poultry products,
the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will make every effort to
accommodate requests for early HACCP implementation.
FSIS has expedited the training of inspectors, and expects by March
1998 to have a sufficient number of HACCP-trained inspectors available
to respond positively to most requests. However, because the agency
cannot project the actual number of requests, the granting of requests
will be contingent on the availability of HACCP-trained inspectors.
Establishments that desire to be subject to the HACCP regulations
before the mandatory date should submit a letter to this effect to the
District Manager for the area in which the establishment is located.
The letter should contain: (1) The establishment number; (2) the date
that the establishment requests HACCP inspection to begin; and (3) an
acknowledgment that the establishment cannot revert to traditional
inspection once HACCP inspection is provided. Interested establishments
should understand that early HACCP implementation means advancing the
effective date of the HACCP regulations for them and that FSIS will
enforce the HACCP regulatory requirements. FSIS will acknowledge
receipt of the request and address the practicability of the requested
implementation date, based on the availability of HACCP trained
inspectors in a return letter. Because of the resource requirements
involved in accommodating an establishment's request for early HACCP
implementation, once the exchange of letters with FSIS confirming the
agreement to implement HACCP on a given date is complete, the
establishment will not be able to alter or withdraw from that
agreement.
Done at Washington, DC, on: January 26, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-2298 Filed 1-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
