[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66606-66607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30908]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-048N]
Canada's Modernized Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP)
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the availability of a paper prepared by the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) that describes its new
[[Page 66607]]
Modernized Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP) for chicken, turkey, and
fowl slaughter inspection in Canadian establishments that process
poultry, including those that export to the United States and to other
countries.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 28, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the MPIP document are available from the FSIS
Docket Clerk, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-3700. A copy may also be obtained from the CFIA homepage at
http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/animal/meat/mmop/mpip/mpiptoc--
e.html. Submit one original and two copies of written comments to the
FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket #99-048N, at the address shown above.
Facsimile comments may be sent to 202-205-0381. The public can review
all received comments in the FSIS Docket Room from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the MPIP
document, contact Mr. Clark Danford, Acting Director, International
Policy Division; Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation;
(202) 720-6400; or by electronic mail to clark.danford@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In August 1999, CFIA submitted its proposal for a new slaughter
inspection system described as the ``Modernized Poultry Inspection
Program.'' Copies are available as described in the ADDRESSES section
above. MPIP would be used in Canadian establishments that slaughter
chicken, turkey, and fowl. CFIA describes MPIP as follows: ``National
and international poultry inspection systems are constantly evolving.
Canada and its poultry inspection programs are no exceptions. MPIP
represents the latest Canadian advance in poultry inspection
methodology. The CFIA is now making MPIP methodology available to
federally registered poultry slaughter establishments across Canada.
MPIP is a HACCP and science-based inspection system. It enhances the
safety and wholesomeness of Canadian poultry products, and as a result,
contributes to the viability of the Canadian poultry industry. MPIP
focuses on the slaughter process within the gate to plate food safety
continuum.''
The CFIA has set specific objectives for its MPIP program. These
objectives include the following:
``(a) Control of hazards associated with the contamination of live
poultry with foodborne pathogens as received at registered
establishments, and the subsequent spread of these pathogenic bacteria
during the slaughter and processing of poultry;
(b) Promote the proactive control (prevent, eliminate or reduce) of
hazards through the implementation of a CFIA-recognized HACCP system in
poultry slaughtering establishments;
(c) Facilitate the change from prescriptive regulatory requirements
to strictly enforced objective performance standards in poultry
inspection;
(d) Facilitate the transition of CFIA staff from hands-on
inspection to audit-based verification activities for poultry slaughter
establishments operating under a HACCP system;
(e) Facilitate the assumption by industry of the detection and
handling of all carcasses with defects (previously performed by CFIA
inspectors) under continuous government oversight; and
(f) Respond to changing international trade requirements, e.g.,
Pathogen Reduction and HACCP Program Rule in the US.''
Determination of Equivalence
As a result of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (commonly referred to as the ``SPS
Agreement''), contracting parties, including the United States, are
committed to harmonizing their human, animal, and plant health import
requirements by basing their sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import
requirements on ``equivalent'' sanitary measures or standards. Among
other things, the SPS Agreement obliges the United States to respond to
requests by other contracting parties to establish the equivalence of
specified poultry and poultry processing measures with those of the
United States. The Canadian Government has formally requested that the
United States consider its MPIP proposal to pilot-test a revised
slaughter inspection system. A determination of equivalence will be
necessary before any Canadian MPIP establishment may export its poultry
to the United States.
FSIS will evaluate the MPIP documentation using two criteria for
equivalence:
(1) Does the MPIP meet all USDA requirements for the import of
poultry products to the United States?
(2) Does the MPIP afford American consumers the same level of
public health protection provided by USDA domestic poultry slaughter
inspection?
However, before making any equivalence decisions or taking any
action on the MPIP document, FSIS is requesting public comment on the
Canadian proposal.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS has considered, under Department Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil
Rights Impact Analysis,'' dated September 1993, the potential civil
rights impact of this notice on minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities. FSIS anticipates that this notice will not have a
negative or disproportionate impact on minorities, women, and persons
with disabilities. Notices generally are designed to provide
information and public awareness of important policy developments.
Consequently, in an effort to better ensure that minorities, women, and
persons with disabilities are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce
the publication of this Federal Register notice in the FSIS Constituent
Update.
FSIS provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is
communicated via fax to over 300 organizations and individuals. In
addition, the update is available on line through the FSIS web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and any other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents. This constituent fax list consists of industry, trade,
and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals,
scientific professionals, and other individuals that have requested to
be included. Through these various channels, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader, more diverse audience than would
otherwise be possible. For more information or to be added to the
constituent fax list, fax your request to the Agency's Congressional
and Public Affairs Office, at (202) 720-5704.
Done at Washington, DC on November 19, 1999.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-30908 Filed 11-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
