96-32884. Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling Regulations  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 250 (Friday, December 27, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 68145-68146]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-32884]
    
    
    
    [[Page 68145]]
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    
    Food and Drug Administration
    
    21 CFR Chapter I
    
    [Docket No. 96N-0094]
    
    
    Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling Regulations
    
    AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is establishing January 
    1, 2000, as the uniform compliance date for food labeling regulations 
    that are issued between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1998. FDA has 
    periodically announced uniform compliance dates for new food labeling 
    requirements to minimize the economic impact of label changes. In 1992, 
    FDA suspended this practice pending the issuance of regulations 
    implementing the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (the 1990 
    amendments). FDA recently reinstated this practice of with the 
    establishment of a uniform compliance date of January 1, 1998.
    
    DATES: Effective December 27, 1996; written comments by March 13, 1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch 
    (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 1-23, 
    Rockville, MD 20857.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerad L. McCowin, Center for Food 
    Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-150), Food and Drug Administration, 
    200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-4561.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FDA periodically issues regulations 
    requiring changes in the labeling of food. If the effective dates of 
    these labeling changes were not coordinated, the cumulative economic 
    impact on the food industry of having to respond separately to each 
    change would be substantial. Therefore, the agency periodically has 
    announced uniform compliance dates for new food labeling requirements 
    (see e.g., the Federal Registers of October 19, 1984 (49 FR 41019) and 
    December 24, 1996 (61 FR 67710). Use of a uniform compliance date 
    provides for an orderly and economical industry adjustment to new 
    labeling requirements by allowing sufficient lead time to plan for the 
    use of existing label inventories and the development of new labeling 
    materials. This policy serves consumers' interests as well because the 
    cost of multiple short-term label revisions that would otherwise occur 
    would likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
        During the 1980's and into the early 1990's, FDA periodically 
    issued final rules announcing new uniform compliance dates for food 
    labeling regulations. The agency suspended the issuance of uniform 
    compliance date final rules in 1992 because of the pending issuance of 
    a number of new final regulations implementing the 1990 amendments. 
    Most of these regulations are now in place and effective.
        In the Federal Register of April 15, 1996 (61 FR 16422), FDA issued 
    a proposal entitled ``Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling 
    Regulations.'' In that document, FDA, among other things, proposed to 
    reinstate its practice of periodically issuing uniform compliance dates 
    as final rules. The comments to the proposal fully supported the 
    agency's doing so. With the publication of this final rule, FDA is 
    reinstating this practice.
        The agency has determined under 21 CFR 25.24(a)(11) that this 
    action is of a type that does not individually or cumulatively have a 
    significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an 
    environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is 
    required.
        FDA has examined the economic implications of this final rule under 
    Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-
    612). Executive Order 12866 directs agencies to assess all costs and 
    benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when regulation is 
    necessary, to select the regulatory approach that maximizes net 
    benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health 
    and safety effects; distributive impacts; and equity). Executive Order 
    12866 classifies a rule as significant if it meets any one of a number 
    of specified conditions, including having an annual effect on the 
    economy of $100 million or adversely affecting in a material way a 
    sector of the economy, competition, or jobs, or if it raises novel 
    legal or policy issues. If a rule has a significant impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
    requires agencies to analyze options that would minimize the economic 
    impact of that rule on small entities.
        The establishment of a uniform compliance date does not impose 
    either costs or benefits. For future labeling requirements, FDA will 
    assess the costs and benefits of the uniform compliance date as well as 
    the options of setting alternative dates, especially with regard to the 
    impact on small entities. Therefore, the agency finds that the final 
    rule is not a significant rule as defined by Executive Order 12866. 
    Similarly, the agency certifies that the final rule will not have a 
    significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
    It has also determined that the rule is not a major rule for the 
    purpose of congressional review (Pub. L. 104-121).
        This action is not intended to change existing requirements for 
    compliance dates contained in final rules published before publication 
    of this final rule. Therefore, all final FDA regulations published in 
    the Federal Register before December 27, 1996 will still go into effect 
    on the date stated in the respective final rule.
        The agency generally encourages industry to comply with new 
    labeling regulations as quickly as feasible, however. Thus, when 
    industry members voluntarily change their labels, it is appropriate 
    that they incorporate any new requirements that have been published as 
    final regulations up to that time.
        Because FDA has already provided notice and an opportunity for 
    comment on the practice of establishing uniform compliance dates by 
    issuance of a final rule announcing the date, it finds any further 
    rulemaking unnecessary. Nonetheless, under 21 CFR 10.40(e)(1), FDA is 
    providing an opportunity for comment on whether this uniform compliance 
    date should be modified or revoked.
        Interested persons may, on or before March 13, 1997 submit to the 
    Dockets Management Branch (address above) written comments regarding 
    this final rule. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, except 
    that individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be identified 
    with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this 
    document. Received comments may be seen in the office above between 9 
    a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday though Friday. After its review of any comments 
    received to this final rule, FDA will either publish a notice providing 
    its conclusions concerning the comments or will initiate notice and 
    comment rulemaking to modify or revoke the uniform compliance date 
    established by this final rule.
        The new uniform compliance date will apply only to final FDA food 
    labeling regulations that require changes in the labeling of food 
    products and that publish after January 1, 1997, and before January 1, 
    1999. Those regulations will specifically identify January 1, 2000, as 
    their compliance date. All food products subject to the January 1, 
    2000, compliance date must comply with the
    
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    appropriate regulations when initially introduced into interstate 
    commerce on or after January 1, 2000. If any food labeling regulation 
    involves special circumstances that justify a compliance date other 
    than January 1, 2000, the agency will determine for that regulation an 
    appropriate compliance date, which will be specified when the final 
    regulation is published.
    
        Dated: December 20, 1996.
    William K. Hubbard,
    Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
    [FR Doc. 96-32884 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
12/27/1996
Published:
12/27/1996
Department:
Food and Drug Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-32884
Dates:
Effective December 27, 1996; written comments by March 13, 1997.
Pages:
68145-68146 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 96N-0094
PDF File:
96-32884.pdf
CFR: (1)
21 CFR None