97-14116. Australia's Pilot Proposal for Its Export-Meat Inspection Program  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 29326]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-14116]
    
    
    ========================================================================
    Notices
                                                    Federal Register
    ________________________________________________________________________
    
    This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
    or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
    and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
    delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
    statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
    appearing in this section.
    
    ========================================================================
    
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 104 / Friday, May 30, 1997 / 
    Notices
    
    [[Page 29326]]
    
    
    =======================================================================
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Food Safety and Inspection Service
    [Docket No. 97-031N]
    
    
    Australia's Pilot Proposal for Its Export-Meat Inspection Program
    
    AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announces that 
    it is making available for public comment an Australian proposal for a 
    pilot program intended to demonstrate the equivalence of Australia's 
    proposed system of export meat inspection with traditional meat 
    inspection, which is performed by Government inspectors. This proposal 
    is described in a document entitled ``Summary of Australia's Project 2 
    Proposal,'' prepared by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection 
    Service.
        For the duration of the pilot program, the Australian Government 
    requests that meat from the plants participating in the pilot maintain 
    access to export markets, including the United States. FSIS seeks 
    public comment on whether the inspection program detailed in the 
    Australian proposal would ensure equivalence and the safety, 
    wholesomeness, and truthful labeling of product produced under such a 
    system.
    
    DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 29, 1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: An electronic version of the Australian document is 
    available online at FSIS's homepage at http://www.usda.gov/fsis. Hard 
    copies of the document are available from the FSIS Docket Clerk in the 
    FSIS Docket Room, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, 
    Washington, DC 20250-3700, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
    Friday.
        Send comments on the Australian proposal to FSIS Docket Clerk, 
    Docket #97-031N, at the above address. Comments received will be 
    available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room during the 
    above-stated hours.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Manis, Director, 
    International Policy Development Division, Office of Policy, Program 
    Development, and Evaluation; (202) 720-6400, mark.manis@usda.gov.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        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 equivalency of 
    specified meat and poultry processing measures with those of the United 
    States.
        The Australian Government has requested that the United States and 
    certain other governments consider its proposal to pilot-test a revised 
    meat inspection system. This revised system reorients inspection to 
    focus on pathogenic microorganisms and chemical residues. The HACCP-
    based pilot program is called ``Project 2.'' The proposal is described 
    in a document entitled ``Summary of Australia's Project 2 Proposal,'' 
    prepared by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
        Of particular interest to the United States is the aspect of the 
    pilot program that replaces traditional Government meat inspection with 
    inspection by plant employees under stringent Government oversight. For 
    the duration of the project, the Australian Government requests that 
    meat from the four affected plants participating in the pilot maintain 
    access to export markets, including the United States.
        The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of 
    Agriculture, solicits public comment on Australia's ``Project 2'' 
    proposal. Does the proposal provide adequate Government oversight to 
    ensure equivalence and the safety, wholesomeness, and truthful labeling 
    of product produced under such a system?
        FSIS will take public comment into account in evaluating the 
    Australian proposal. The Agency's decision will be announced in a 
    notice in the Federal Register at the end of the public comment period.
    
        Done at Washington, D.C., on: May 23, 1997.
    Thomas J. Billy,
    Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service.
    [FR Doc. 97-14116 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
05/30/1997
Department:
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of availability and request for comments.
Document Number:
97-14116
Dates:
Written comments must be received on or before July 29, 1997.
Pages:
29326-29326 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 97-031N
PDF File:
97-14116.pdf