Meetings: Sanitation requirements for official meat and poultry establishments; technical conference,

[Federal Register: November 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 223)]

[Notices]

[Page 63282-63283]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19no99-40]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 99-053N]

Technical Conference on the Sanitation Performance Standard Regulation

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a public meeting on December 8-9, 1999, regarding FSIS's final rule, ``Sanitation Requirements for Official Meat and Poultry Establishments.'' At the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to discuss technical issues related to the sanitation performance standards. A steering committee made up of people from the Agency, industry, trade associations, and academia is developing the meeting agenda.

DATES: The public meeting will be held December 8-9, 1999, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on the 8th and from 8:00 a.m until 2:30 p.m. on the 9th.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Double Tree Hotel, 1616 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, Telephone (402) 346-7600. The meeting is open to the public on a space-available basis. To register for the meeting, contact Ms. Gaye Gerard of the FSIS's Technical Service Center on or before December 6, 1999, by Telephone (402) 221- 7400, FAX (402) 221-7438, or e-mail gaye.gerard@usda.gov. Attendees who require a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation should contact Ms. Gerard at the above numbers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karlease Kelly, Technical Service Center, Office of Field Operations, Food Safety and Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, Suite 300, Landmark Center, 1299 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, Telephone 402-221-7400, FAX 402-221-7421 or e-mail karlease.kelly@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 20, 1999, FSIS published the final rule, ``Sanitation Requirements for Official Meat and Poultry Establishments'' (64 FR 56400). This final rule revised the regulatory requirements concerning sanitation in official meat and poultry establishments. Specifically, the rule consolidated sanitation regulations into a single part applicable to both official meat and poultry establishments, eliminating unnecessary differences between the sanitation requirements for meat and poultry processing, and converting many of the highly prescriptive sanitation requirements to performance standards. The final rule will be effective on January 25, 2000.

The purpose of the meeting is to explain the intent of the regulation and to discuss technical issues related to the general sanitation provisions covered by the new regulations before they become effective.

Departmental Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil Rights Impact Analysis''

Pursuant to Department Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil Rights Impact Analysis,'' dated September 22, 1993, FSIS has considered the potential civil rights impact of this meeting on minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. This notice is designed to provide information to the public. Public involvement is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are made aware of this public meeting FSIS will announce the publication of this Federal Register notice in the FSIS Constitutent 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/stakeholders. The 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 with a much broader, more diverse audience. For more information and to be added to the constituent fax list, fax your request to the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, at (202) 720-5704.

[[Page 63283]]

Done at Washington, DC on: November 15, 1999. Thomas J. Billy, Administrator.

[FR Doc. 99-30223Filed11-18-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P