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Effective July 1, 1996, FSIS meat and poultry regulations 9
CFR 317.5 and 381.133 respectively streamlined the label
approval process and allowed establishments more
flexibility. The generic approval category was expanded so
that establishments could use certain labeling without prior
FSIS approval. Labeling materials that qualify for generic
approvals are listed below. Any labeling submitted to the
Labeling Compliance Team identified as qualifying for
generic approvals will be returned to the establishments
unapproved.
Generically approved labeling is labeling which complies
with the following:
(1) Labeling for a product which has a product standard as specified
in part 319 or 381 of this subchapter or the Standards and Labeling
Policy Book and which does not contain any special claims, such as
quality claims, nutrient content claims, health claims, negative claims,
geographical origin claims, or guarantees, or which is not a domestic product
labeled in a foreign language;
(2) Labeling for single-ingredient products (such as beef steak, lamb chops,
chicken legs or turkey breasts) which does not contain any special claims, such
as quality claims, nutrient content claims, health claims, negative claims, geographical
origin claims, or guarantees, or which is not a domestic product labeled with a
foreign language;
(3) Labeling for containers of products sold under contract specifications to
Federal Government agencies, when such product is not offered for sale to the
general public, provided that the contract specifications include specific requirements
with respect to labeling, and are made available to the inspector-in-charge;
(4) Labeling for shipping containers which contain fully labeled immediate containers,
provided such labeling complies with §§316.13 or 381.127;
(5) Labeling for products not intended for human food, provided they comply with
part 325 or §§381.152(c) and 381.193, and labeling for poultry heads and
feet for export for processing as human food if they comply with ' 381.190(b);
(6) Meat inspection legends or poultry inspection legends, which comply with parts
312 and 316 or 381 subpart M
(7) Inserts, tags, liners, pasters, and like devices containing printed or graphic
matter and for use on, or to be placed within containers, and coverings of products,
provided such devices contain no reference to product and bear no misleading feature;
(8) Labeling for consumer test products not intended for sale; and
(9) Labeling which was previously approved by the Food Labeling Division as sketch
labeling, and the final labeling was prepared without modification or with the following
modifications:
(i) All features of the labeling are proportionately enlarged or reduced, provided
that all minimum size requirements specified in applicable regulations are met and
the labeling is legible;
(ii) The substitution of any unit of measurement with its abbreviation or the
substitution of any abbreviation with its unit of measurement, e.g., "lb." for "pound",
or "oz." for "ounce," or of the word "pound" for "lb." or "ounce" for "oz.";
(iii) A master or stock label has been approved from which the name and address of
the distributor are omitted and such name and address are applied before being used
(in such case, the words "prepared for" or similar statement must be shown together
with the blank space reserved for the insertion of the name and address when such labels
are offered for approval);
(iv) Wrappers or other covers bearing pictorial designs, emblematic designs or
illustrations, e.g., floral arrangements, illustrations of animals, fireworks, etc.
are used with approved labeling (the use of such designs will not make necessary the
application of labeling not otherwise required); pertaining to the opening of containers
or the serving of the product;
(v) A change in the language or the arrangement of directions pertaining to the opening
of containers or the serving of the product;
(vi) The addition, deletion, or amendment of a dated or undated coupon, a cents-off
statement, cooking instructions, packer product code information, or UPC product code
information;
(vii) Any change in the name or address of the packer, manufacturer or distributor
that appears in the signature line;
(viii) Any change in the net weight, provided the size of the net weight statement
complies with §§317.2 or 381.121;
(ix) The addition, deletion, or amendment of recipe suggestions for the product;
(x) Any change in punctuation;
(xi) Newly assigned or revised establishment numbers for a particular establishment
for which use of the labeling has been approved by the Food Labeling Division, Regulatory
Programs;
(xii) The addition or deletion of open dating information;
(xiii) A change in the type of packaging material on which the label is printed;
(xiv) Brand name changes, provided that there are no design changes, the brand name
does not use a term that connotes quality or other product characteristics, the
brand name has no geographic significance, and the brand name does not affect the
name of the product;
(xv) The deletion of the word "new" on new product labeling;
(xvi) The addition, deletion, or amendment of special handling statements, provided
that the change is consistent with §§317.2(k) or 381.125(a);
(xvii) The addition of safe handling instructions as required by §§317.2(l)
or 381.125(b);
(xviii) Changes reflecting a change in the quantity of an ingredient shown in the
formula without a change in the order of predominance shown on the label, provided
that the change in quantity of ingredients complies with any minimum or maximum limits
for the use of such ingredients prescribed in parts 318 and 319 or §381.147 and
381 subpart P;
(xix) Changes in the color of the labeling, provided that sufficient contrast and
legibility remain;
(xx) A change in the product vignette, provided that the change does not affect mandatory
labeling information or misrepresent the content of the package;
(xxi) The addition, deletion, or substitution of the official USDA poultry grade shield;
(xxii) A change in the establishment number by a corporation or parent company for an
establishment under its ownership;
(xxiii) Changes in nutrition labeling that only involve quantitative adjustments to
the nutrition labeling information, except for serving sizes, provided the nutrition
labeling information maintains its accuracy and consistency;
(xxiv) Deletion of any claim, and the deletion of non-mandatory features or non-mandatory
information; and
(xxv) The addition or deletion of a direct translation of the English language into a foreign language for products marked "for export only."
(xxvi) The addition of a descriptive term as required by §§381.129(b)(6)(i).
(xxvii) The addition of a descriptive term as required by §381.129(b)(6)(ii).
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