[Federal Register: June 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 107)]
[Notices]
[Page 31341]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jn04-17]
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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.
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[[Page 31341]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 04-018N]
Workshops
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is holding a
series of workshops from May through September, 2004, to discuss
Revision 1 of Directive 10,010.1, ``Microbiological Testing Program and
Other Verification Activities for Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli
O157:H7) in Raw Ground Beef Products and Raw Ground Beef Components and
Beef Patty Components.'' This directive provides FSIS inspection
personnel with instructions for sampling raw beef products as part of
verification testing for E. coli O157:H7. It also outlines actions FSIS
will take when a raw ground beef product sample is found to be positive
for E. coli O157:H7. Directive 5000.2, ``Review of Establishment Data
by Inspection Program Personnel'' and Directive 6420.2, ``Verification
of Procedures for Controlling Fecal Material, Ingesta, and Milk in
Slaughter Operations'' will also be discussed. Directive 5000.2 states
that FSIS will review plant food safety records at least once a week.
Directive 6420.2 clarifies FSIS zero tolerance policies and
verification methods. The meetings are targeted to small and very small
plant owner/operators. The first meeting was held in Toledo, Ohio, on
May 22, 2004. State inspection personnel and other industry
representatives are encouraged to attend. Each meeting will include
opportunities for the attendees to ask questions of FSIS
representatives.
DATES: Further information on these workshops will be announced on the
FSIS Web site, http://www.fsis.usda.gov, and through the Constituent
Update; see Additional Public Notification below.
The upcoming workshops are:
Los Angeles, California on June 5
Miami, Florida on June 12
San Antonio, Texas on June 19
Boulder, Colorado on June 26
New York, New York on July 10
Sacramento, California on July 17
St. Louis, Missouri on July 24
Montgomery, Alabama on July 31
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 28
Amarillo, Texas on September 11
ADDRESSES: Information on specific sites will be provided through the
FSIS Web site and Constituent Update. FSIS highly recommends that
attendees pre-register for the workshops. To pre-register for a
workshop attendees can call toll free at 1-866-553-3052 or call 202-
690-6520 or send an e-mail to renee.ellis@fsis.usda.gov.
A tentative agenda will be available in the FSIS Docket Room and on
the Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sheila Johnson of the FSIS
Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach Staff at (202) 690-
6498. If a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is
required, please contact Ms. Johnson at least two days before the
workshop.
For technical information, please contact Ms. Mary Cutshall,
Director, Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach Staff,
Office of Public Affairs, Education and Outreach, at (202) 690-6520.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Non-intact raw beef products and intact raw beef products intended
for processing into non-intact products that are contaminated with E.
coli O157:H7 are adulterated. The revised Directive 10,010.1, which
sets out the FSIS verification sampling program for E.coli O157:H7,
focuses on raw ground beef products and the beef products that are used
to produce raw ground beef products. The directive also discusses the
significance of a finding that a sample is ``presumptive positive'' and
the disposition of products that test positive for E. coli O157:H7.
Directive 6420.2 covers FSIS verification procedures for meat and
poultry. Directive 5000.2 pertains to review of industry food safety
records.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public, and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
The notice will also be published at the Regulations.gov Web site,
the central online rulemaking portal of the United States government.
Regulations.gov is offered as a public service to increase
participation in the Federal government's regulatory activities. The
site allows visitors to search by keyword or Department or Agency for
rulemakings that allow for public comment. Each entry provides a quick
link to a comment form so that visitors can type in their comments and
submit them to FSIS. The Web site is located at http://www.regulations.gov
.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv,
a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, farm
and consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included.
The update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and
the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader,
more diverse audience.
Done at Washington, DC, on May 28, 2004.
Barbara J. Masters,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-12581 Filed 6-2-04; 8:45 am]