[Federal Register: July 13, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 133)] [Notices] [Page 37513] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13jy98-31] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. 98-036N] National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection; Public Meeting AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing that the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection will conduct a public meeting by audio teleconference to consider a proposed public notice on the Agency's protocol for experimentation with the point and frequency of inspection verification of the zero tolerance standard in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) establishments that slaughter livestock. FSIS is seeking advice and comment from the Committee. DATES: The audio teleconference will be held on July 29, 1998, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: Members of the public may attend the teleconference in Room 0745 in the South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC. People should enter the building at Wing 4 on Independence Avenue. Seating in Room 0745 South is limited, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 12:30 p.m. Please send written comments on the discussion topic to the FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket No. 98-036N, Room 102, Cotton Annex Building, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. The comments and official transcript of the teleconference will be kept in the Docket Clerk's office. TELEPHONE LINES: Teleconference lines are limited. Please call Mr. Michael Micchelli at (202) 720-6269 if you are interested in participating in the call to obtain the dial-in number. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons planning to attend the teleconference in person will be required to register at the meeting. No pre-registration is required. For further information, contact Mr. Micchelli at the number above, by FAX at (202) 690-1030 or E-mail to Michael.Micchelli@usda.gov. Copies of the draft proposed notice under discussion are available on the FSIS Homepage at http://www.usda.gov/ agency/fsis/homepage.htm. The draft proposed notice is also available by FAST FAX, FSIS' automated FAX retrieval system, at 1-800-238-8281 or (202) 690-3754 (the reference number for the FAST FAX system is 4000) or from the FSIS Docket Clerk, Room 102, Cotton Annex Building, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, telephone (202) 720-3813. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 12, 1997, the Secretary of Agriculture renewed the charter for the Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection. The Committee provides advice and recommendation to the Secretary on Federal and State meat and poultry programs pursuant to sections 7(c), 24, 205, 301(c) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and sections 5(a)(3), 5(c), 8(b), and 11(e) of the Poultry Products Inspection Act. The FSIS Administrator is the Committee Chair. Committee membership is drawn from representatives of consumer groups, producers, processors, and marketers from the meat and poultry industry and State government officials. The current members of the Committee are: Dr. Deloran M. Allen, Excel Corporation Dr. William L. Brown, ABC Research Corporation Terry Burkhardt, Wisconsin Bureau of Meat Safety and Inspection Caroline Smith-DeWaal, Center for Science in the Public Interest Nancy Donley, Safe Tables Our Priority Michael J. Gregory, Tyson's Foods Inc. Dr. Cheryl Hall, Zacky Farms, Inc. Dr. Margaret Hardin, National Pork Producers Alan Janzen, Circle Five Feedyards, Inc. Dr. Daniel E. LaFontaine, South Carolina Meat-Poultry Inspection Department Dr. Dale Morse, New York Office of Public Health Rosemary Mucklow, National Meat Association William Rosser, Texas Department of Public Health J. Myron Stolzfus, Stolzfus Meats Dr. David M. Theno, Jr., Foodmaker Inc. The Committee deliberates on specific issues and makes recommendations to the whole Committee and the Secretary of Agriculture. The principal topic that the Committee will consider at the meeting is the point and frequency of inspection verification for the zero tolerance standard in HACCP establishments that slaughter livestock. FSIS plans to publish a notice announcing experimentation that may lead to new procedures for FSIS verification of the zero tolerance standard for visible fecal matter and ingesta on livestock carcasses. Interested persons will have an opportunity to discuss issues relating to the activities of the committee and may file comments as discussed above in ADDRESSES. Done in Washington, DC, on: July 5, 1998. Thomas J. Billy, Administrator. [FR Doc. 98-18464 Filed 7-10-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P