[Federal Register: January 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 2257-2258]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ja07-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0040E]
Product Labeling: Definition of the Term ``Natural''
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of petition and public meeting; extension of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is re-opening
and extending the comment period on a petition submitted by Hormel
Foods on the voluntary labeling claim ``natural'' and on the broader
question of how to define this claim. The original comment period
closed on January 11, 2007. The Agency is taking this action in
response to requests that were made at and after a public meeting that
the Agency held on December 12, 2006, to discuss both the Hormel
petition and issues associated with the claim ``natural'' in general.
DATES: Comments are due by March 5, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to
type short comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and, in the ``Search for Open Regu1ations'' box, select ``Food Safety
and Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, and then click
on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select FDMS Docket Number FSIS-
2005-0040 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and
related material available electronically. This docket can be viewed
using the ``Advanced Search'' function in Regulations.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand or courier-
delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102
Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250.
Electronic mail:
FSIS.regulations[fxsp0]comments@[fxsp0]fsis.usda.gov.
All submissions received by mail and electronic mail must include
the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2006-0040. All comments
submitted in response to this notice will be available for public
inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The comments also will
be posted to the regulations.gov Web site and on the Agency's Web site
at http://www.fsis.[fxsp0]usda.gov/regulations--&[fxsp0]--policies/
2006--[fxsp0]Proposed--Rules--[fxsp0]Index/index.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Post, Director, Labeling and
Consumer Protection Staff, Office of Policy, Program, and Employee
Development, USDA, FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250, (202) 205-3625, e-mail: Robert.Post@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 5, 2006, FSIS published a notice
in the Federal Register that announced the receipt of a petition
submitted by Hormel Foods requesting that the Agency amend the meat
inspection and poultry products inspection regulations to establish a
definition for the voluntary claim ``natural'' and to delineate the
conditions under which the claim can be used on the labels of meat and
poultry products (71 FR 70503). In the notice, FSIS gave the public
until January 11, 2007, to submit comments on the petition and on
issues associated with the claim ``natural'' in general. The notice
also announced that, to facilitate the comment process, the Agency
would hold a public meeting to discuss the petition. The public meeting
was held on December 12, 2006. In the December 5, 2006, Federal
Register notice, FSIS also announced that after the comment period for
the petition closes, the Agency will initiate rulemaking on the
``natural'' claim.
At, as well as after, the December 12, 2006, public meeting, FSIS
received several comments requesting that the Agency extend the comment
period provided in the December 5, 2006, Federal Register notice by an
additional 60 days from the initial closing date of January 11, 2007.
The comments were submitted by a representative of a food ingredient
manufacturer, a trade association that represents flavor manufacturers
and others with an
[[Page 2258]]
interest in the U.S. flavor industry, and a group of trade associations
that represent the meat, poultry, and food processing industries.
All of the comments stated that because the issues surrounding the
claim ``natural'' are complex, interested parties need additional time
than what was provided in the December 5, 2006, Federal Register notice
to prepare thoughtful comments. The comments also argued that, to
properly consider issues associated with the petition and the claim
``natural,'' stakeholders must have access to the information presented
by both FSIS and the public at the December 12, 2006, public meeting.
One comment stated that it is important that stakeholders have the
opportunity to thoroughly evaluate possible changes to the definition
or criteria for labeling a meat or poultry product ``natural'' to
ensure that the industry is able to continue to market products that
bear the ``natural'' claim and to ensure that these products meet
consumer expectations.
In addition to the reasons discussed above, the comments also
argued that because the comment period includes the upcoming holidays,
trade associations may have a difficult time collecting meaningful
input from their members before the January 11, 2007, closing date. The
comments also stated that the comment period falls during what is
typically the busiest time of year for meat and poultry companies. One
comment stated that FSIS gave little notice before the December 12,
2006, public meeting, and that interested parties lost time preparing
comments for the public meeting and rearranging their schedules to
attend the public meeting.
FSIS agrees that the issues surrounding the labeling claim
``natural'' are complex, and that interested parties should have
additional time to consider information presented at the December 12,
2006, public meeting. Therefore, to facilitate the comment process, the
Agency has decided to re-open and extend the comment period until March
5, 2007. The transcript of the December 12, 2006, public meeting is now
available on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/2006_events/index.asp
for viewing by the public. Therefore,
this notice announces that the Agency is re-opening and extending the
comment period for the Hormel petition until March 5, 2007.
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 proposal, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_Proposed_Rules_Index/index.asp
.
The Regulations.gov Web site is the central online rulemaking
portal of the United States government. It is being offered as a public
service to increase participation in the Federal government's
regulatory activities. FSIS participates in Regulations.gov and will
accept comments on documents published on the site. 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, and
farm groups, 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.
In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news
and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/
.
Options range from recalls to export information to regulations,
directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions
themselves and have the option to password protect their account.
Done in Washington, DC: January 12, 2007.
Barbara J. Masters,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 07-192 Filed 1-12-07; 3:10 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P