United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers

Federal RegisterSep 17, 2013

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 42

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-08-0027; FV-05-332]

RIN 0581-AC52

United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the regulations governing the United States (U.S.) Standards for Condition of Food Containers. The revisions to existing tables, removal of operating characteristic (OC) curves and updating language in the standards would enable the standards to be applicable to most types of food containers and align the standards to reflect current industry practices.

DATES:

Effective Date:

October 17, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lynne Yedinak, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 1536, South Building, Stop 0240, Washington, DC 20250-0240; Telephone: (202) 720-5021, FAX: (202) 690-1527; or email

CIDS@ams.usda.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866 and therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Paperwork Reduction Act

Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612), AMS has considered the economic impact of this action on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has prepared this final regulatory flexibility analysis.

The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory action to the scale of business subject to such actions so that small businesses will not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Food manufacturers are determined to be small businesses in accordance with the Small Business Size Standards by North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) codes in Title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 13 CFR part 121. These businesses may have fewer than 500, 750, or 1,000 employees depending on their NAICS code.

There are approximately 22,058 establishments identified in the 2007 Economic Census as belonging to the North American Industry Classification System under the classification of “food manufacturing” and any number of these establishments could request their product containers be inspected under the provisions of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. Only 402 of these establishments would qualify as small businesses under the definition provided by the Small Business Administration.

Under the final rule, utilization of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers continues to be voluntary. We have examined the economic implications of this final rule on small entities. Small entities would only incur direct costs when purchasers of their packaged food products stipulate in their procurement documents that the food containers should conform to the requirements of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers.

Since the standards were last amended in May 1983, innovations in packaging technologies have provided an increasingly wide variety of acceptable new food containers. Accordingly, we believe that the economic impact of this final rule will be minimal because the revisions are necessary in order to provide standards that reflect current industry practices. The changes concerning removal of OC curves and other non-substantive changes will have no adverse impact on small or large entities.

The revisions made herein enable the standards to be applicable to most types of food containers and align the standards to reflect current industry practices. With regard to alternatives, this action reflects revisions proposed to the standards as a result of the second proposed rule published in the

Federal Register

, January 18, 2012 [77 FR 2481].

This rule will not impose any additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements on either small or large establishments under the Paperwork Reduction Act, (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). The Department has not identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the Standards.

AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3601-3606; 3541-3549), to promote the use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information and services, and for other purposes.

Executive Order 12988

This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This action is not retroactive. There are no administrative procedures which must be exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of this rule.

Background

The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (Standards) currently provides sampling procedures and acceptance criteria for the inspection of stationary lots of filled food containers, which includes skip lot sampling and inspection procedures. It also provides on-line sampling and inspection procedures for food containers during production.

Stationary lot sampling is the process of randomly selecting sample units from a lot whose production has been completed. This type of lot is usually stored in a warehouse or in some other storage facility and is offered for inspection.

Skip lot sampling is a special procedure for inspecting stationary lots in which only a fraction of the submitted lots are inspected. Skip lot inspection can only be instituted when a certain number of lots of essentially

the same quality have been consecutively accepted.

To be acceptable under the examination criteria in the standards, lots may contain only a limited number of defects classified as minor, major, or critical. Acceptance criteria are based on sampling plans for different lot sizes and levels of inspection such as normal, reduced, or tightened. Defect tables classify the severity of defects.

On-line sampling and inspection is a procedure in which subgroups of sample units or individual containers are selected randomly from pre-designated portions of production. The acceptability of these portions of production is determined by inspecting, at the time of sampling, the subgroups which represent these portions. For this type of sampling, only portions of a lot, rather than a whole lot, may be rejected. This helps to identify trouble spots in a production cycle quickly, and enables the producer to make timely corrections. This can reduce the corrective action costs and the amount of product destroyed as a result of packaging problems.

These standards were developed for use by Government agencies when requested to certify filled primary containers or shipping cases, or both, for condition. The standards are permissive, and they may be used in their entirety or in part by private parties.

Revision of the Standards includes:

(1) separating Tables I, I-A, II, II-A, III, III-A, and III-B of sampling plans for normal, tightened, and reduced inspection by the type of sampling plan used (single or double), as well as updating the Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs) for these tables

(2) updating Table IV—Metal Containers, (Rigid and Semi-Rigid), Table VI—Glass Containers, Table VIII—Rigid and Semi-Rigid Containers (Corrugated or Solid Fiberboard, Chipboard, Wood, Paperboard Aseptic Cartons, Polymeric Trays, etc.), Table IX—Flexible Containers (Plastic Bags, Cello, Paper, Textile, Laminated Multi-Layer Pouch, Bag, etc.), and Table XI—Defects of Label, Marking, or Code to incorporate new defects and revise existing defects to reflect new packaging technologies such as aseptic packaging, metal cans with easy open lids, and plastic rings that hold several containers together

(3) adding new defect tables, Table V—Composite Containers (Semi-Rigid Laminated or Multi-Layer Paperboard Body with Metal, Plastic, or Combination of Metal and Plastic Ends and a Safety Seal Inside the Cap), Table VII—Plastic Containers (Rigid and Semi-Rigid Bottles, Jars, Tubs, Trays, Pails, etc.), and Table XII—Interior Can Defects (a new section 42.114 is added to provide for procedures for evaluating interior container defects)

(4) removing the OC curves

(5) other minor non-substantive changes to clarify the text.

These revisions to existing tables, addition of new tables, removal of OC curves, and updating language in the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers enables the standards to be applicable to most types of food containers and align the standards to reflect current industry practices.

OC curves found in §§ 42.140, 42.141, 42.142, and 42.143 from Subpart E—Miscellaneous, are removed. This final rule reflects the amendatory language removing these provisions that first appeared in the proposed rule published in the November 19, 2009,

Federal Register

. While these curves show the ability of the various sampling plans to distinguish between accepted and rejected lots, it is our experience that the inclusion of these curves is not critical to use of the standards. Furthermore, they are readily available in literature and on the Internet. Also, Standards for sampling plans including OC Curves are currently available in 7 CFR Part 43.

Comments

AMS published two proposed rules in the

Federal Register

in which six comments were received. The first proposed rule was published in the

Federal Register

on November 19, 2009 [74 FR 59920], with a sixty-day comment period which closed on January 19, 2010. Two comments were received. One commenter provided a comment that was determined to be outside the scope of the rule. Therefore, no changes were made based on this comment. The other commenter supported the proposed rule revision and provided statements regarding § 42.112—Defects of Containers. The commenter stated that while Table IV of § 42.112 has defects for composite cans listed as a subset of the metal can defects, composite cans also exhibit defects listed in Table VI—Rigid and Semi-rigid containers. The commenter proposed a separate table be added for composite cans extracting the composite can defects from Table IV and Table VI. Based on this comment, AMS added a new Table V that contained the information for composite can defects from Table IV and Table VI and removed the composite information in Table IV. The proposed rule was then reissued.

The second proposed rule was published in the

Federal Register

on January 18, 2012 [77 FR 2481] and provided a comment period of sixty days which closed on March 19, 2012. Four comments were received. Two commenters provided comments that were determined to be outside the scope of the rule. Therefore, no changes were made based on those comments.

The third commenter supported the revision of the proposed rule with several changes. Comments were received regarding: (1) the new proposed paragraph § 42.114—Procedures for Evaluating Interior Container Defects and Table XII—Interior Container Defects, and (2) the proposed modifications to two defects in Table IV—Metal Containers (Rigid and Semi-rigid). Comments received regarding Procedures for Evaluating Interior Container Defects stated that the last four defects in Table XII were vague and not defined. AMS determined the comment had merit and removed major defect 104 and minor defect 204, and revised major defect 105 and minor defect 205 to provide examples of what “other anomaly(ies)” are. The defects were then renumbered. In subsequent discussions, the commenter requested AMS change “Enamel cracked in metal container material not affecting usability” in minor defect 203, Table XII, to “Enamel breakdown in metal affecting usability” as the terms “cracked” and “breakdown” mean the same thing. AMS determined that this had merit and made the change. The commenter also provided comments on § 42.112—Defects of Containers, Table IV—Rigid and Semi-Rigid Containers. The comment concerned major defect 107 for “Metal pop-top: (b) Missing or incomplete score line:” and minor defect 203 for “Flexible pop-top: (b) Short pull tab.” The commenter stated that sometimes product design standards request a partial score for a metal pop-top or a shortened pull tab for a flexible pop-top. The commenter requested that AMS revise the defect descriptions to specify that these will not be considered defects when they are requested in a product specification. AMS determined the comment had merit and, to account for this exception, added the phrase “(not conforming to a relevant product specification)” to major defect 107 and minor defect 203.

The fourth commenter stated that using “Tetra Pak” is a reference to a company and not the actual type of packaging. The commenter recommended that AMS use one of the specific package trademarks or use the term “Tetra Pak cartons.” AMS determined the comment had merit.

AMS has revised the package identification from “Tetra Pak” to “Paperboard Aseptic Cartons” to accurately identify all packaging made in a similar manner.

Based on the comments received and information gathered, AMS believes that revising these standards will bring the Standards inline to reflect current industry practices.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 42

Food packaging, reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 42 is amended as follows:

PART 42—[Amended]

1. The authority citation for part 42 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

Secs. 203, 205, 60 Stat. 1087, as amended, 1090, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624).

2. Section 42.102 is amended by:

a. Removing the definitions “Lot”, “Operating Characteristic Curve (OC Curve)” and

“

Probability of acceptance”.

b. Revising the definitions “Administrator,” “Sample size (n),” and “Stationary lot sampling”

c. Adding the definition “Lot or inspection lot” in alphabetical order.

The revisions and addition read as follows:

§ 42.102

Definitions, general.

Administrator.

The Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department or any other officer or employee of the Agency who is delegated, or who may be delegated the authority to act in the Administrator's stead.

Lot or inspection lot.

A collection of filled food containers of the same size, type, and style. The term shall mean “inspection lot,” i.e., a collection of units of product from which a sample is to be drawn and inspected to determine conformance with the applicable acceptance criteria. An inspection lot may differ from a collection of units designated as a lot for other purposes (e.g., production lot, shipping lot, etc.).

Sample size (n).

The number of sample units included in the sample.

Stationary lot sampling.

The process of randomly selecting sample units from a lot whose production has been completed. This type of lot is usually stored in a warehouse or in some other storage facility and is offered in its entirety for inspection.

§ 42.106

[Amended]

3. In § 42.106, paragraph (a)(1), remove the word “attributed” and add in its place the word “attributed”.

4. Revise § 42.109, to read as follows:

§ 42.109

Sampling plans for normal condition of container inspection, Tables I and I-A.

Table I—Single Sampling Plans for Normal Condition of Container Inspection

Code

Lot size ranges—

Number of containers

in lot

Type of Plan

Acceptable quality levels

Origin Inspection

Sample size

0.25

1.5

6.5

Other Than Origin Inspection

0.25

2.5

10.0

6,000 or less

Single

6,001-12,000

Single

168

12,001-36,000

Single

315

Over 36,000

Single

500

Single

800

Ac = Acceptance number.

Re = Rejection number.

ER17SE13.004

5. Revise § 42.110 to read as follows:

§ 42.110

Sampling plans for tightened condition of container inspection; Tables II and II-A.

Table II—Single Sampling Plans for Tightened Condition of Container Inspection

Code

Lot size ranges—

Number of containers

in lot

Type of Plan

Acceptable quality levels

Origin Inspection

Sample Size

0.25

1.5

6.5

Other Than Origin Inspection

0.25

2.5

10.0

6,000 or less

Single

168

6,001-12,000

Single

315

12,001-36,000

Single

500

Over 36,000

Single

800

Single

1,250

ER17SE13.005

6. Revise § 42.111 to read as follows:

§ 42.111

Sampling plans for reduced condition of container inspection, Tables III and III-A; and limit number for reduced inspection, Table III-B.

Table III—Single Sampling Plans for Reduced Condition of Container Inspection

Code

Lot size ranges—

Number of containers

in lot

Type of Plan

Acceptable quality levels

Origin inspection

Sample Size

0.25

1.5

6.5

Other Than Origin Inspection

0.25

2.5

10.0

CAA

6,000 or less

Single

6,001-36,000

Single

Over 36,000

Single

168

Single

315

ER17SE13.006

Table III-B—Limit Numbers for Reduced Inspection

Number of sample units from last 10 lots inspected within 6 months

Acceptable quality level

0.25

1.5

2.5

6.5

10.0

320-499

(*)

500-799

(*)

800-1,249

1,250-1,999

110

2,000-3,149

115

181

3,150-4,999

186

293

5,000-7,999

110

302

472

8,000-12,499

105

181

491

765

12,500-19,999

169

290

777

1207

* Denotes that the number of sample units from the last 10 inspection lots is not sufficient for reduced inspection for this AQL. In this instance more than 10 inspection lots may be used for the calculations if; the inspection lots used are the most recent ones in sequence within the last 6 months, they have all been on normal inspection, and none has been rejected on original inspection.

7. Section § 42.112 is revised to read as follows:

§ 42.112

Defects of containers: Tables IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X.

Table IV—Metal Containers

[Rigid and semi-rigid]

Defects

Categories

Critical

Major

Minor

Type or size of container or component parts not as specified

None permitted

Closure incomplete, not located correctly or not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly:

(a) Heat processed primary container

(b) Non-heat processed primary container

101

201

Dirty, stained, or smeared container

202

Key opening metal containers (when required):

(a) Key missing

102

(b) Key does not fit tab

103

104

(d) Improper scoring (band would not be removed in one continuous strip)

105

Metal pop-top:

(a) Missing or broken pull tab

106

(b) Missing or incomplete score line (not conforming to a relevant product specification)

107

Flexible pop-top:

(a) Poor seal (wrinkle, entrapped matter, etc.)

108

(b) Short pull tab (not conforming to a relevant product specification)

203

109

(d) Torn pull tab

204

Open top with plastic overcap (when required):

(a) Plastic overcap missing

110

(b) Plastic overcap warped (making opening or reapplication difficult)

111

Outside tinplate or coating (when required):

(a) Missing or incomplete

205

(b) Blistered, flaked, sagged, or wrinkled

206

207

(d) Fine cracks

208

Rust (rust stain confined to the top or bottom double seam or rust that can be removed with a soft cloth is not scored a defect):

(a) Rust stain

209

(b) Pitted rust

112

Wet cans (excluding refrigerated containers)

210

Dent:

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

211

(b) Materially affecting usability

113

Buckle:

(a) Not involving end seam

212

(b) Extending into the end seam

114

Collapsed container

115

Paneled side materially affecting appearance but not usability

213

Solder missing when required

116

Cable cut exposing seam

117

Improper side seam

118

Swell, springer, or flipper (not applicable to gas or pressure packed product nor frozen products)

Leaker or blown container

Frozen products only:

(a) Bulging ends

3/16

-inch to

1/4

-inch beyond lip

214

(b) Bulging ends more than

1/4

-inch beyond lip

119

Metal drums: leaking filling seal (bung) swell

120

Defect classification depends on the severity of the defect.

Table V—Composite Containers

[Fiberboard body with metal lids or metal bottoms, plastic or foil top with cap]

Defects

Categories

Critical

Major

Minor

Type or size of container or component parts not as specified

None permitted

Closure incomplete, not located correctly or not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly

Dirty, stained, or smeared container

201

Easy open closure:

(a) Pull tab:

1. Missing or broken pull tab

101

2. Missing or incomplete score line

102

(b) Membrane top:

1. Poor seal (wrinkle, entrapped matter, etc.)

103

2. Short pull tab

104

3. Missing pull tab

105

4. Torn pull tab

106

1. Plastic overcap missing

107

2. Plastic overcap warped (making opening or reapplication difficult)

108

Outside tinplate or coating on ends (when required):

(a) Missing or incomplete

202

(b) Blistered, flaked, sagged, or wrinkled

203

204

(d) Fine cracks

205

Collapsed container

109

Paneled side materially affecting appearance but not usability

206

Leaker

Wet or damp:

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

207

(b) Materially affecting usability

110

Crushed or torn area:

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

208

(b) Materially affecting usability

111

Table VI—Glass Containers

[Bottles, Jars]

Defects

Categories

Critical

Major

Minor

Type or size of container or component parts not as specified

None permitted

Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly:

(a) Heat processed

(b) Non-heat processed

101

Dirty, stained, or smeared container

201

Chip in glass

202

Stone (unmelted material) in glass

203

Pits in surface of glass

204

Sagging surface

205

Bead (bubble within glass):

(a)

1/8

-inch to

1/16

-inch in diameter

206

(b) Exceeding

1/8

-inch in diameter

102

Checked

103

Thin spot in glass

104

Blister (structural defect)

105

Bird swing (glass appendage inside container)

Broken or leaking container

Cap (nonheat processed):

(a) Cross-threaded

207

(b) Loose but not leaking

208

106

Cap (heat processed):

(a) Cross-threaded or loose

(b) Pitted rust

107

Sealing tape or cello band (when required):

(a) Improperly placed

209

(b) Not covering juncture of cap and glass

108

1/2

-inch

109

(d) Loose or deteriorating

110

Missing or torn outer safety seal

111

Inner safety seal—missing, torn, poor seal

112

Table VII—Plastic Containers

[Rigid and Semi-Rigid, Bottles, Jars, Tubs, Trays, Pails, etc.]

Defects

Categories

Critical

Major

Minor

Type or size of container or component parts not as specified

None permitted

Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly:

(a) Heat processed

(b) Non-heat processed

101

Dirty, stained, or smeared container

201

Chip in plastic

202

Un-melted gels in plastic

203

Pits in surface of plastic

204

Sagging surface

205

Air bubble within plastic:

(a)

1/8

-inch to

1/16

-inch in diameter

206

(b) Exceeding

1/8

-inch in diameter

102

Checked

103

Thin spot in plastic

104

Blister (structural defect)

105

Broken or leaking container

Cap (non-heat processed):

(a) Cross-threaded

207

(b) Loose but not leaking

208

Cap (heat processed), cross-threaded or loose

Security seals:

(a) Closure ring missing

106

(b) Missing or torn outer safety seal

107

108

(d) Sealing tape or cello band (when required):

1. Improperly placed

209

2. Not covering juncture of cap and plastic

109

3. Ends overlap by less than

1/2

-inch

110

4. Loose or deteriorating

111

Table VIII—Rigid and Semi-Rigid Containers—Corrugated or Solid Fiberboard, Chipboard, Wood, Paperboard Aseptic Cartons, Polymeric Trays, etc.

[Excluding metal, glass, and plastic]

Defects

Categories

Critical

Major

Minor

Type or size of container or component parts not as specified

None permitted

Component part missing

101

Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly:

(a) Primary container

(b) Other than primary container

201

Dirty, stained, or smeared container

202

Wet or damp (excluding ice packs):

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

203

(b) Materially affecting usability

102

Moldy area

Crushed or torn area:

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

204

(b) Materially affecting usability

103

Separation of lamination (corrugated fiberboard):

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

205

(b) Materially affecting usability

104

Product sifting or leaking

105

Nails or staples (when required):

(a) Not as required, insufficient number or improperly positioned

206

(b) Nails or staples protruding

106

Glue or adhesive (when required); not holding properly, not covering area specified, or not covering sufficient area to hold properly:

(a) Primary container

107

(b) Other than primary container

207

Flap:

(a) Projects beyond edge of container more than

1/4

-inch

208

(b) Does not meet properly, allowing space of more than

1/4

-inch

209

Sealing tape or strapping (when required):

(a) Missing

108

(b) Improperly placed or applied

210

Missing component (straw, etc.)

211

Paperboard Aseptic Cartons:

(a) Missing re-sealable cap or tab

109

(b) Inner or outer safety seal—missing, torn, poor seal

Thermostabilized polymeric trays:

Tray body:

(a) Swollen container

(b) Tear, crack, hole, abrasion through more than one layer of multi-layer laminate for the tray

212

(d) Presence of any permanent deformation, such that deformed area is discolored or roughened in texture

213

Lid material:

(a) Closure seal not continuous along tray flange surface

(b) Foldover wrinkle in seal area extends into the closure seal such that the closure seal is reduced to less than

1/8

-inch

110

(d) Areas of “wave-like” striations or wrinkles along the seal area that spans the entire width of seal

214

(e) Abrasion of lid material:

1. Within

1/16

-inch of food product edge of seal such that barrier layer is exposed

2. Greater than

1/16

-inch from food product edge of seal that barrier layer is exposed

215

(f) Presence of entrapped matter within

1/16

-inch of the food product edge of seal or entrapped moisture or vapor with

1/16

-inch of the food product edge of seal that results in less than

1/16

-inch of defect free seal width at the outside edge

(g) Presence of any seal defect or anomaly (for example, entrapped moisture, gases, etc.) within

1/16

-inch of food product edge of seal

111

(h) Closure seal width less than

1/8

-inch

216

Table IX—Flexible Containers

[Plastic, Cellophane, Paper, Textile, Laminated Multi-Layer Pouch, Bag, etc.]

Defects

Categories

Critical

Major

Minor

Type or size of container or component parts not as specified

None permitted

Closure not sealed, crimped, stitched, or fitted properly:

(a) Heat processed primary container

(b) Non-heat processed primary container

101

201

Dirty, stained, or smeared container

202

Unmelted gels in plastic

203

Torn or cut container or abrasion (non-leaker):

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

204

(b) Materially affecting usability

102

Moldy area

Individual packages sticking together or to shipping case (tear when separated)

103

Not fully covering product

104

Wet or damp (excluding ice packs):

(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability

205

(b) Materially affecting usability

105

Over wrap (when required):

(a) Missing

106

(b) Loose, not sealed, or closed

206

207

Sealing tape, strapping, or adhesives (when required):

(a) Missing

107

(b) Improperly placed, applied, torn, or wrinkled

208

Tape over bottom and top closures (when required):

(a) Not covering stitching

108

(b) Torn (exposing stitching)

109

110

(d) Not adhering to bag:

1. Exposing stitching

111

2. Not exposing stitching

209

(e) Improper placement

210

Product sifting or leaking:

(a) Non-heat processed

112

(b) Heat processed

Flexible pop-top:

(a) Poor seal (wrinkle, entrapped matter, etc.) reducing intact seal to less than

1/16

-inch

(b) Short pull tab (materially affecting usability)

212

113

(d) Torn pull tab (materially affecting usability)

213

Missing component (straw, etc.)

214

Two part container (poly lined box or bag in box):

(a) Outer case torn

215

(b) Poly liner:

1. Missing

2. Improper closure

114

Missing “zip lock” (re-sealable containers)

216

Loss of vacuum (in vacuum-packed)

115

Pre-formed containers:

(a) Dented or crushed area

217

(b) Deformed container

218

Missing re-sealable cap

116

Inner or outer safety seal—missing, torn, poor seal

Air bubble in plastic

117

Thermostabilized products (includes but not limited to tubes, pouches, etc.):

Foldover wrinkle in seal area (thermostabilized pouches):

(a) Extends through all plies across seal area or reduces seal less than

1/16

-inch

(b) Does not extend through all plies and effective seal is

1/16

-inch or greater

219

Incomplete seal (thermostabilized pouches)

Non-bonding seal (thermostabilized pouches)

Laminate separation in body of pouch or in seal within

1/16

-inch of food product edge:

(a) If food contact layer is exposed

(b) If food contact surface is exposed after manipulation or laminate separation expands after manipulation

118

(c) If lamination separation is limited to isolated spots that do not propagate with manipulation or is outer ply separation in seal within

1/16

-inch of food product edge of seal

220

Flex cracks (cracks in foil layer only)

221

Swollen container

Blister (in seal) reducing intact seal to less than

1/16

-inch

Compressed seal (overheated to bubble or expose inner layer) reducing intact seal to less than

1/16

-inch

Stringy seal (excessive plastic threads showing at edge of seal area)

222

Contaminated seal (entrapped matter) reducing intact seal to less than

1/16

-inch

Seal creep (product in pouch “creeping” into seal) reducing intact seal to less than

1/16

inch

Misaligned or crooked seal reducing intact seal to less than

1/16

-inch

Seal formed greater than 1-inch from edge of pouch (unclosed edge flaps)

223

Waffling (embossing on surface from retort racks; not scorable unless severe)

224

Poor or missing tear notch (when required)

225

Table X—Unitizing

[Plastic or other type of casing/unitizing]

Defects

Categories

Major

Minor

Not specified method

101

Missing tray (when required)

102

Missing shrink wrap (when required)

103

Loose or improperly applied wrap

201

Torn or mutilated

202

Off-center wrap (does not overlap both ends)

203

8. Section 42.113 is revised to read as follows:

§ 42.113

Defects of label, marking, or code.

Table XI—Label, Marking, or Code

Defects

Categories

Major

Minor

Not specified method

101

Missing (when required)

102

Loose or improperly applied

201

Torn or mutilated

202

Torn or scratched, obliterating any markings on the label

103

Text illegible or incomplete

203

Incorrect

104

In wrong location

204

9. Add § 42.114 to subpart B to read as follows:

§ 42.114

Procedures for evaluating interior container defects.

(a) Sections 42.101-42.136 provide procedures for determining lot conformance with the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. This determination is based on the examination of the external characteristics of the food containers.

(b) As an option, if a user of the inspection service requests to have the interior characteristics of containers examined, and apply these results in the determination of lot acceptability, the defects listed in Table XII may be used.

(c) The determination of lot acceptability based on internal container defects shall be independent of the determination of lot acceptability for U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. A user of the inspection service may choose to require inspection for internal can defects as well as inspection for U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers.

(d) If a user of the inspection service requests an examination for internal container defects in addition to an official USDA/USDC inspection for product quality and/or U.S. grade, the containers opened by the official inspection service for inspection of product quality and/or U.S. grade will be used for examination of interior container defects. The minimum sample size for evaluation of interior container defects will be 13 containers. As a result, additional containers will be required if the inspection for quality or U.S. grade calls for fewer than 13 containers. Table XIII provides acceptance numbers for internal container defects for selected sample sizes.

Table XII—Interior Container Defects

Defects

Categories

Major

Minor

De-tinning in metal container materially affecting usability

101

De-tinning in metal container not materially affecting usability

201

Black spots in metal container

202

Enamel missing (when required) in metal container

102

Enamel breakdown in metal container material affecting usability

103

Enamel breakdown in metal container material not affecting usability

203

Other defect(s) of the interior of the container (metal, plastic, paper, rigid, etc.) e.g., interior damage, tear, delamination, missing layer, off-odor, interior blisters, etc. that materially affects usability

104

Defect(s) of the interior of the container (metal, plastic, paper, rigid, etc.) e.g., interior damage, tear, delamination, missing layer, off-odor, interior blisters, etc. that materially affects appearance but not usability

204

Table XIII—Acceptance Numbers for Internal Container Defects

Sample Size (n = number of containers)

Major

Interior Defects

Total

Interior Defects

n—13

n—21

n—29

n—38

n—48

n—60

Dated: September 11, 2013.

Rex A. Barnes,

Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.

[FR Doc. 2013-22574 Filed 9-16-13; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.