Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) SystemsPublic Scoping Session for Issue-Focused Public Meetings on Proposed Regulation

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is holding a public scoping

session for a series of issue-focused public meetings to be held in

September 1995 on the FSIS proposed rule, ``Pathogen Reduction, Hazard

Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems.'' The purpose of

the scoping session is to discuss with all interested parties the

agenda and format for the September meetings.

DATES: The scoping session will be held on August 23, 1995 from 9:00 AM

to 4:00 PM. The scoping session will be convened by the Secretary.

The comment period for the proposed rule, ``Pathogen Reduction;

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems'' (60 FR

6674, February 3, 1995) will reopened as of August 11, 1995, and will

extend until 30 days following the last September meeting. FSIS will

publish notice of the comment period closing date.

ADDRESSES: The scoping session will be held at the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, 14th and Independence Avenue, Back of the South Building

Cafeteria (between the 2nd and 3rd Wings).

Send an original and two copies of written comments to: FSIS Docket

Clerk, DOCKET 93-016P, Docket Room 4352, South Agriculture Building,

Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles Danner, Director, Planning

Office, Policy Evaluation and Planning Staff, FSIS, USDA, Room 6904,

Franklin Court, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 501-7138. If you plan to

attend, please contact Ms. Lisa Parks at (202) 501-7138.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA will hold a public scoping session on

August 23, 1995 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14th and

Independence Avenue, Back of the South Building Cafeteria (between the

2nd and 3rd Wings) from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM to discuss the agenda and

format for a series of issue-focused public meetings to be held in

September 1995 on the proposed rule, ``Pathogen Reduction; Hazard

Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems'' (60 FR 6674,

February 3, 1995).

August Public Scoping Session

The August 23, 1995 scoping session announced in this notice will

be convened by Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman and will begin

with a discussion of the topics to be included on the agenda for the

September meetings, both those tentatively identified by FSIS, and

those suggested for inclusion by interested parties. The meeting

participants will then consider what format would best ensure that

these issues will be fairly, frankly, and fully explored in September.

After the August 23 scoping session, FSIS will issue a notice

announcing the schedule, agenda and format for the September meetings.

Those wishing to attend the August session should contact Ms. Lisa

Parks at (202) 501-7138. Also contact Ms. Parks if you require a sign

language interpreter or other special accommodations. Those unable to

attend the scoping session may submit comments or suggestions for

planning the September meetings to FSIS no later than August 18, 1995.

Purpose and Nature of the September Meeting

The September meetings will provide an opportunity for interested

persons to directly discuss the key concerns that were raised during

the comment period on the proposed rule with USDA officials and with

one another. To comply with the Administrative Procedure Act, these

issue-focused meetings will be open to the public and announced in

advance in the Federal Register. The proceedings will be transcribed,

and the transcripts will be made a part of the rulemaking record.

These meetings will be plenary meetings, so that all interested

parties can attend and participate in all the discussions. Interested

parties with common concerns and positions on a particular issue are

encouraged to designate a representative to speak for them on that

issue. This will help foster focused, substantive dialogue on the key

issues.

Tentatively identified agenda items for consideration at the

September meetings include: (1) Tthe relationship between the proposed

HACCP system and existing regulatory requirements (the layering issue);

(2) options to reduce the expected economic impact of the proposed rule

on small businesses, while still achieving desired food safety goals;

(3) the proposed interim targets for pathogen reduction and the use of

microbial testing to verify achievement of the targets; (4) the role of

antimicrobial treatments and other technological interventions to

improve food safety; (5) temperature/time requirements for chilling red

meat; and (6) FSIS oversight of HACCP.

Reopening of Comment Period

FSIS is reopening the comment period for the proposed regulation,

effective August 11, 1995, and extending until 30 days following the

last September meeting, in order to include in the administrative

record the transcript of the scoping session and the public meetings,

written comments submitted by persons unable to attend the meetings,

and other written comments submitted by interested parties on the

matters addressed at the public meetings.

Done at Washington, DC, on August 8, 1995.

Michael R. Taylor,

Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety.

[FR Doc. 95-19930 Filed 8-9-95; 9:23 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P