Poultry Products Produced by Mechanical Separation and Products in Which Such Poultry Products Are Used

SUMMARY: On December 6, 1994, the Food Safety and Inspection Service

(FSIS) proposed to amend the poultry products inspection regulations to

prescribe a definition and standard of identity and composition, as

well as labeling and other requirements for mechanically separated

poultry products--mechanically separated (kind) (MS(K))--and

requirements for meat or poultry products containing MS(K) as an

ingredient. The proposed action would help ensure that meat and poultry

products distributed to consumers are not labeled in a false or

misleading manner and are not misbranded. FSIS has received requests to

extend the comment period so that interested parties may have more time

to consider the points in the proposal and to develop their comments

more thoroughly. FSIS has determined that these requests should be

granted and is, therefore, extending the comment period for an

additional 30 days.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before: March 6, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments to: Policy, Evaluation and Planning Office,

Attn. Diane Moore, FSIS Docket Clerk, Room 3171, South Building, Food

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

Washington, DC 20250. Oral comments should be directed to Mr. John W.

McCutcheon, (202) 720-2709.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John W. McCutcheon, Deputy

Administrator, Regulatory Programs, Food Safety and Inspection Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, Area Code (202)

720-2709.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 6, 1994, FSIS published in the

Federal Register a proposed rule (59 FR 62629) to amend the poultry

products inspection regulations to prescribe a definition and standard

of identity and composition for the finely comminuted poultry product

that results from the mechanical separation and removal of most of the

bone from poultry carcasses and parts of carcasses (``Mechanically

Separated (Kind)(MS(K))),'' including requirements for bone solids

content (measured as calcium content) and bone particle size; to

specify certain limitations for the use of MS(K); to establish

recordkeeping requirements for bone solids content and bone particle

size; and to establish labeling requirements for MS(K), and for poultry

products and meat food products containing MS(K) as an ingredient. The

proposal is intended to establish the Agency's requirements with

respect to poultry products produced by mechanical separation,

including the requirement that they be distinctly labeled, e.g.,

``mechanically separated chicken.'' The proposed labeling and other

requirements are intended to help ensure that meat and poultry products

distributed to consumers are not labeled in a false or misleading

manner and are not misbranded.

The proposed rule provided extensive discussion on: the historical

background relating to the development, use, and regulation of MS(K);

the health and safety aspects of MS(K); the state of technology for

producing MS(K); the results of analysis of comments received in

response to two advance notices of proposed rulemaking (ANPR's) on

MS(K) that the Agency had published, respectively, on June 15, 1993,

(58 FR 33040), and, on March 3, 1994, (59 FR 10230); and the proposed

regulatory requirements. The first ANPR had addressed the need for

labeling poultry products containing MS(K) as an ingredient and the

second had concerned definitions, standards, labeling, and other

requirements for MS(K).

Interested persons were given until February 6, 1995, to submit

comments on the proposed regulatory amendments. FSIS has received

requests from several meat and poultry trade associations and

manufacturers of processed meat and poultry products to extend the

comment period for the proposal. They have asked for additional time to

study and develop information on issues relating to the proposal.

FSIS considers these requests to be reasonable and is interested in

receiving the additional comments that would be submitted during an

extended comment period. Accordingly, the comment period for the

proposal is being extended for 30 days.

Done at Washington, DC, on February 2, 1995.

Michael R. Taylor,

Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety.

[FR Doc. 95-2929 Filed 2-3-95; 8:45 am]

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