HACCP; Opportunity for Early Implementation

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 97-075N]

HACCP; Opportunity for Early Implementation

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announces that

federally inspected meat and poultry slaughter and processing

establishments may, upon request, implement and receive inspection

under the new Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)

regulations prior to the mandatory implementation date. FSIS expects to

be able to make early implementation available to most interested

establishments beginning in spring 1998.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Smith, Acting Assistant

Deputy Administrator, Inspection Operations, Room 4437 South Building,

Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-3697.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) regulations

set forth in 9 CFR part 417 become mandatory in all federally inspected

meat and poultry slaughter and processing establishments during the

period between January 26, 1998, and January 25, 2000 (61 FR 38806;

July 25, 1996). The mandatory implementation date for large

establishments (500 or more employees) is January 26, 1998; for small

establishments (10 to 499 employees), it is January 25, 1999; and for

very small establishments (fewer than 10 employees), it is January 25,

2000.

Some small and very small establishments have expressed interest in

implementing the HACCP regulations set forth in 9 CFR part 417 before

the mandatory date. Because the implementation of HACCP will likely

reduce the risk of food borne illness from meat and poultry products,

the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will make every effort to

accommodate requests for early HACCP implementation.

FSIS has expedited the training of inspectors, and expects by March

1998 to have a sufficient number of HACCP-trained inspectors available

to respond positively to most requests. However, because the agency

cannot project the actual number of requests, the granting of requests

will be contingent on the availability of HACCP-trained inspectors.

Establishments that desire to be subject to the HACCP regulations

before the mandatory date should submit a letter to this effect to the

District Manager for the area in which the establishment is located.

The letter should contain: (1) The establishment number; (2) the date

that the establishment requests HACCP inspection to begin; and (3) an

acknowledgment that the establishment cannot revert to traditional

inspection once HACCP inspection is provided. Interested establishments

should understand that early HACCP implementation means advancing the

effective date of the HACCP regulations for them and that FSIS will

enforce the HACCP regulatory requirements. FSIS will acknowledge

receipt of the request and address the practicability of the requested

implementation date, based on the availability of HACCP trained

inspectors in a return letter. Because of the resource requirements

involved in accommodating an establishment's request for early HACCP

implementation, once the exchange of letters with FSIS confirming the

agreement to implement HACCP on a given date is complete, the

establishment will not be able to alter or withdraw from that

agreement.

Done at Washington, DC, on: January 26, 1998.

Thomas J. Billy,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98-2298 Filed 1-29-98; 8:45 am]

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