This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains regulatory documents having generalapplicability and legal effect, most of whichare keyed to and codified in the Code ofFederal Regulations, which is published under50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by
the Superintendent of Documents.Rules and RegulationsFederal Register77707 
Vol. 87, No. 243 
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Food Safety and Inspection Service 
9 CFR Parts 317 and 381 
[Docket No. FSIS–2022–0016] 
RIN 0583–AD77 
Uniform Compliance Date for Food 
Labeling Regulations 
AGENCY : Food Safety and Inspection 
Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 
ACTION : Final rule. 
SUMMARY : FSIS is establishing January 1, 
2026, as the uniform compliance date for new meat and poultry product labeling regulations that will be issued between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024. FSIS periodically announces uniform compliance dates for new meat and poultry product labeling regulations to minimize the economic impact of label changes. 
DATES : 
Effective date: This rule is effective 
December 20, 2022. 
Compliance date: The uniform 
compliance date for new meat and poultry product labeling regulations that will be issued between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, is January 1, 2026. 
Comments due date: Comments on 
this final rule must be received on or before January 19, 2023. 
ADDRESSES : FSIS invites interested 
persons to submit comments on this rule. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods: 
•Federal eRulemaking Portal: This 
website 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online instructions at that site for submitting comments. 
•Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250–3700. 
•Hand- or courier-delivered 
submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350–E, Washington, DC 20250–3700. 
Instructions: All items submitted by 
mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS– 2022–0016. Comments received in response to this docket will be made available for public inspection and posted without change, including any personal information, to https://www.regulations.gov. 
Docket: For access to background 
documents or comments received, call (202) 205–0495 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–3700. 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : 
Contact Rosalyn Murphy-Jenkins, Director, Labeling and Program Delivery Staff, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Telephone: (301) 504–0878. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : 
Background 
On December 14, 2004, FSIS issued a 
final rule establishing January 1, 2008, as the uniform compliance date for new meat and poultry labeling regulations issued between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006 (69 FR 74405). The 2004 final rule also provided that the Agency would set uniform compliance dates for new labeling regulations in 2- year increments and periodically issue final rules announcing and requesting comments on those dates. Consistent with the 2004 final rule, the Agency has since published eight rules establishing the uniform compliance dates of January 1, 2010, January 1, 2012, January 1, 2014, January 1, 2016, January 1, 2018, January 1, 2020, January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024 (72 FR 9651, 73 FR 75564, 75 FR 71344, 77 FR 76824, 79 FR 71007, 81 FR 91670, 83 FR 63052, and 85 FR 81339). 
The Final Rule 
The new uniform compliance date 
will apply only to final FSIS regulations 
that require changes in the labeling of meat and poultry products and that are published after January 1, 2023, and before December 31, 2024. For each final rule that requires changes in labeling, FSIS will specifically identify January 1, 2026, as the compliance date. All meat and poultry food products that are subject to labeling regulations issued between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, will be required to comply with these regulations on products introduced into commerce on or after January 1, 2026. If any food labeling regulation involves special circumstances that justify a compliance date other than January 1, 2026, the Agency will determine an appropriate compliance date and will publish that compliance date in the rulemaking. 
Two-year increments increase 
industry’s ability to make orderly adjustments to new labeling requirements without exposing consumers to outdated labels. This approach allows meat and poultry producers to plan for the use of label inventories and to develop new labeling materials that meet the new requirements. It also serves to reduce the economic impact of changing labels on both producers and consumers. 
In the March 5, 2007, final rule, FSIS 
received only four comments on the announced uniform compliance dates, all in support. In the March 5, 2007, final rule, FSIS determined that further rulemaking for uniform compliance dates for labeling requirements is unnecessary (72 FR 9651). The Agency received no comments on the 2007 final rule, the comments FSIS received on the 2012 final rule were outside the scope (77 FR 76824), and FSIS received no comments on the 2014 final rule (79 FR 71007) or the 2016 final rule (81 FR 91670). The Agency received four comments on the 2018 final rule, all in support. The Agency received four comments on the 2020 final rule; one was outside the scope of the rulemaking and three were in support of the rule. Consistent with its statement in 2007, FSIS finds that further rulemaking on this matter is unnecessary. However, FSIS is providing an opportunity for comment on the uniform compliance date established in this final rule. 
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563, and 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 
13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is 
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necessary, to select regulatory 
approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety benefits, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This final rule has been designated as a ‘‘non-significant’’ regulatory action under section 3(f) of E.O. 12866. Accordingly, the final rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under E.O. 12866. 
This rule does not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; consequently, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required (5 U.S.C. 601–612). 
Paperwork Reduction Act 
FSIS has reviewed this rule under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501–3520) and has determined that there is no new information collection related to this final rule. Under this final rule, the Agency is establishing January 1, 2026, as the uniform compliance date for new meat and poultry product labeling regulations that will be issued between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024. The relevant information collection or record keeping requirements are covered under OMB approval number 0583–0092, Marking, Labeling, and Packaging. 
E-Government Act 
FSIS and USDA are committed to 
achieving the purposes of the E- 
Government Act (44 U.S.C. 3601, et seq.) by, among other things, promoting the use of the internet and other information technologies and providing increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information and services, and for other purposes. 
Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice 
Reform 
This final rule has been reviewed 
under E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform. Under this rule: (1) All State and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this rule; and (3) no administrative proceedings will be required before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule. However, parties may be required to exhaust their administrative remedies before challenging in court any specific agency action that is the subject of an appeal pursuant to this rule. Executive Order 13175 
This rule has been reviewed in 
accordance with the requirements of 
E.O. 13175, ‘‘Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments.’’ E.O. 13175 requires Federal agencies to consult and coordinate with tribes on a government- to-government basis on policies that have tribal implications, including regulations, legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other policy statements or actions that have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes. 
FSIS has assessed the impact of this 
rule on Indian tribes and determined that this rule does not, to our knowledge, have tribal implications that require tribal consultation under E.O. 13175. If a tribe requests consultation, FSIS will work with the Office of Tribal Relations to ensure meaningful consultation is provided where changes, additions, and modifications identified herein are not expressly mandated by Congress. 
Additional Public Notification 
Public awareness of all segments of 
rulemaking and policy development is 
important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. 
FSIS will also announce and provide 
a link to it through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, 
and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through 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/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the 
option to password protect their accounts. 
USDA’s Non-Discrimination Statement 
In accordance with Federal civil 
rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its 
Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 
Program information may be made 
available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. 
To file a program discrimination 
complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD–3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at 
https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ ad-3027, from any USDA office, by 
calling (866) 632–9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD–3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410; or 
(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690– 
7442; or 
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov . 
USDA is an equal opportunity 
provider, employer, and lender. 
Paul Kiecker, 
Administrator. 
[FR Doc. 2022–27413 Filed 12–19–22; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P 
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