[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 127 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16520]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 317, 318, 319, 381

[Docket No. 97-036R]


Other Consumer Protection (OCP) Activities--Reopening of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reopening the 
comment period for the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking ``Other 
Consumer Protection (OCP) Activities'' for 60 days. This action 
responds to a request to allow additional time for comments.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit one original and two copies of written comments to: 
FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket # 97-036R, Room 102, Cotton Annex Building, 
300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All comments received 
in response to this notice will be considered part of the public record 
and will be available for viewing in the FSIS Docket Room between 8:30 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. FSIS has made a technical 
paper available in the FSIS Docket Room and on the FSIS homepage 
(www.fsis.usda.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Engeljohn, Director, 
Regulations Development and Analysis Division, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, Washington, DC 20250-3700, at (202) 720-5627, fax 
number (202) 690-0486.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 17, 2000, FSIS published the 
advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) ``Other Consumer 
Protection (OCP) Activities'' (65 FR 14486). FSIS published this ANPR 
to request comments on the need and desirability of revising its 
approach to verifying that meat and poultry products are not 
misbranded, economically adulterated, or otherwise unacceptable for 
reasons that do not necessarily raise food safety or public health 
concerns. In the ANPR, FSIS referred to these program activities as 
``other consumer protection'' (OCP) activities. The ANPR defined and 
described FSIS' OCP activities and discussed the Agency's need for 
revised regulations and verification and enforcement procedures.
    FSIS has received a request to extend the comment period for an 
additional 180 days because of the large scope of the ANPR. FSIS agrees 
that the ANPR addresses many issues and wants to receive as much input 
as possible. However, because this is an ANPR, and any further actions 
by the Agency will be issued in a notice and comment proposed 
rulemaking, FSIS is reopening the comment period for 60 days. After the 
comment period closes, FSIS, intends to proceed with development of 
various OCP notice and comment proposed rulemakings.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure 
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
notice, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of this Federal 
Register publication in the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS provides a 
weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via fax to over 
300 organizations and individuals. In addition, the update is available 
on line through the FSIS web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. 
The update is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, 
procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public 
meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could affect 
or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The 
constituent fax list consists of industry, trade, and farm groups, 
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific 
professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be 
included. Through these various channels, FSIS is able to provide 
information to a much broader, more diverse audience.
    For more information and to be added to the constituent fax list, 
fax your request to the Congressional and Public Affairs Office, at 
(202) 720-5704.

    Done at Washington, DC on: June 22, 2000.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-16520 Filed 6-29-00; 8:45 am]
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