[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15549-15550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06641]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0009]


Retail Exemptions Adjusted Dollar Limitations

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing 
the dollar limitations on the amount of meat and meat food products, 
poultry, and poultry products that a retail store can sell to hotels, 
restaurants, and similar institutions without disqualifying itself for 
exemption from Federal inspection requirements. In accordance with 
FSIS's regulations, for calendar year 2015, the dollar limitation for 
meat and meat food products is being increased from $70,400 to $76,900 
and for poultry products from $57,100 to $58,200. FSIS is changing the 
dollar limitations from calendar year 2014 to reflect price changes for 
these products, as evidenced by the Consumer Price Index.

DATES: Effective Date: April 23, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Issuances Staff, Office of 
Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6067, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250; (202) 690-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) provide a 
comprehensive statutory framework to ensure that meat, meat food 
products, poultry, and poultry products prepared for commerce are 
wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. 
Statutory provisions requiring inspection of the preparation or 
processing of meat, meat food, poultry, and poultry products do not 
apply to operations of types traditionally and usually conducted at 
retail stores and restaurants when those operations are conducted at 
any retail store or restaurant or similar retail-type establishment for 
sale in normal retail quantities (21 U.S.C. 661(c)(2) and 454(c)(2)). 
FSIS's regulations (9 CFR 303.1(d) and 381.10(d)) elaborate on the 
conditions under which inspection requirements do not apply to retail 
operations involving the preparation of meat and meat food, and 
processing of poultry and poultry products.

Sales to Hotels, Restaurants, and Similar Institutions

    Under these regulations, sales to hotels, restaurants, and similar 
institutions (other than household consumers) disqualify a retail store 
from exemption if the product sales exceed either of two maximum 
limits: 25 percent of the dollar value of total product sales or the 
calendar year dollar limitation set by the Administrator. The dollar 
limitation is adjusted automatically during the first quarter of the 
year if the Consumer Price Index (CPI), published by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics, shows an increase or decrease of more than $500 in 
the price of the same volume of product for the previous year. FSIS 
publishes a notice of the adjusted dollar limitations in the Federal 
Register. (See 9 CFR 303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b).)
    The CPI for 2014 reveals an annual average price increase for meat 
and meat food products at 9.24 percent and for poultry products at 1.97 
percent. When rounded to the nearest $100, the dollar limitation for 
meat and meat food products increased by $6,500 and the dollar 
limitation for poultry products increased by $1,100. Because the dollar 
limitation of meat and meat food products and poultry products 
increased by more than $500, FSIS is increasing the dollar limitation 
on sales to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions to $76,900 
for meat and meat food products and to $58,200 for poultry products for 
calendar year 2015, in accordance with 9 CFR 303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 
381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b).

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS 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: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS will also make copies of this publication available 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 constituents and stakeholders. 
The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail 
subscription service for industry, trade groups, consumer interest 
groups, health professionals, and other individuals who have asked to 
be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS Web page. In 
addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail 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 to 
regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete 
subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password protect their 
accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How to File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

[[Page 15550]]

    Fax: (202) 690-7442.
    Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#deaeacb1b9acbfb3f0b7b0aabfb5bb9eabadbabff0b9b1a8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e7e7c61697c6f632067607a6f656b4e7b7d6a6f20696178">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done, at Washington, DC on: March 16, 2015.

Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-06641 Filed 3-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P


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