[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 41540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20694]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-044N]


Exemption for Retail Stores; Adjustment for Dollar Limitations

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has increased 
the limitation on annual sales of meat and poultry products by retail 
stores whose operations are exempt from Federal inspection. The dollar 
limitation for poultry products has been increased from $37,900 to 
$39,000 for calendar year 1998. The dollar limitation for meat products 
has been increased from $40,300 to $41,000 for calendar year 1998. 
These increases conform with price changes for meat and poultry 
products indicated by the Consumer Price Index.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 4, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Patricia F. Stolfa, Assistant 
Deputy Administrator, Office of Policy, Program Development, and 
Evaluation, FSIS, at (202) 205-0699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in 9 CFR 303.1(d) and 381.10(d), FSIS exempts 
certain operations of types traditionally and usually conducted at 
retail stores from routine Federal inspection of meat and poultry 
products. Whether a retail store operation qualifies for an exemption 
depends, in part, on the percentage and volume of trade in meat and 
poultry products that a retail store conducts with non-household 
consumers (hotels, restaurants, or similar institutions). The 
regulations state in dollars the annual maximum amount of meat and 
poultry products that a retail store may sell to non-household 
consumers if that store's operations are to remain exempt from 
inspection.
    FSIS adjusts the dollar limitation during the first quarter of each 
calendar year if the Consumer Price Index, published by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics, indicates at least a $500 increase or decrease in the 
price of the same volume of product during the previous year. FSIS 
publishes a notice of the adjusted dollar limitation in the Federal 
Register.
    The Consumer Price Index for 1997 indicates an average annual price 
increase in meat products of 1.7 percent and an average annual price 
increase in poultry products of 2.8 percent. When rounded off to the 
nearest $100, the price increase for meat products amounts to $700 and 
the price increase for poultry products amounts to $1,100. Prices of 
meat and poultry, therefore, have changed in excess of $500. In 
accordance with Secs. 303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b) of 
the regulations, FSIS has increased the dollar limitation of permitted 
sales of meat products from $40,300 to $41,000 and raised the dollar 
limitation of permitted sales for poultry products from $37,900 to 
$39,000.

    Done in Washington, DC, on: July 28, 1998.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-20694 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P