57046

Federal Register/Vol. 78, No. 180/Tuesday, September 17, 2013/Rules and Regulations

TABLE IX—FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS—Continued
[Plastic, Cellophane, Paper, Textile, Laminated Multi-Layer Pouch, Bag, etc.]

Defects

Categories

Critical Major Minor

Compressed seal (overheated to bubble or expose inner layer) reducing intact seal to less

than Ve-inch ...

Stringy seal (excessive plastic threads showing at edge of seal area)
Contaminated seal (entrapped matter) reducing intact seal to less than V4:
Seal creep (product in pouch “creeping” into seal) reducing intact seal to less than ‘6 incl
Misaligned or crooked seal reducing intact seal to less than Vie-inch ....
Seal formed greater than 1-inch from edge of pouch (unclosed edge flaps) .
Waffling (embossing on surface from retort racks; not scorable unless severe) .

Poor or missing tear notch (when required) ....

inch

222
14
15

223
224
225

TABLE X—UNITIZING
[Plastic or other type of casing/unitizing]

Categories
Defects
Major Minor
Not specified method ... 101
Missing tray (when required) 402
Missing shrink wrap (when required) 103
Loose or improperly applied wrap 201
Torn or mutilated ... 202
Off-center wrap (does not overlap both ends) 203

@ 8. Section 42.113 is revised to read as
follows:

§42.113 Defects of label, marking, or
code.

TABLE XI—LABEL, MARKING, OR CODE

Defects

Categories

Major Minor

Not specified method ..
Missing (when required)
Loose or improperly applie
Torn or mutilated ...

Torn or scratched, obliterating any markings on the label

Text illegible or incomplete
Incorrect ....
In wrong location

101
102

201
202

103

204

m 9. Add § 42.114 to subpart B to read
as follows:

§42.114 Procedures for evaluating interior
container defects.

(a) Sections 42.101-42.136 provide
procedures for determining lot
conformance with the U.S. Standards
for Condition of Food Containers. This
determination is based on the
examination of the external
characteristics of the food containers.

(b) As an option, if a user of the
inspection service requests to have the
interior characteristics of containers
examined, and apply these results in the

determination of lot acceptability, the
defects listed in Table XII may be used.

(c) The determination of lot
acceptability based on internal
container defects shall be independent
of the determination of lot acceptability
for U.S. Standards for Condition of Food
Containers. A user of the inspection
service may choose to require
inspection for internal can defects as
well as inspection for U.S. Standards for
Condition of Food Containers.

(d) Ifa user of the inspection service
requests an examination for internal
container defects in addition to an
official USDA/USDC inspection for

product quality and/or U.S. grade, the
containers opened by the official
inspection service for inspection of
product quality and/or U.S. grade will
be used for examination of interior
container defects. The minimum sample
size for evaluation of interior container
defects will be 13 containers. As a
result, additional containers will be
required if the inspection for quality or
U.S. grade calls for fewer than 13
containers. Table XIII provides
acceptance numbers for internal
container defects for selected sample
sizes.