[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54194-54195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22286]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2011-0013]
Availability of Final Compliance Guide for the Use of Video or
Other Electronic Monitoring or Recording Equipment in Federally
Inspected Establishments
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the availability of the final compliance guide on the use of video or
other electronic monitoring or recording equipment in federally
inspected establishments. FSIS has received Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval of information collection under the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) related to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Point (HACCP) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation
SOP) video records. FSIS made changes to the final compliance guide
based on comments received on the draft guide. FSIS has posted this
final compliance guide on its Significant Guidance Documents Web page
(http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp).
DATES: Effective Date: August 31, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Isabel Arrington, U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), FSIS, by phone at (402) 344-5000 or by e-mail at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 15, 2010 (75 FR 63434), FSIS posted on its Web site a
draft guide on the use of video or other electronic monitoring or
recording equipment in federally inspected establishments. The Agency
issued the document as a draft guide because it needed Office of
Management and Budget PRA approval on the information collection and
stated that when it received OMB approval on the information
collection, it would issue a final guide. FSIS also solicited comments
on the compliance guide. FSIS now has OMB approval. The OMB approval
number is 0583-0103. The guide is final, and establishments can use the
recommendations in this guide on the use of video or other electronic
monitoring or recording equipment for monitoring operations and
facilities. The final compliance guide reflects comments received.
This compliance guide provides information to industry to help it
maintain compliance with Federal regulations, including humane
treatment of livestock and the use of good commercial practices in
poultry.
FSIS is providing this guide to advise establishments that video or
other electronic monitoring or recording equipment can be used in
federally inspected establishments. This guide informs establishments
of the Agency's expectations if they decide to use this type of
equipment to create records to meet the requirements of the HACCP
regulations, or the regulations governing Sanitation SOPs. In addition,
this guide provides information on issues establishments should
consider if they use this equipment for any other purpose, such as part
of their food defense plans.
Comments
FSIS received a total of 1,217 comments on the draft compliance
guide. Of those comments, 813 were a letter campaign form requesting
that the use of video be mandated in establishments. In addition, 400
of them were general statements that video use should be made mandatory
in establishments or expressed concerns about humane handling and
worker safety. Another individual commented that FSIS should also
require an accredited third party to audit the required video use in
establishments.
Requiring video cameras in establishments is not necessary to
ensure that animals are handled humanely in conjunction with slaughter.
FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) verify that establishments are
meeting regulatory requirements for humane handling in livestock
slaughter and good commercial practices in poultry slaughter. Worker
safety issues are outside the scope of the compliance guide.
Establishments that have video or electronic monitoring or recording
equipment may choose to have a third party audit their use of such
equipment.
Additionally, one meat and poultry trade association and one video
company, recommended the guide state more clearly that the following
video records are not subject to routine access by FSIS: Video records
not designated by establishments for use in their
[[Page 54195]]
HACCP plan or Sanitation SOPs, video records that are used for food
defense security, or video records that are used for other purposes in
which recordkeeping is not required. In addition, these commenters
requested a reference to congressional testimony by the video company
regarding video systems and their use in the final compliance guide.
The final guide makes clearer which video records are subject to
routine access by FSIS. Such records would include HACCP and Sanitation
SOP records and records associated with other programs that are
prerequisites to HACCP. FSIS did not include the reference to the
congressional testimony by the video company in the final compliance
guide because including that testimony would highlight one specific
company.
A commenter from a non-profit organization for humane handling of
animals and birds recommended that the guide state that video
technology serves as a supplemental tool for establishments' humane
handling and good commercial practice activities. The commenter also
recommended that the guide state the importance of effective
implementation of video monitoring to result in trustworthy and
accurate information that helps to prevent inhumane treatment or poor
commercial practices. Also, the commenter recommended that cameras for
video should be positioned and operating in such a way to allow
continuous viewing of all steps from unloading to stunning of livestock
and poultry.
FSIS made changes in the final guide to address those comments.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age,
disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or
family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and
TTY).
To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web page located
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
FSIS will also make copies of this Federal Register 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. Through the Listserv and Web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader and more diverse audience. 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/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/. 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.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-22286 Filed 8-30-11; 8:45 am]
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