[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72597-72598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28840]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 72597]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 317
[Docket No. FSIS-2008-0017]
Descriptive Designation for Needle- or Blade-Tenderized
(Mechanically Tenderized) Beef Products
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 its proposed rule on the descriptive designation of
needle- or blade-tenderized (mechanically tenderized) beef products
that appeared in the Federal Register on June 10, 2013. FSIS is
reopening this comment period for 21 days because the extended comment
period on this proposed rule closed during the recent partial
Government shutdown.
DATES: The Agency must receive comments by December 24, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by either of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to
type short comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Room Manager, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots
Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163B,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots Plaza 3,
355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2008-0017. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or to comments received,
go to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room
8-164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Assistant
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development; Telephone:
(202) 205-0495, or by Fax: (202) 720-2025.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 10, 2013, FSIS published a notice of
proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, ``Descriptive Designation
for Needle- or blade-tenderized (Mechanically Tenderized) Beef
Products'' (78 FR 34589). The Agency proposed to require the use of the
descriptive designation ``mechanically tenderized'' on the labels of
raw or partially cooked needle- or blade-tenderized beef products,
including beef products injected with marinade or solution, unless
these products are to be fully cooked at an official establishment. The
Agency proposed to require that the product name for the beef products
include the descriptive designation ``mechanically tenderized'' and an
accurate description of the beef component. The Agency also proposed to
require that the print for all words in the product name appear in the
same style, color, and size and on a single-color contrasting
background.
In addition, FSIS proposed to require that the labels of raw and
partially cooked needle- or blade-tenderized beef products destined for
household consumers, hotels, restaurants, or similar institutions
include validated cooking instructions.
FSIS also announced that it had posted on its Web site guidance for
developing validated cooking instructions for mechanically tenderized
product.
In response to requests from trade associations for additional time
to provide comments, FSIS extended the original comment period until
October 8, 2013 (78 FR 48631; Aug. 9, 2013). However, October 8, 2013,
fell during the partial Government shutdown that occurred from October
1 to October 16. During this period, Agency personnel were unavailable
to respond to public inquiries concerning the proposal, to file public
comments in the administrative record for the rulemaking, or to upload
comments to the regulations.gov Web page. Therefore, to provide the
public with a full opportunity to comment on the proposed rule and
associated guidance document, FSIS has decided to reopen the comment
period until December 24, 2013. FSIS invites interested persons to
submit their comments by that date.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (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
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register.
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. In
[[Page 72598]]
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/wps/portal/fsis/programs-and-services/email-subscription-service.
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.
Done at Washington, DC, on November 26, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-28840 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P