[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: [email protected].
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