[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40501-40502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17546]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2018-0009]
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 2018, the value for the dollar
limitation for meat and meat food products remains unchanged at
$75,700. For calendar year 2018, the value for the dollar limitation
for poultry and poultry products also remains unchanged at $56,600.
FSIS reviews the dollar limitations on a yearly basis and makes
adjustments based on price changes for these products evidenced by the
Consumer Price Index.
FSIS is currently considering the retail dollar limitations for
Siluriformes fish and fish products. FSIS intends to propose a
methodology for setting the dollar limitations for Siluriformes fish
and fish products in a separate Federal Register Notice.
DATES: Applicable Date: September 14, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC
20250; (202) 720-5627.
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 processing of meat,
meat food products, poultry, and poultry products do not apply to
operations of types traditionally and usually conducted at retail
stores and restaurants in regard to products for sale to consumers 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 requirements for inspection 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
for 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 2017 reveals an annual average price decrease for meat
and meat food products at 0.583 percent and an annual average price
increase for poultry and poultry products at 0.17 percent. When rounded
to the nearest dollar, the dollar limitation for meat and meat food
products decreased by $441 and the dollar limitation for poultry and
poultry products increased by $96. In accordance with 9 CFR
303.1(d)(2)(iii)(b) and 381.10(d)(2)(iii)(b), because the dollar
limitation of meat and meat food products and poultry and poultry
products did not increase or decrease by more than $500, FSIS is making
no adjustment in the dollar limitations on sales to hotels,
restaurants, and similar institutions. The dollar limitation for meat
and meat food products remains unchanged at $75,700 and the dollar
limitation for poultry and poultry products remains unchanged at
$56,600 for calendar year 2018.
Additional Public Notification
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 also will 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 our constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent
Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS is
able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an email 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,
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.
[[Page 40502]]
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.
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).
Paul Kiecker,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-17546 Filed 8-14-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P