[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 13618-13619] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-7192] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. 98-004N] Ground Beef Processing Guidance Material AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Availability of material and public meeting notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announces that it is making available for public comment a guidance document intended to assist processors of ground beef, especially small processors, in developing procedures to minimize the risk of E. coli 0157:H7 and other pathogens in ground beef products produced in their establishments. FSIS plans to hold a public meeting to discuss this document on April 22, 1998. FSIS is aware that other organizations also are developing guidance materials for the production of ground beef and encourages their presentation and discussion at the public meeting. These presentations will be scheduled, and appropriate time will be allotted. FSIS will make available any such materials submitted to the Agency prior to the meeting. FSIS [[Page 13619]] is open to the idea of a collaboratively produced guidance document should that prove useful and practicable. In addition to discussing the draft guidance documents, FSIS also would be interested in comments on how best to ensure that the guidance materials that result from this process receive the broadest possible distribution. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 19, 1998. The meeting will be held on April 22, 1998, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: An electronic version of the FSIS guidance document is available online at FSIS' homepage at http://www.usda.gov/fsis. Guidance materials made available to FSIS prior to the meeting also will be available at this address. Hard copies of the FSIS document are available from the FSIS Docket Clerk in the FSIS Docket Room, Room 102, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The public meeting will be held at the Arlington Hilton and Towers, 950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA; telephone (703) 528-6000. The hotel is located next to the Ballston Metro station. To register for the meeting, contact Ms. Mary Gioglio at (202) 501-7244 or 501-7136 or FAX to 501-7642. Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations should notify Ms. Gioglio by April 15, 1998. COMMENTS: Send comments on the FSIS guidance document to FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket No. 98-004N, at the above address. Comments will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room during the above-stated hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William J. Hudnall, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation, at (202) 205-0495. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a result of recent product recalls involving E. coli 0157:H7, FSIS has prepared guidance material to help beef grinding operations minimize the risk of, and potential effects associated with, E. coli 0157:H7 and other microbial pathogens in raw ground beef and other raw products. This material should prove particularly useful to small establishments developing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans during the next 2 years. The guidance material includes recommendations for receiving raw product; storing raw product; the grinding process, including rework and risk-based product separation; packaging, cooling, and storage; shipping, handling, and distribution; recordkeeping; and food safety education. FSIS also solicits comments on how best to ensure that the guidance materials that result from this process receive as broad distribution as possible. Done at Washington, DC, on March 12, 1998. Thomas J. Billy, Administrator. [FR Doc. 98-7192 Filed 3-19-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P