[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68933-68934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24067]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 68933]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Parts 317, 381, and 412
[Docket No. FSIS-2016-0021]
Food Safety and Inspection Service Labeling Guideline on
Documentation Needed To Substantiate Animal Raising Claims for Label
Submission
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Guidance.
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SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
the availability of an updated version of the Agency's compliance
guideline on documentation needed to support animal-raising claims on
product labels that must be submitted for Agency approval before they
can be used on product labels. The updated guideline reflects FSIS's
current position and procedures for reviewing animal-raising claims and
includes explanations of animal-raising claims that FSIS may approve
and the types of supporting documentation that the Agency requires to
be submitted to support these claims.
DATES: Submit comments on or before December 5, 2016.
ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the compliance guideline is
available to view and print at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/6fe3cd56-6809-4239-b7a2-bccb82a30588/RaisingClaims.pdf?MOD=AJPERES once copies of the guideline have been
published.
FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
guidance. Comments may be submitted by one 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: Send to Docket Clerk, 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 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2016-0021. 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 comment received,
go to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room
164-A, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Daniel L. Engeljohn, Assistant
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development; Telephone:
(202) 205-0495.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
A federally inspected meat or poultry establishment is required to
use labels that are in compliance with the Federal Meat Inspection Act
(FMIA; 21 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 607), the Poultry Products Inspection Act
(PPIA; 21 U.S.C. 451 et seq., 457), and the implementing regulations.
Requirements include all mandatory labeling requirements as prescribed
in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 317.2 and 381
Subpart N.
All labels with special claims, including animal-raising claims,
need to be submitted to FSIS prior to being used on the product under 9
CFR 412.1(c)(3). As with all labels with special claims, labels with
animal-raising claims must be submitted to the Labeling and Program
Delivery Staff, Office of Policy and Program Development in FSIS with
specific documentation to support all such claims that appear on that
label. Examples of animal-raising claims include, but are not limited
to: ``Raised Without Antibiotics,'' ``Organic,'' ``Grass-Fed,'' ``Free-
Range,'' and ``Raised without the use of hormones.'' For most animal-
raising claims, the documentation typically needed to support these
claims includes:
1. A detailed written description explaining the controls used for
ensuring that the raising claim is valid from birth to harvest or the
period of raising being referenced by the claim;
2. A signed and dated document describing how the animals are
raised (e.g., vegetarian-fed, raised without antibiotics, grass-fed),
to support that the specific claim made is truthful and not misleading;
3. A written description of the product-tracing and segregation
mechanism from time of slaughter or further processing through
packaging and wholesale or retail distribution;
4. A written description for the identification, control, and
segregation of non-conforming animals or products; and
5. If a third party certifies a claim, a current copy of the
certificate.
FSIS previously issued a compliance guideline on animal-raising
claims in 2002. The changes included in this version of the guideline
include definitions for frequently used animal-raising claims, the
detailed supporting documentation required for each specific claim that
appears on the label, additional information regarding the claim grass
fed, information required for duplicating raising claims from purchased
product, and examples of labels bearing claims.
This guideline represents FSIS's current position and procedures
for approving animal-raising claims, and although FSIS is requesting
comments on this guideline and may update it in response to comments,
FSIS encourages establishments that wish to submit request for
approvals of animal raising claims on product labels to begin using
this guideline.
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
[[Page 68934]]
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 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 Nondiscrimination 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.
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).
Done at Washington, DC on: September 29, 2016.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-24067 Filed 10-4-16; 8:45 am]
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