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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 28, 2005 / Notices 56625
and slaughtering livestock but does not commercial practices, the resultant provided in the National Chicken
include comparable provisions product is adulterated under the PPIA. Council Animal Welfare Guidelines and
concerning the handling and slaughter Audit Checklist, which is included in
FSIS Perspective on the Treatment of
of poultry. the list of references at the end of this
Poultry
In the September 9, 2004, Federal notice.
Register, FSIS also explained that, in Many poultry operations may not be As a second step of a systematic
addition to this congressional interest, aware of industry guidelines pertaining approach, establishments determine
FSIS has received over 20,000 letters to the treatment of poultry at slaughter. whether their facilities are designed and
from the public (individuals, consumer FSIS has included a list of references at maintained to prevent excitement,
organizations, and animal welfare the end of this notice that may assist discomfort, and accidental injury to
organizations) over the last few years poultry slaughter establishments in poultry the entire time that live poultry
expressing concerns regarding the considering means of assessing or is held in connection with slaughter.
humane treatment of livestock (69 FR improving their handling and slaughter In the third step, establishments
54626). Some of these letters also procedures. One method poultry periodically evaluate their handling
expressed concerns regarding the operations may wish to examine is a methods to ensure that their employees
humane treatment of poultry. In systematic approach to ensuring that are in fact minimizing excitement,
addition, the U.S. Department of poultry is handled and slaughtered in a discomfort, or accidental injury to live
Agriculture has received nearly 13,000 manner that is consistent with good poultry, that their methods ensure all
e-mail messages supporting legislation commercial practices. By a ‘‘systematic poultry are slaughtered in a manner that
to include provisions for the humane approach,’’ FSIS means one in which results in thorough bleeding of the
establishments focus on treating poultry carcass, and that their methods ensure
treatment of poultry in the HMSA.
in such a manner as to minimize poultry breathing has stopped before
Finally, FSIS received a petition from excitement, discomfort, and accidental scalding.
the Animal Legal Defense Fund, dated injury the entire time that live poultry
November 21, 1995, requesting that Additional Public Notification
is held in connection with slaughter.
FSIS amend the Federal poultry Establishments can achieve such an Public awareness of all segments of
products inspection regulations to approach by: rulemaking and policy development is
require humane standards of slaughter (1) Assessing under what important. Consequently, in an effort to
for poultry. FSIS denied the petition circumstances poultry may experience ensure that the public and in particular
because, as is explained above, there is excitement, discomfort, or accidental minorities, women, and persons with
no specific federal humane handling injury while being handled in disabilities, are aware of this notice,
and slaughter statute for poultry. connection with slaughter; FSIS will announce it on-line through
However, as is also explained above, the (2) Taking steps to minimize the the FSIS Web page located at http://
PPIA and Agency regulations do require possibility of such excitement, www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/
that live poultry be handled in a manner discomfort, and accidental injury; and 2005_Notices_Index/Index.asp. FSIS
that is consistent with good commercial (3) Evaluating periodically how also will make copies of this Federal
practices, and that they not die from poultry are being handled and Register publication available through
causes other than slaughter. slaughtered to ensure (a) that any the FSIS Constituent Update, which is
Undesirable Consequences of Not excitement, discomfort, or accidental used to provide information regarding
Handling Poultry in Accordance With injury is being minimized; (b) that all FSIS policies, procedures, regulations,
Good Commercial Practices poultry are slaughtered in a manner that Federal Register notices, FSIS public
results in thorough bleeding of the meetings, recalls, and other types of
The abuse of poultry by killing them poultry carcass; and (c) that breathing information that could affect or would
by an unacceptable method or by has stopped before scalding. be of interest to constituents and
treating them in a manner that is not In the first step of a systematic stakeholders. The update is
consistent with good commercial approach, establishments conduct an communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail
practices may render the poultry assessment of where handling problems subscription service consisting of
product adulterated and, hence, not may occur. They would consider such industry, trade, and farm groups,
acceptable for human food. The dead factors as (1) whether they are providing consumer interest groups, allied health
birds are considered to be cadavers training for their employees in handling professionals, scientific professionals,
(carcasses of poultry showing evidence live poultry, (2) whether feed and water and other individuals who have
of having died from causes other than withdrawal is kept to the minimum requested to be included. The update
slaughter) and are condemned. These level consistent with good processing also is available on the FSIS Web page.
carcasses are not of good quality, are practices, (3) whether they have Through Listserv and the Web page,
undesirable, and are of no profitable appropriately designed and maintained FSIS is able to provide information to a
advantage to establishments, as they are facilities for bird delivery to the much broader, more diverse audience.
not marketable and could not be sold. In establishment, (4) whether holding areas In addition, FSIS offers an electronic
contrast, the use of good commercial are equipped with an adequate number mail subscription service that provides
practices tends to produce poultry that of fans to ensure proper ventilation for an automatic and customized
is processed according to federal birds, (5) whether stunning equipment notification when popular pages are
requirements, and that is wholesome (if applicable) and killing equipment are updated, including Federal Register
and marketable. constantly monitored to ensure proper publications and related documents.
It is a prohibited act to slaughter functioning for humane processing, (6) This service is available at http://
poultry in any way that is not in whether all poultry are dead before www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/e-
compliance with the PPIA (21 U.S.C. entering the scalder, and (7) whether mail_subscription/ and allows FSIS
458(a)(1)). If birds hung on the slaughter establishment personnel and equipment customers to sign up for subscription
line expire prior to slaughter due to handle poultry in a manner that options in eight categories. Options
mishandling, or are being killed in a minimizes broken legs and wings. These range from recalls to export information
manner that does not comply with good factors are based on information to regulations, directives and notices.
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56626 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 28, 2005 / Notices
Customers can add or delete obtain background information on the interests of consumers. Through
subscriptions themselves and have the 14th Session of CCFICS and to address adoption of food standards, codes of
option to password protect their items on the agenda. practice, and other guidelines
accounts. DATES: The public meeting is scheduled developed by its committees, and by
for Thursday, November 10, 2005 from promoting their adoption and
References
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. implementation by governments, Codex
The following sources are available seeks to ensure that the world’s food
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be
for review in the FSIS Docket Room, supply is sound, wholesome, free from
held in Room 0161 of the South
Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., adulteration, and correctly labeled. In
Agriculture Building, 1400
Room 102, Washington, DC 20250 the United States, USDA, FDA, and the
Independence Avenue, SW.,
between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC (Smithsonian Metro
through Friday. manage and carry out U.S. Codex.
stop). Documents related to the 14th
Food Marketing Institute/National The Codex Committee on Food Import
Session of the CCFICS will be accessible
Council of Chain Restaurants Animal and Export Inspection and Certification
via the World Wide Web at the
Welfare Audit Program. Information Systems was established to develop
following address: http://
about the program is available at principles and guidelines for food
www.codexalimentarius.net/
http://www.awaudit.org/. import and export inspection and
National Chicken Council Animal current.asp.
FSIS invites interested persons to certification systems to facilitate trade
Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklist. through harmonization and to supply
submit comments on this notice.
Available at http:// safe and quality foods to consumers.
Comments may be submitted by any of
www.nationalchickencouncil.com/. Included in the charge is application of
Thaler, A.M., ‘‘The United States the following methods:
Perspective Towards Poultry • Mail, including floppy disks or CD– measures by competent authorities to
ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered provide assurance that foods comply
Slaughter.’’ Poultry Science. February with essential requirements.
1999. v. 78 (2), p. 298–301. items: Send to the FSIS Docket Clerk,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Issues To Be Discussed at the Public
Done at Washington, DC on September 23, Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th
2005. Meeting
Street, SW., Room 102, Cotton Annex,
Barbara J. Masters, Washington, DC 20250. All comments The following items on the Agenda
Administrator. received must include the Agency name for the 14th Session of the Committee
[FR Doc. 05–19378 Filed 9–27–05; 8:45 am] and docket number 05–030N. All will be discussed during the public
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P comments submitted in response to this meeting:
notice, will be available for public • Proposed draft Appendices to the
inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at Guidelines on the Judgment of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE the address listed above between 8:30 Equivalence of Sanitary Measures
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Associated with Food Inspection and
Food Safety and Inspection Service Friday. The comments also will be Certification.
• Proposed draft Guidelines for Risk-
[Docket No. 05–030N] posted on the Agency’s Web site at
based Inspection of Imported Foods
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/
Codex Alimentarius Commission: • Proposed draft Principles for the
2005_Notices_Index/.
Meeting of the Codex Committee on Application of Traceability/Product
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: tracing in the context of Food Inspection
Food Import and Export Inspection and About the 14th session of the CCFICS:
Certification Systems and Certification Systems
Dr. Catherine Carnevale, Director, Office • Proposed draft Revision of the
AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Constituent Operations, Center for Guidelines for Generic Official
for Food Safety, USDA. Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Certificate Formats and the Production
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway (HFS– and issuance of Certificates
request for comments. 550), College Park, MD 20740, phone: • Discussion Paper on the Revision of
(301) 436–2380, Fax: (301) 436–2618. E- the Guidelines for the Exchange of
SUMMARY: The Office of the Under mail: Information between Countries on
Secretary for Food Safety, United States Catherine.Carnevale@cfsan.fda.gov. Rejection of Imported Foods
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and About the public meeting: Edith • Discussion Paper on development
the Food and Drug Administration Kennard, Staff Officer, U.S. Codex of an Appendix on ‘‘Information relating
(FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Office, Food Safety and Inspection to the need for technical assistance and
Human Services (HHS), are sponsoring Service, Room 4861, South Building, cooperation between the importing
a public meeting on November 10, 2005. 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., countries to exporting countries’’ to the
The objective of the public meeting is to Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) Codex Guidelines on the Judgment of
provide information and receive public 720–5261, Fax: (202) 720–3157, E-mail: Equivalence of Sanitary Measures
comments on agenda items and draft edith.kennard@fsis.usda.gov. Associated with Food Inspection and
U.S. positions that will be discussed at SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Certification
the 14th Session of the Codex Members of the public may access or
Committee on Food Import and Export Background
request copies of these documents at:
Inspection and Certification Systems Codex was established in 1962 by two http://www.codexalimentarius.net/
(CCFICS) of the Codex Alimentarius United Nations organizations, the Food current.asp
Commission (Codex), which will be and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
held in Melbourne, Australia, November the World Health Organization (WHO). Public Meeting
28–December 2, 2005. The Under Codex is the major international At the November 10th public meeting,
Secretary for Food Safety and FDA organization for encouraging fair draft U.S. positions on the agenda items
recognize the importance of providing international trade in food and will be described, discussed, and
interested parties the opportunity to protecting the health and economic attendees will have the opportunity to
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