USDA to Hold Meetings on Interstate Meat Shipments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that it will hold two public meetings on proposed regulations to implement a new program under which state-inspected establishments with 25 or fewer employees will be eligible to ship meat and poultry products across state lines.

The meetings will be held by teleconference and will provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the proposed rule published on Sept. 15, 2009. The first teleconference will be held on Oct. 27, 2009, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT and the second will be held on Nov. 5, 2009, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. Pre-registration is required.

To pre-register, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/. Call-in information will be provided via e-mail to pre-registered participants. The Federal Register with additional information is available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25522.htm.