Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 8/6/10

Interested parties will have a chance to comment when USDA issues a policy notice of intent in Federal Register this fall to change its policy on test and hold, a USDA official told Meatingplace.

Kenneth Petersen, assistant administrator of the Office of Field Operations for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service told Meatingplace yesterday USDA would not solicit comments on the notice, which addresses withholding the stamp of inspection on meat products until adulterant test samples are returned with negative results.  He clarified today that because this is a policy change, but not rulemaking for a new regulation or a regulation change, there is not a mandatory public comment period. However, interested parties will be “welcome to submit comments,” which will taken into account before the policy is implemented.

Petersen also corrected a statement he made yesterday when he told Meatingplace that typically such a new policy would go into effect within 30 to 90 days of being posted in the Federal Register. He told Meatingplace today that the policy notice will be issued with an open-ended effective date. “There has been no decision on when to implement,” the new policy, he said.

Petersen said it still is the agency's intention to issue the Federal Register notice this fall.

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