Food Safety Proposal Resubmitted

February 22, 2001

USDA has resubmitted a food safety proposal to the Federal Register designed to help prevent contamination by Listeria and other harmful pathogens. Originally submitted in January, the proposal would require meat and poultry establishments to conduct food contact surface testing for generic Listeria or address post-lethality contamination in hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) plans.

The proposed regulation identifies the need for additional scientific information and analytical data that, if addressed, could strengthen the scientific foundation of the rule. In order to facilitate public input and gather additional information, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service will schedule public meetings to discuss the scientific issues behind the proposal during the 90-day comment period. USDA's Agricultural Research Service will participate in the scientific discussions.

Written comments must be submitted within 90 days after the proposed regulation is published in the Federal Register to the USDA-FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket #97-013P, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street. S.W., Washington, DC 20250-3700.