WASHINGTON – The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its semi-annual regulatory agenda in the Federal Register, which includes summary descriptions of regulations being developed by USDA agencies.

Food Safety and Inspection Service regulations in the final-rule stage include:

• Performance Standards for the Production of Processed Meat and Poultry Products; Control of Listeria Monocytogenes in Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products.
• Federal-State Interstate Shipment Cooperative Inspection Program.
• New Formulas for Calculating the Basetime, Overtime, Holiday, and Laboratory Services?Rates; Rate Changes Based on the Formulas; and Increased Fees for the Accredited.
• Changes to the Schedule of Operations Regulations.

The complete agenda is available online at http://www.reginfo.gov/.

Because publication in the Federal Register is mandated for the regulatory flexibility agendas required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602), USDA’s printed agenda entries include only rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; and rules identified for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

For general comments or inquiries about the agenda, contact Michael Poe, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-1272.

To view the Federal Register notice, visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-30451.htm.