WASHINTON – The effective date of final regulations that mandate nutrition labeling of the major cuts of single-ingredient, raw meat and poultry products and ground or chopped meat and poultry products is being delayed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Originally, the effective date of the final rule was set at Jan. 1, but it has since been moved back to March 1.

This action was taken in response to a request from eight trade associations, including the American Meat Institute, that requested the agency exercise enforcement discretion for a six-month period following the Jan. 1, 2012, effective date of the final rule. FSIS concluded, however, that a two-month delay in the effective date will allow industry sufficient time to comply with the requirements of the final rule.

The agency is also making a correction to the final rule to clarify an amendatory instruction. Click here to read the notice.