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Statement of Need: In 1998, FSIS proposed to clarify the meat inspection regulations regarding mechanically separated meat contained in a final rule issued in December 1995. The rule would replace the present compliance program parameters with non-compliance criteria for bone and bone-related material. The rule would require, as a prerequisite to labeling or using product derived by mechanically separating skeletal muscle tissue from cattle and swine bones as meat, that establishments implement and document procedures for ensuring that their production process is in control. The proposed rule was published in 1998. FSIS intends to implement more rigid measures for central nervous system tissue and prohibiting the use of vertebral columns in the AMR final product unless the establishment can demonstrate effective process control to ensure that no spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia will be present in the final AMR product. Current FSIS policy prohibits the presence of spinal cord in AMR products but not the presence of DRG or the use of vertebral columns. In January 2002, FSIS began the first of two surveys on AMR products derived from non-vertebral and vertebral beef and pork columns.

Summary of the Legal Basis: This action is authorized under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601-695).

Alternatives: No action.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Although the 1998 proposed rule was determined to be not economically significant, FSIS restudied the projected costs using data from various FSIS data bases and other sources to develop an improved estimate of the benefits and costs of implementing the final rule. To date, it appears that the final rule will not be economically significant, but data evaluation continues. The benefit of enforcing the misbranding provisions will ensure that the product does not contain materials not consistent with boneless, comminuted meat.

Risks: None.