Designation of the State of Florida Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act

Representatives of the State of Florida have advised the Agency that, because of a lack of funding, the State of Florida will no longer continue administering its State meat and poultry inspection programs after November 30, 1997. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is mandated by law to assume the responsibility, previously held by the State of Florida, for administering the meat and poultry inspection programs with respect to operations and transactions within the State of Florida. Therefore, in accordance with the law, the Secretary of Agriculture is designating the State of Florida to receive Federal inspection with respect to operations and transactions within the State, and FSIS is amending the Federal meat and poultry inspection regulations by adding Florida to the list of ``designated'' States.