Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) SystemsSample CollectionTechnical Amendments and Corrections: Direct Final Rule

FSIS is making technical corrections and amendments to the final rule, ``Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems,'' published on July 25, 1996. In response to worker safety concerns, FSIS will permit samples collected for generic E. coli testing of turkeys to be collected by sponging two sites. Samples may still be collected by the whole bird rinse procedure (shaking turkeys in a bag containing a buffer solution). FSIS will also permit chickens and turkeys to be taken from the end of the slaughter line if it is impracticable to take a whole bird from the end of the chilling process. Additionally, FSIS is amending the regulations to add the performance standard for Salmonella in fresh pork sausage, which was unavailable at the time the rule was published, and correct a minor editorial oversight.