The United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service is extending the deadline for comments regarding the agency’s definition of conditions that will permit the voluntary claim of “natural” to be used in the labeling of meat and poultry products.

After considering comments on the “natural” claim submitted by the
public in response to a Federal Register notice that the agency issued
on Dec. 5, 2006, and the comments presented at a public meeting
held by the Agency on Dec. 12, 2006, FSIS has decided to solicit
additional public input.

FSIS officials say additional solicitation of comments could produce information that would help to clarify and resolve issues surrounding the “natural” claim. Moreover,
additional comments will help FSIS assess how best to coordinate its
regulation of “natural'' claims with the standards for voluntary
marketing claims developed by the Agricultural Marketing Service,
particularly with AMS's “naturally raised” marketing claim standard.

Comments are due by Nov. 13. Go to regulations.gov and in the “Search for Open Regulations” box, select “Food Safety and Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu, and then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select FDMS
Docket Number FSIS–2006–0040A to submit or view public comments. For more information, also see edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22036.pdf.