21 U.S.C. § 679a : US Code - Section 679A: Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection Panel

Search 21 U.S.C. § 679a : US Code - Section 679A: Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection Panel

(a) Establishment
There is established in the Department of Agriculture a permanent
advisory panel to be known as the "Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection
Panel" (referred to in this section as the "panel").
(b) Duties
(1) Review and evaluation
The panel shall review and evaluate, as the panel considers
necessary, the adequacy, necessity, safety, cost-effectiveness,
and scientific merit of -
(A) inspection procedures of, and work rules and worker
relations involving Federal employees employed in, plants
inspected under this chapter;
(B) informal petitions or proposals for changes in inspection
procedures, processes, and techniques of plants inspected under
this chapter;
(C) formal changes in meat inspection regulations promulgated
under this chapter, whether in notice, proposed, or final form;
and
(D) such other matters as may be referred to the panel by the
Secretary regarding the quality or effectiveness of a safe and
cost-effective meat inspection system under this chapter.
(2) Reports
(A) In general
The panel shall submit to the Secretary a report on the
results of each review and evaluation carried out under
paragraph (1), including such recommendations as the panel
considers appropriate.
(B) Reports on formal changes
In the case of a report concerning a formal change in meat
inspection regulations, the report shall be made within the
time limits prescribed for formal comments on such changes.
(C) Publication in Federal Register
Each report of the panel to the Secretary shall be published
in the Federal Register.
(c) Secretarial response
Not later than 90 days after the publication of a panel report
under subsection (b)(2)(C) of this section, the Secretary shall
publish in the Federal Register any response required of the
Secretary to the report.
(d) Composition of panel
The panel shall be composed of 7 members, not fewer than 5 of
whom shall be from the food science, meat science, or poultry
science profession, appointed to staggered terms not to exceed 3
years by the Secretary from nominations received from the National
Institutes of Health and the Federation of American Societies of
Food Animal Science and based on the professional qualifications of
the nominees.
(e) Nominations
(1) Initial panel
In constituting the initial panel, the Secretary shall solicit
6 nominees from the National Institutes of Health and 6 nominees
from the Federation of American Societies of Food Animal Science
for membership on the panel.
(2) Vacancies
Any subsequent vacancy on the panel shall be filled by the
Secretary after soliciting 2 nominees from the National
Institutes of Health and 2 nominees from the Federation of
American Societies of Food Animal Science.
(3) Requirements for nominees
(A) In general
Each nominee provided under paragraph (1) or (2) shall have a
background in public health issues and a scientific expertise
in food, meat, or poultry science or in veterinary science.
(B) Submission of information
The Secretary may require nominees to submit such information
as the Secretary considers necessary prior to completing the
selection process.
(4) Additional nominees
If any list of nominees provided under paragraph (1) or (2) is
unsatisfactory to the Secretary, the Secretary may request the
nominating entities to submit an additional list of nominees.
(f) Travel expenses
While away from the home or regular place of business of a member
of the panel in the performance of services for the panel, the
member shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, at the same rate as a person employed
intermittently in the Government service would be allowed under
section 5703 of title 5.
(g) Conflicts of interest
The Secretary shall promulgate regulations regarding conflicts of
interest with respect to the members of the panel.
(h) Exemption
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title
XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et
seq.) shall not apply to the panel.
(i) Funding
From funds available to the Secretary to carry out this chapter
and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.),
the Secretary shall allocate such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this section.