USDA Issues Final Rule Rolling Back Dual Labeling Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its final rule amending its labeling provisions requiring dual labeling for meat or poultry products, which will take effect Oct. 17, 2022.
The proposed rule sought to amend the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) labeling regulations to remove provisions that require packages of meat or poultry products that contain at least one pound or pint, but less than four pounds or one gallon, to express the net weight or net content in two different units of measurement on the product label.
FSIS revisited the regulations in response to a petition submitted by a small meat processing establishment. After conducting a review of the regulatory provisions and comments on the proposed rule, FSIS determined the provisions were unnecessary.
The final rule adopts the requirements of the proposed rule, with some non-substantive changes to the proposed regulatory language. Under the final rule, all FSIS meat and poultry products will only need to include one unit of measurement in the net weight or content statement.
