
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 21USC679a]

 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
                       CHAPTER 12--MEAT INSPECTION
 
                   SUBCHAPTER IV--AUXILIARY PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 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.

(Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title IV, Sec. 410, as added Pub. L. 104-127, 
title IX, Sec. 918(a)(1)(B), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1188.)

                       References in Text

    The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (h), is 
Pub. L. 92-463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, as amended, which is set out 
in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
    The Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, referred to in subsec. (h), is 
Pub. L. 95-113, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 913, as amended. Title XVIII of 
the Act is classified generally to chapter 55A (Sec. 2281 et seq.) of 
Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the 
Code, see Short Title of 1977 Amendment note set out under section 1281 
of Title 7 and Tables.
    The Poultry Products Inspection Act, referred to in subsec. (i), is 
Pub. L. 85-172, Aug. 28, 1957, 71 Stat. 441, as amended, which is 
classified generally to chapter 10 (Sec. 451 et seq.) of this title. For 
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note 
set out under section 451 of this title and Tables.


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 410 of act Mar. 4, 1907, was renumbered section 411, 
and is classified to section 680 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 471 of this title.
