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concerning the provisions and requirements of this rule during
the six month period following the effective date of the
regulation, as was provided for in the 2008 interim rule and the
2009 final rule. AMS has determined that this allocation of
enforcement resources will ensure that the industry effectively
and rationally implements this final rule. With regard to costs
related to the elimination of commingling flexibility, the
Agency has responded to these issues in a subsequent response
below.
Processors’ Cost of Segregation
Summary of Comments: Numerous commenters provided
statements on the costs of segregating livestock they believe
will be necessitated by the proposed rule. These commenters
explained how, in their opinion, the labeling changes will
require additional livestock and meat segregation and record
keeping that will increase costs to the industry that must be
absorbed by livestock producers, feedlots, shippers, meat
packers, processors, retailers and consumers.
One commenter stated that the segregation of cattle and
beef carcasses within the packing plant requires unique
operational procedures. The commenter further contended that
current packing plants were neither designed for nor constructed
in a manner to allow for efficiency in the segregation of cattle
and beef.
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