Response to Public Comment

Food Safety and
Inspection Service
1400 Independence
Avenue, SW,
Washington, D.C.
20250

Dave Carter
Executive Director
National Bison Association
8690 Wolff Court, Suite 200
Westminster, CO 80031-3646
September 21, 2021
Dear Mr. Carter:
Thank you for your letter of September 8th. Our Notice 27-21 implements the
provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, that directs FSIS to reduce the
costs of overtime inspection conducted during the period of fiscal years 2021
through 2030. However, by law, it applies only to fees borne by federallyinspected small establishments and very small establishments engaged in meat,
poultry, or egg products processing subject to the requirements of the Federal
Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act
(21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et
seq.). Since inspection of the slaughter and processing of bison and other exotic
animals is not covered by any of these Acts, and is provided by FSIS on a
voluntary basis only under the Agricultural Marketing Act (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)),
overtime inspection costs borne by Federally inspected small and very small bison
establishments are not eligible for the fee reduction
Sincerely,

Matthew Michael
Director
Regulations Development Staff
Office of Policy and Program Development