State of Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
NOTICE OF HEARING
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (Department) announces that it will hold public hearings on the proposed permanent rule relating to ATCP 55 Meat and Poultry Products. The public hearings will also provide time for comments on rules affecting ATCP 70 Food Processing Plants, the emergency rule affecting ATCP 70 Food Processing Plants that took effect October 1, 2017, and ATCP 75 and its Appendix Retail Food Establishments and the Wisconsin Food Code.
The Department will hold five public hearings at the times and places shown below.
Hearing Dates and Locations:
November 16, 2017 Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Mead Public Library – The Rocca Room
710 N. 8th Street, Sheboygan, WI
November 22, 2017 Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Division of Public Health Regional Office
2187 N. Stevens Street, Rhinelander, WI
November 24, 2017 Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Prairie Oak State Office Building – Room 106
2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI
December 1, 2017 Friday 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Wisconsin State Office Building – Room 129
718 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI
December 8, 2017 Friday 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Shawano Public Library
128 South Sawyer Street, Shawano, WI
The Department invites the public to attend the hearings and comment on the proposed rule. Following the public hearings, the hearing record will remain open until December 15, 2017, for additional public comments. Comments may be sent to the Department at the address below, to Cindy.klug@wisconsin.gov, or to http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/comment You can obtain a free copy of the hearing draft and related documents, including the economic impact analysis, by contacting the Department using the information below. Copies will also be available at the hearing. To view the hearing draft rules online, go to http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/comment. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
This rule will have a generally positive impact on meat and poultry related businesses. The modifications are anticipated to decrease costs for producers of alpacas, bison, and llamas; reduce license fees for most meat establishments and several retail food establishments; and decrease procedural barriers for meat establishment operators running a retail food establishment on the same premises. While rabbit producers may face a slight increase in costs, the ability to slaughter rabbits in an on-farm licensed facility may increase their ability to sell rabbit to restaurants and other retail food establishments.
Comments or concerns relating to small business may be addressed to DATCP’s small business regulatory coordinator Keeley Moll at the address below, by emailing keeley.moll@wisconsin.gov, or by telephone at (608) 224-5039. Accommodations
Hearing impaired persons may request an interpreter for this hearing. Please make reservations for a hearing interpreter by November 6, 2017, by contacting Cindy Klug using the information below. The hearing facilities are handicap accessible.
Department Contact:
Cindy Klug
Bureau of Meat and Poultry Businesses
Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection
P.O. Box 8911
Madison, WI 53708-8911
(608) 224-4729
