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FSIS Strengthens Policies on Imported Food Products
FSIS is committed to protecting public health through food safety as well as food
defense and is taking action to strengthen its efforts with regard to imported food
products that contain small amounts of meat, poultry or processed egg product as an ingredient.
Though some products may only contain small amounts of meat, poultry or processed egg product ingredients,
they are not exempt from FSIS jurisdiction until the Agency makes that determination. If FSIS
determines a product is exempt, the products are then subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA).
In addition, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
regulates imports to ensure they do not pose a threat to U.S. animal health. Though some products containing
small amounts of meat, poultry or processed egg product ingredients may not pose a threat to animal
health and would be eligible for an APHIS-issued permit, they are ineligible for entry into the
United States if the ingredients were not prepared under equivalent inspection systems and thus are not
from an approved source.
While FSIS statutes provide authority to exempt certain foods containing relatively small amounts of
meat, poultry or processed egg product ingredients, the statues condition the exemption on the products
not being adulterated; that is, that these ingredients need to have been prepared and passed under
FSIS inspection or under a foreign inspection system deemed equivalent by the Agency.
The requirement that the meat or poultry ingredients be from an approved source is a condition that is
stated on all permits issued by APHIS between March 19 and June 22. Importers must be able to provide
documented evidence, upon request by FSIS, to support the origin of any meat or poultry ingredient
used in the food product identified on the APHIS permit.
After June 22, any new permit application submitted to APHIS will be reviewed by FSIS to ensure that any
meat or poultry ingredient comes from an eligible source. The importer must be able to demonstrate to
FSIS that the ingredients are from an approved source. If this condition is not met, the imported food
will be considered ineligible for importation into U.S. commerce. Ineligible product found in commerce
is subject to seizure and destruction.
APHIS is providing a 90-day extension for any permit that expires before June 22. At the end of the
90-day extension, the importer may submit a new application, that complies with the conditions outlined above.
Note that these policies do not apply to food products flavored to resemble meat, poultry or processed
egg products if such food products do not actually contain these ingredients. Also, the program does
not include products not intended for use as human food, such as pet feed or pharmaceuticals.
For a list of countries eligible to export to the U.S., please visit
www.fsis.usda.gov/pdf/
countries_products_eligible_for_export.pdf
(PDF Only). Questions concerning these policies may be directed to FSIS at
permits@fsis.usda.gov
or toll free at 1-888-287-7194.
FSIS Seeks Public Comment on Draft Comparative Risk Assessment on Listeria
The Agency submitted a notice about its draft comparative risk assessment on Listeria monocytogenes
(L. monocytogenes) for publication to the Federal Register to solicit public comments. This
assessment compares the risk of listeriosis from consumption of prepackaged ready-to-eat (RTE) deli meat
versus RTE deli meat that is sliced and packaged at retail.
FSIS expects the Federal Register notice to be issued next week. An advance copy is available on FSIS'
Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Risk_Assessments/index.asp#RTE.
FSIS will review and evaluate public comments on this draft comparative risk assessment.
Submit written comments within 60 days after the notice is published to the Federal Register. Comments can be
sent to the Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, FSIS, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Room 2534,
South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250. Submissions may also be received through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at www.regulations.gov.
All items submitted must reference the Food Safety and Inspection Service and include docket number
FSIS-2009-0003. For further information on the risk assessment, contact Dare Akingbade, Office of Public
Health Science, at (202) 690-6462 or at
Dare.Akingbade@fsis.usda.gov.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Register for FSIS "How To" Workshops for Small and Very Small Plants
The Agency is hosting a "how to" workshop in Philadelphia to provide practical tools and methods
for proper application and compliance for recalls.
Outreach workshops cover information on Specified Risk Materials (SRMs), developing controls for
Salmonella and Campylobacter, establishing effective sanitation practices, developing
food defense plans, ensuring humane handling of livestock and conducting product recalls.
The April 7 workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn Historic District, 400 Arch Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visit
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Outreach_Sessions_SVS_Plants/index.asp to register.
FSIS Offers Podcasts in Spanish
FSIS is introducing a Spanish language Food Safety at Home podcast series. These podcasts are another
convenient and innovative way for the Spanish speaking community to learn the four basic steps of the
Be Food Safe campaign: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.
Check out this week's Spanish podcast featuring safe preparation of ham at
www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/Podcasts_SP/index.asp.
FSIS Posts New Podcasts
Tune in and subscribe to podcasts that offer helpful information on the selection, handling and preparation
of meat and poultry products to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
This week, FSIS released podcasts helpful to both consumers and plant owners and operators. Check out
these new podcasts on the FSIS Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Podcasts/index.asp.
- Ham
- Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Humane Handling, Part 1 of 7
Slaughter Inspection 101 Fact Sheet
"Slaughter Inspection 101" describes the mission of FSIS, the basics of inspection and the
duties performed by FSIS inspectors in meat and poultry slaughter facilities.
Have questions? View details at www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
Slaughter_Inspection_101/index.asp.
FSIS Launches New "Ask Karen" Upgrades
FSIS has upgraded "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative, available 24 hours a day on
FSIS' Web site. The tool can answer consumer questions about the prevention of foodborne illness as
well as the safe handling, preparation and storage of meat, poultry and egg products from an extensive
database of food safety information.
Users will notice a new look with new features. Search results will be displayed in a new tabular format.
Users can filter results by topic or product and submit questions if the answer doesn't appear in the
knowledge base. To get started, visit askkaren.gov.
For more information on "Ask Karen" contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline
(1-888-674-6854) or send e-mail to mphotline.fsis@usda.gov.
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli O157:H7
Weekly updates for the Agency's raw beef E. coli sampling program are posted to FSIS' Web site.
For comparative 2008 and 2009 results, go to
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ground_Beef_E.Coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
Register for Codex Public Meeting on Food Labeling
FSIS and the Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a public
meeting to discuss information and receive public comments on agenda items to draft U.S. positions that
will be discussed at the 37th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL)
to be held in Calgary, Canada.
The meeting will be held April 7 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 107A of the Jamie Whitten Federal Building,
1200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.
Attendees must pre-register and present photo identification at the door. To pre-register, please send your
name, organization, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address to Maria Espinoza at
uscodex@fsis.usda.gov
or call (202) 205-7760. Individuals may also fax items to (202) 720-3157.
Documents and agenda items related to the 37th Session of CCFL will be available on the Codex Alimentarius
Web site at www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.
FSIS Issues Notices
FSIS issues notices to enhance the Agency's efforts in protecting public health. The following policy updates
were issued this week:
- Notice 21-09, Humane Handling Activities and Documentation in Livestock Slaughter Establishments
- Notice 22-09, Follow-Up Sampling of Certain Raw Ground Beef Products after an FSIS Verification Sample Tests Positive for E. coli O157:H7
- Notice 23-09, Routine Sampling of Beef Manufacturing Trimmings intended for Use in Ground Beef
- Notice 24-09, Child Nutrition Labeled Products
All notices are available on the FSIS Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
FSIS_notices_index/index.asp.
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Last Modified:
April 3, 2009 |
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