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April 21, 2006
FSIS Adds China to List of Countries Eligible to Export Poultry Products
FSIS issued a news release on April 20, to announce a final rule making the People's Republic of China eligible to export processed poultry products to the United States.

Under the rule, which becomes effective May 24, only poultry slaughtered in FSIS-inspected establishments or slaughtered in other countries eligible to export poultry to the United States can be processed and exported to the United States from China.

Certified establishments in China must have procedures in place to ensure that products produced for domestic use are processed at separate times from those produced for export to the United States. FSIS, through on site reviews, will verify that establishments certified by the government of China are meeting all U.S. requirements.

The rule proposing to allow the export of processed poultry products from China was published in November 2005, following 18 months of review of documentation and on site audits of China's poultry processing inspection system.

FSIS determined that China's laws, regulations and other materials showed that its poultry processing system includes requirements equivalent to all provisions in the Poultry Products Inspection Act and its implementing regulations.

The rule is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp.

Reminder of Public Meeting on Posting List of Retail Consignees
FSIS will hold a public meeting on April 24 to solicit comments on its proposal to make available to the public lists of retail consignees of meat and poultry products that have voluntarily been recalled by a federally inspected meat or poultry establishment if product has been distributed to the retail level.

The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon, in the conference room at the south end of the cafeteria in the USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250.

The agency is accepting comments on the proposed rule until May 8. Comments may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or by electronic mail at FSIS.RegulationsComments@usda.gov.

Agenda items will be available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/. To pre-register, contact Diane Jones at (202) 720-9692 or by e-mail at Diane.Jones@fsis.usda.gov.

FSIS Issues Notice on PBIS Profile Extension Instructions on Food Defense Plans
FSIS issued Notice 28-06 on April 20, to provide instructions to inspectors-in-charge at meat and poultry establishments for completing a profile extension about an establishment's food defense plan.

This profile extension will provide FSIS with an overview of how establishments address food defense and will enable FSIS to establish a national baseline.

A separate notice will be issued for import, export and egg processing establishments to complete a food defense plan profile.

The notice is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/
FSISNotices/28-06.pdf
(PDF Only).

FSIS Answers Questions on Cleaning Frequency
FSIS issued Notice 27-06 on April 19, titled, Availability of Cleaning Frequency Questions and Answers.

The notice responds to inspection program personnel inquiries concerning the circumstances in which meat and poultry establishments are able to employ less than daily clean-ups in their operations.

Notice 27-06 defines the general matters that inspection program personnel should consider in performing their verification activities.

This notice is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/
FSISNotices/27-06.pdf
(PDF Only).

FSIS Answers Questions on Donated Products FSIS issued Notice 26-06 on April 18, to announce the availability of questions and answers regarding donated products.

The notice titled, Availability of Questions and Answers Regarding Donated Products, addresses situations that have arisen in the wake of hurricanes and other disasters that have affected this country.

The notice is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
Notice_26-06/index.asp
.

Office of Food Safety to Hold Public Meeting on Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on April 19, titled, Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods.

The notice announces that USDA's Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Department of Health and Human Service's Center for Veterinary Medicine will hold a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the 16th Session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods, which will be held from May 8-12, in Cancun, Mexico.

The public meeting will be held on April 26, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., in Room 1160, USDA South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250.

The agency is accepting comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or by electronic mail at FSIS.RegulationsComments@usda.gov.

The notice is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/
FRPubs/2006-0007.htm
.

Office of Food Safety to Hold Public Meeting on Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on April 19, to announce that USDA's Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Department of Health and Human Service's Food and Drug Administration will hold a public meeting on May 9. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 27th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held from May 15-19, in Budapest, Hungary. The public meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon, in Room 1A-002 of the Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740.

The agency is accepting comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or by electronic mail at FSIS.RegulationsComments@usda.gov.

The notice is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/
FRPubs/2006-0010.htm
.

IKE Scenario Available Online
FSIS has made Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) scenario 04-06, Clarification of the Appeal Process for FSIS Personnel and Industry (example: Appeal Granted).

This scenario is the second of two which will focus on the appeals process.

The scenario can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/
IKE_Scenarios/index.asp
.

If you have questions or comments regarding this IKE scenario, contact the Technical Service Center at (800) 233-3935 or by e-mail at ike@fsis.usda.gov.

Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following: Malaysia, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.

Complete information can be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp
.

FSIS Issues Correction to Notice on Determining Net Weight Compliance
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on April 19, titled, Determining Net Weight Compliance for Meat and Poultry Products.

This notice corrects the preamble and regulatory text to a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on March 28, concerning net weight compliance for meat and poultry products.

The notice is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/
FRPubs/04-041C.htm.


Export Tip of the Week
When issuing health certificates for meat and poultry products, FSIS personnel should review the latest information published for that country's requirements.

Countries are changing their import requirements to include additional certification statements. While a grace period is generally provided, some countries will implement a new requirement immediately.

It is important to check the country requirements each time a health certificate is issued or ask the exporter to provide a copy of the latest version.

This may save time and reduce the number of "replacement certificates" that would be required at a later date.

Visit FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp
to learn more about requirements for exporting products to other countries.


Last Modified: April 21, 2006

 

 

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