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Regulatory Education Session Date Change for Austin, Texas
FSIS has changed the date of the Austin, Texas regulatory education session from September 14 to September 18.
This regulatory education session will now be held on September 18, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., in Austin, Texas.
The next session will be held on September 12, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., in Madison, WI.
The sessions will cover a regulatory walkthrough of the sanitation standard operating procedures, hazard analysis
and critical control point and rules of practice regulations.
To register by phone, call (800) 336-3747. Online registration forms and information about upcoming sessions
can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Outreach_Sessions_SVS_Plants/index.asp.
FSIS Posts National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Campylobacter Report on Web Site
FSIS posted on its Web site on August 25, the final version of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological
Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) Campylobacter report and accompanying methodology flowchart.
This document summarizes the past committee deliberations on Campylobacter, including previous questions
posed to the committee. The document also addresses new questions posed by FSIS to the committee at the July 12,
2005, public meeting.
Since a formal report specifically addressing Campylobacter methods had not previously been developed by NACMCF,
the committee is using this report to compile all past and current activities associated with Campylobacter.
The NACMCF Campylobacter report and methodology flowchart are available on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
NACMCF_Campylobacter_092805.pdf (PDF Only).
FSIS Posts Salmonella Compliance Guideline for Broilers on Web Site
FSIS announced several new initiatives as part of its efforts to lower the level of Salmonella in all
classes of raw products during the public meeting in February in Atlanta, GA.
One of the agency's initiatives is the development of a Salmonella compliance guideline
(PDF Only) especially for small and very small broiler establishments. The guideline will help establishments better
control Salmonella levels in their products.
This compliance guideline describes concerns and validates controls for each step in the broiler slaughter
process including pre-harvest. Additionally, it provides an example of a real-life validation study as well
as several Web site references, including the Technical Service Center Web site address and food safety
hotline number.
The agency intends for establishments to use this guideline to improve their Salmonella management practices.
As a result, establishments will produce raw poultry products that are less contaminated by pathogens including Salmonella.
The Salmonella Compliance Guideline for broilers is available on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/Compliance_Guides_Index/index.asp.
FSIS Issues New Directive and Notice
On August 23, FSIS issued Directive 10,220.3, Using the FAST Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST) to Detect
Antimicrobial Drug Residues in Cattle and Swine.
This directive provides information that replaces the Swab Test on Premises (STOP) in swine slaughter establishments.
FAST is the preferred in-plant screening test for any slaughter class of swine or cattle.
Directive 10,220.3 also clarifies FSIS' policies regarding the use of in-plant residue screening tests for the
detection of antimicrobial drug residues in cattle and swine.
A copy of the directive may be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/
FSISDirectives/10220-3.pdf (PDF Only).
On August 23, FSIS also issued Notice 51-06, Sample Collection from Cattle under the Bovine Spongiform Encephalophathy
(BSE) Ongoing Surveillance Program.
This notice provides inspection program personnel with instructions regarding the collection of brain samples for the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ongoing surveillance plan as well
as notification of changes in the electronic animal disposition reporting system to accommodate the collection changes.
A copy of this notice may be viewed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/
FSISNotices/51-06.pdf (PDF Only).
FSIS Re-Issues Notice on Nominations for Membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
FSIS re-published a Federal Register notice on August 23, titled, Nominations for Membership on the
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods; Correction. The changes in this notice
pertain to the in-person attendance of National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF)
members at meetings and the date for accepting nominations.
The agency is accepting nominations until September 22. Nominations should be sent to Karen Thomas, advisory committee
specialist, FSIS, Room 333 Aerospace Center, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, or by e-mail at
karen.thomas@fsis.usda.gov.
The corrected 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/2006-0015C.htm.
Register for the 2006 Food Safety Education Conference Today
Register today for the 2006 Food Safety Education Conference titled, "Reaching At-Risk Audiences and Today's Other
Food Safety Challenges," in Denver, CO, from September 27-29. Pre-conference workshops will be held September 25-26.
A session titled, "Underreporting of Foodborne Illness: Strategies to Increase Awareness and Diagnosis" will
be featured on the first day of the conference.
This session is designed to promote awareness and the significance of reporting foodborne illness. In this session,
issues that promote underreporting and the consequences of underreporting will be explored. Additionally, strategies
for improving the reporting of foodborne illness will also be discussed.
The three-day conference is sponsored by FSIS; NSF International, a non-profit public health company; the Food and
Drug Administration; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; USDA's Food and Nutrition Service; NSF/WHO Collaborating Center for Food Safety; and other
partners.
The conference, which will focus on educating general and at-risk populations such as pregnant women, children, older
adults, immune-compromised patients and culturally diverse populations about food safety, will be organized around
five primary themes:
- Foodborne Illness Surveillance and Epidemiological Insights;
- Food Safety Behavioral and Attitudinal Research;
- Social Marketing, Educational Interventions and Program Research;
- Role of Foodservice and Food Industries; and
- New Technologies.
Hotel rooms at the conference rate of $124.00 are going quickly. To reserve your room, call the Adam's Mark Hotel,
1550 Court Place, Denver, Colo., at (800) 444-2326.
To register for the conference, view the entire program and see the list of presenters, go to
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/denver2006.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Mexico
- People's Republic of China
Complete information can be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Office of Food Safety to Hold Public Meeting on Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on August 22, to announce that USDA's Office of Food Safety, the Food
and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will hold a public meeting on September 12.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions
that will be discussed at the 28th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held October 30 - November 3, in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The public meeting will be held from 1-4 p.m., in the auditorium (1A003) of the Harvey 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/2006-0023.htm.
Export Tip of the Week
Prior to issuing export documents for countries requiring export verification (EV) programs, FSIS must secure clearance
from the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
AMS reports that the primary reasons for denying the issuance of export documents are: (1) the product codes or
descriptions do not match the approved product list; (2) if required, the letterhead certificates were not submitted or
were incorrectly prepared; (3) the export form(s) were not submitted; (4) the statement,
"product meets the EV requirements," was not included in the remarks section of the application form; (5) the
application form was not signed by FSIS; (6) the application form was not included with the documentation submitted;
(7) the export certificate number differed on the documents submitted; (8) the establishment number was not included
on the application form or on the primary export certificate or other accompanying certificates (if required);
and (9) for Japan, the slaughter and processing dates were not included with the documentation.
It is important to carefully review all necessary documents prior to submitting them to AMS. For further information,
contact FSIS' Office of International Affairs at (202) 720-3473.
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Last Modified:
August 25, 2006 |
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