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Chile Eligible to Export Meat Products
FSIS is adding Chile to the list of countries eligible to export meat and meat products to the United States.
After a thorough review of the country's meat slaughter and processing inspection system, FSIS concluded
that Chile's meat inspection laws, regulations, and other written materials demonstrate that the
country's requirements are equivalent to relevant requirements in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA).
FSIS also determined that Chile's implementation of meat inspection standards and procedures is equivalent
to that of the United States.
Meat and meat products slaughtered and processed in certified Chilean establishments may be exported to
the United States. All such products will be subject to re-inspection by FSIS inspectors at U.S.
ports-of-entry, as required by law.
The country will be eligible to export meat and meat products to the United States beginning December 21.
For further information, contact Sally White, Director, International Equivalence Staff, Office of
International Affairs, by phone at (202) 720-6400.
Use of PBIS Set to Begin in December
FSIS issued Notice 79-05 recently. The notice announces that in December 2005, inspection program personnel
will begin using Performance Based Inspection System (PBIS) 5.1.3, which is an updated and enhanced
version of the PBIS 5.1 system that provides for the inclusion of more information and improved
security features. Changes include a modified means of preparing Noncompliance Records (NRs) which
involves use of an expanded list of relevant regulations in creating the NR. Changes also involve the
inclusion of Profile Extensions that the Agency will use to gather information about establishment
activities that are not already found in the Plant Profile. This would include gathering information
about exported product and the establishment's Food Defense Plan.
PBIS 5.1.3 has been updated to facilitate the Agency's ability to do a search of NRs. In previous PBIS
versions, when documenting NRs, inspection program personnel selected applicable Sanitation Performance
Standards (SPS), Sanitation SOP, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations from a
pick list and if necessary, manually entered additional regulations specific to a product.
Notice 79-05 is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/Notice_79-05/.
FSIS Issues Notice 80-05 on Beef Products
FSIS issued Notice 80-05 on December 5. The notice instructs inspection program personnel to update
their establishment profiles under the new Performance Based Inspection System (PBIS) version 5.1.3 to
identify the production of raw ground or comminuted beef meeting the standard of identity mentioned in
9 CFR 319.15 a, b, or c, which are subject to Escherichia coli (E.coli) O157:H7 testing
under the MT03 project code.
Fresh or frozen beef or ground beef, hamburger, beef patties, veal patties and patty mix are products
subject to the MT03 project sampling.
Raw ground beef which contains beef products from the advanced meat recovery (AMR) system are also subject
to the MT03 project sampling.
The following products are not subject to the MT03 project sampling: beef steaks, veal steaks, partially
defatted beef fatty tissue, any beef mixed with other species (pork or poultry), fresh beef sausage, Italian
sausage, any raw beef sausage products and raw beef meatballs.
Inspection program personnel at the establishments will be able to update the establishment profiles in the
PBIS 5.1.3 version by checking the "new" box that identifies raw ground products produced under the Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Point processing category.
However, this will only occur when the establishments meet the standard of identity found in the 9
CFR 319.15 articles, subject to the MT03 project sampling.
Notice 80-05 is available on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations/Notice_80-05/.
For further information, contact FSIS' Technical Service Center at 1-800-233-3935.
Reminder for Public Amenability Meeting
A public meeting to discuss possible changes to the jurisdiction over certain foods that contain meat
and poultry will be held by FSIS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and
Drug Administration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. December 15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center,
5555 North River Road, Rosemont, Ill. Registration at the meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. Amenability
is the only issue that will be discussed at this meeting.
Seating is limited. To register for the meeting in advance please visit:
http://register.grad.usda.gov/conferences/fda/
fda-fsis_reg_form.cfm.
The meeting agenda is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
Those who plan to attend and submit comments at the meeting are encouraged to notify FSIS at the time of
registration.
FSIS Provides Information on AI
FSIS has included on its Web site information regarding avian influenza (AI).
Included on the Web page are a history of the virus, terminology associated with the virus and information
on transmissibility and prevention.
For further information, visit FSIS' Web site at http://www.usda.gov/birdflu.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the
following: Chili, European Union, and Germany. Complete information can be found at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations/
Export_Information/
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