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Codex Public Meeting on Meat Hygiene
On January 21, 2005 a public meeting will be held to provide information
and receive comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the
11th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission's Committee on Meat
Hygiene (CCMH), February 14-18 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The public meeting will be held from 2-4 p.m. in Room 0161, South
Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW, Washington, DC. Agenda items to be discussed include a draft code
of hygienic practices for meat and matters referred from the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and other Codex Committees. Agenda items for
the meeting can be found at: www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.
The Codex Executive Committee (CEC) at its 47th Session in 2000 asked
that the CCMH reconvene to redraft the existing codes on meat hygiene
so that they reflect contemporary developments. The CEC also asked
that the scope of the existing codes be broadened to include poultry
meat hygiene. These recommendations were confirmed by the 24th Session
of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in July 2001.
Codex was created in 1962 by two United Nations organizations: the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization
(WHO). Codex develops food standards, guidelines and codes of practice
in order to protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trade practices
in the food trade and promote coordination of food standards work
undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
For information concerning the public meeting or for a sign language
interpreter, contact Edith Kennard, Codex Committee Analyst, U.S.
Codex Office, FSIS, at (202) 720-5261 or fax (202) 720-3157.
FSIS Notice on Performance Based Inspection System
On January 13, 2005, FSIS issued Notice 4-05 which announces that
in January 2005, inspection program personnel, including import inspectors,
will begin using Performance Based Inspection System (PBIS) Version
5.1, which is an updated and enhanced version of the electronic field
version of PBIS.
FSIS has been using PBIS since 1989. Over the past fifteen years,
numerous enhancements have been implemented and executed within this
application, including introduction of the electronic field version
of PBIS 5.0 in 2001.
For more information on the new features of the PBIS system visit:
www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Notice_04-05/*
Updates
to Generic HACCP Model and Compliance Guideline are Now Available
The Generic Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Model
for Heat Treated, Shelf Stable Meat and Poultry Products (Model #10)
has been updated and is now available at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Generic_HACCP_Models/.
This is the second revision of this generic HACCP model. It was originally
published in September 1999 and it is consistent with the Food Safety
Regulatory Essentials (FSRE) training.
In addition, the Compliance Guideline for Meat and Poultry Jerky has
also been updated and is now available at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Generic_HACCP_Models/.
It was originally developed in response to an outbreak of salmonellosis
linked to beef jerky. The updated Compliance Guideline provides more
detailed explanation concerning the need for humidity during cooking,
a description of simple and practical measures an establishment can
use to meet this need and an expanded description of customized processes.
FSIS Notice on the Electronic Animal Disposition
Reporting System (eADRS) On January 12, 2005, FSIS issued
Notice 03-05 which explains how the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS) receives data from the Electronic Animal Disposition
Reporting System (eADRS) and provides inspection program personnel
with procedures to ensure that NASS does not receive duplicate or
conflicting data. It also informs inspection program personnel that
NASS may contact them with questions about the data and explains when
and who can make the changes in eADRS.
NASS uses daily reports from all FSIS establishments to compile a
report of aggregated totals and to validate livestock production and
disposition estimates. The report is provided weekly to the Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS). Based on this data, AMS releases the "Livestock,
Meat, and Wool Weekly Summary" and the "Daily Estimated
Slaughter of Broiler/Fryers," among other reports. These reports
are used by various groups and provide the best available information
to Congress and to the public on the number of animals and birds commercially
slaughtered. For more information visit: www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Notice_03-05/*
FSIS Announces Pilot Program for Sharing Isolates
FSIS will launch a one-year pilot program to allow third parties to
request that the agency share isolates from bacteria recovered from
sampled meat, poultry and egg products and from samples of the environment
in which these products were produced. The pilot program was developed
in response to occasional requests for isolates from third parties,
and because the agency has not had a policy for consideration of these
requests. The pilot will begin on February 1, 2005. Requestors of
isolates will have to explain why public health will be advanced by
granting their request. They will also need to comply with pertinent
laws and regulations regarding shipment of such samples.
FSIS will monitor the costs and problems associated with implementing
such a program, as there is currently no means available to the agency
to recoup its personnel and supply expenditures. The actual costs
of shipment will be borne by the requestor. If the agency's costs
become excessive, FSIS may need to terminate the program. A detailed
description of the program can be found at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Pilot_Program_Isolates/
The USDA Food Safety Mobile: Taking Food Safety
Education on the Road
Correction: This
is an update to the schedule printed in the Dec. 30th edition of the
Update.
- Jan. 15-16, 2005 NBC 5 Health and Fitness Expo (Dallas, TX)
- Jan. 21-23, 2005 Yuma Lettuce Days (Yuma, Ariz.)
- Jan. 29-30, 2005 Holtville 58th Annual Carrot Festival (Holtville,
Calif.)
Library of Export Requirements Updated
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes
in export requirements for Malaysia, Mexico, New Caledonia, Philippines
and Vietnam. Complete information can be found at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Export_Information/
THIS WEEK'S HOT WEB LINKS
The Constituent Update will not publish on January 21, 2005
due to the federal holiday. |
| *Note: These Notices have now expired. |
Last Modified:
February 2, 2006 |
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