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FSIS Announces Policy on Delinquent Payments for Voluntary Reimbursable Inspection Services
FSIS issued a notice this week announcing that it will not provide reimbursable services to establishments that have
delinquent accounts and will pursue the collection of debts owed for such services.
The agency charges fees for voluntary reimbursable inspection, certification and identification services provided to
establishments, warehouses and importers and exporters of meat, poultry and egg products. FSIS is authorized to recover
the cost of providing these services.
Under the new policy, FSIS will send notices to all individuals and establishments that have outstanding balances. If
FSIS does not receive full payment within 30 days then a second notice will be sent via certified letter. This letter
will indicate that if payment in full is not received within 14 days, FSIS will not provide any further services for
that individual, warehouse or establishment until the unsettled debt is paid, including any interest, penalty and
assessed administrative charges. FSIS will eventually transfer any delinquent debts to the U.S. Department of Treasury
for further action.
For further information on the new delinquent payments policy, contact Teresa Ramsey, Branch Chief, Financial and
Accounting Branch, Office of Management, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 5601
Sunnyside Ave, Mail Drop 5262, Beltsville, MD, 20705, via phone at (301) 504-5885 or via email at
teresa.ramsey@fsis.usda.gov
Effective Date for FSIS' BSE Notices Have Been Extended
FSIS is extending the expiration date for the following FSIS Notices until February 1, 2006:
- FSIS Notice 4-04, Awareness Meeting Regarding New Regulations that Prohibit Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle and the Use of Certain Materials from Cattle for Human Food
- FSIS Notice 5-04, Interim Guidance for Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle and Age Determination
- FSIS Notice 7-04, Questions and Answers for FSIS Notice 4-04 Regarding FSIS' BSE Regulations
- FSIS Notice 9-04, Verification Instructions for the Interim Final Rule Regarding Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) In Cattle
These notices were due to expire February 1, 2005. However, the notices and instructions provided in them will remain in effect
until FSIS takes final action on the interim final rule, "Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food
and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disable Cattle." When final action is taken, FSIS will reissue the
relevant information from these notices in a FSIS Directive. To view these notices visit:
www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/
BSE_FSIS_Notice_Extension.pdf
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products Public Meeting
On February 9, the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug
Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will hold a public meeting to provide information and
receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the 27th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and
Fishery Products, February 28 through March 4, in Cape Town, South Africa. The public meeting will be held from 9:00
a.m. to 12 p.m. in Room 2B-047 of the Harvey Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD.
For further information about the upcoming public meetings contact Syed Amjad Ali, International Issues Analyst, U.S.
Codex Office, FSIS, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC, 20250, by phone
at (202) 205-7760 or by fax at (202) 720-3157. Agenda items for all of the meetings can be found at
www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp
FSIS Publishes Amended Plan for Reviewing Regulations Under Section 610 Requirements
FSIS is publishing an amended scheduling plan for reviewing regulations under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act. These provisions require that all Federal agencies review existing regulations that have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities to determine whether the associated impact can be minimized.
For further information contact Dr. Quita Bowman Blackwell, Director, Directives and Economic Analysis Staff, FSIS, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 300 12th Street, SW, Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, via phone at (202) 720-5627 or
via email at quita.bowman@fsis.usda.gov
The entire docket (No. 04-040N) can be found at: www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
regulations_directives_&_notices/
Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
On March 15, the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug
Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will hold a public meeting to provide information and receive
comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the 26th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
in Budapest, Hungary, April 4 - 8, 2005. The public meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in room 1A002 of the
Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD.
For information concerning the public meeting or for a sign language interpreter, contact Dr. Gregory Diachenko, Director,
Division of Chemistry Research and Environmental Review, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, Harvey W. Wiley
Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD, 20740, at (301) 436-1898 or by fax at (301) 436-2634.
Agenda items for the meeting can be found at: www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp
Library of Export Requirements Updated
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for Canada, Japan, Mexico and Russia. Complete information can be found at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/
The USDA Food Safety Mobile: Taking Food Safety Education on the Road
- Feb 18-21, 2005: Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival (Indio, CA)
- Feb 25-27, 2005: Almond Blossom Festival (Ripon, CA)
THIS WEEK'S HOT WEB LINKS
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