Cooperative Interstate Shipment Programs: What You Should Know
FSIS works with Ohio, North Dakota, and Wisconsin to operate Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Programs, which provide an opportunity for certain State-inspected meat and poultry processors to ship their products across State lines. USDA signed its first CIS agreement with the State of Ohio on August 8, 2012, marking the implementation of the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program created by the 2008 Farm Bill. Since that time, several Ohio establishments have been able to ship their products across State lines and nationwide. FSIS signed agreements with North Dakota and Wisconsin on January 11 and 14, 2013, respectively.
These three States still administer separate meat and poultry inspection programs that maintain inspection and sanitation requirements “at least equal to” Federal requirements, but the statute prohibits meat and poultry products produced under “at least equal to” cooperative programs from being shipped across State lines. With the addition of the CIS agreements, the Ohio, North Dakota, and Wisconsin Departments of Agriculture are now required to enforce food safety requirements that are the “same as” Federal requirements at selected establishments and apply Federal marks of inspection to the meat and poultry products produced at these establishments. Therefore, these products can be shipped across State lines.
Now that these States have successfully met the “same as” requirements of the CIS program, the agency wants to know about lessons they learned along the way.
“My advice ... to any [State] program wanting to obtain a [CIS] agreement is: be prepared to devote a considerable amount of time ...to gather the needed documentation to see the process to the end,” said Dr. W. Michael Hockman, Chief of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Meat Inspection.
“The greatest challenge to obtaining the “same as” determination was obtaining approval for our Consumer Products Laboratory,” Hockman said. “The laboratory had already been ISO 17025 approved for doing certain analyses of fruits and vegetables under a contract with the Food and Drug Administration [but] they had to separately obtain ISO approval to add meat and poultry commodities to the list of recognized tests.”
Vermont, which initially expressed interest in a CIS program, decided not to apply for an agreement at this time. Officials at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets noted that the costs of meeting “same as” Federal requirements and limited industry’s interest in joining a CIS program. Indiana also applied for a CIS program, and is working with FSIS to meet the “same as” requirements.
Overall, Hockman says, the economic benefits to Ohio State producers have been worth it. “[Ohio’s CIS] agreement has provided [a] tremendous opportunity for the interested selected establishments to expand their businesses.”
For more information about how your State can apply for a CIS program and how your State-inspected establishment can be selected, see FSIS Directive 5740.1.
Pathogen Controls in Beef Operations Survey to Begin Next Week
Beginning the week of May 6, FSIS will be conducting a comprehensive survey of inspection program personnel in select beef slaughtering and processing establishments. The purpose of the survey is to gather information on the controls and procedures these establishments have in place to address pathogen contamination and ensure that their systems are effective. FSIS will survey selected personnel in a statistically representative number of establishments. In September 2011, FSIS announced to the public in a Federal Register notice its intent to conduct the survey. In February 2013, FSIS made available a draft survey for public comment and now has made changes in response to comments. A summary of the public comments and copy of the final survey is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/2011_Proposed_Rules_Index/
index.asp#EColi.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following areas:
Complete information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS to Implement Public Health Regulation (PHR) Criterion for Scheduling FSAs
FSIS uses a number of decision criteria to prioritize establishments for for-cause Food Safety Assessments (FSAs). These criteria are described in the Agency’s Public Health Decision Criteria Report at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Science/Data_Analysis_PHR/index.asp. At the meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) in January, 2013, FSIS presented its plans to implement an updated version of the W3NR criterion, now called Public Health Regulations or PHRs. FSIS is moving ahead with implementing the PHR criteria for prioritizing FSAs starting with the May, 2013, scheduling cycle. FSIS will be posting on its website the list of public health regulations, the same list that was presented at the NACMPI meeting, as well as the cut points that will be used.
FSIS Policy Updates
FSIS issues notices and directives to protect public health. All notices and directives are available at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/index.asp. The following policy updates were recently issued:
Notice 29-13, Targeted Verification of Product Formulation and Labeling for the Eight Most Common (“BIG 8”) Food Allergens
Notice 30-13, Verification and Enforcement Activities Related to Export Certification Reimbursable Services
Notice 31-13, Instructions for Verifying All Steps in the Processing of Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products
Recall Webinar Materials Now Available: Agency Enforcement of 9 CFR 418.3
FSIS is pleased to announce the posting of the presentation from the webinar “Developing a Recall Plan: Guidelines for Meeting 9 CFR 418.3” presented on April 30, 2013. Under 9 CFR 418.3, establishments are required to prepare and maintain written procedures for the recall of all meat and poultry products produced and shipped by establishments. This requirement will be effective for small and very small plants on May 8, 2013. The webinar discussion focused on the process plants can follow to develop their recall plans and in-plant personnel responsibilities in the event of a recall. To view or download the presentation, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Recall_Presentation043013.pdf.
FSIS expects to issue written guidance on recall plans for small and very small establishments in the very near future. FSIS urges any small or very small plant that has not developed a recall plan to take advantage of the guidance as soon as it is issued. FSIS will not begin verifying that small and very small plants have adopted recall plans until after it has issued instructions on how to do so to its inspection personnel.
Faces of Food Safety
Consumer confidence in our food supply comes as a result of the work of the men and women of FSIS. “Faces of Food Safety” introduces you to employees who play a key role in making our food safe.
The following FSIS team members are among many who help ensure the humane treatment of animals.
Anthony Carson, a CSI in the Dallas district, contributes greatly to enforcing humane handling policy at the cull cattle plant where he works.
Rick Toot, a CSI in the Denver district, works a four-plant patrol assignment, including an establishment which slaughters cull dairy cows, fat cattle, beef cows, bulls, swine, sheep, goats, elk and bison.
Rosalinda Curb, a CSI in the Alameda district, is very observant and conscientious regarding the care and handling of cattle.
Check out their story at www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/
Faces_Food_Safety/index.asp.
Follow Us On Twitter
Find food safety information for at-risk people, along with tips and resources to keep consumers and other
interested groups informed of the latest agency news and events. Follow FSIS on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/USDAFoodSafety.
Also Tweet en Español
The FSIS Spanish language Twitter feed keeps consumers and other interested communities informed of the latest
agency news and events and provides useful food safety tips.
Follow FSIS' Spanish Twitter account at www.twitter.com/usdafoodsafe_es.
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