 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FSIS Rolls Out Groundbreaking Outreach Program to Assist Small and Very Small Plants
Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond, Deputy Administrator Bryce Quick and other FSIS and USDA officials
conducted an interactive meeting on May 31, in College Station, TX, on FSIS' implementation plan for enhancing
outreach to small and very small plants. This groundbreaking initiative will provide the assistance necessary for
small and very small plant owners to further improve their establishments' food safety programs.
"As part of our commitment to ensure food safety at all of our nation's plants, FSIS held a national series of
listening sessions and has identified innovative ways for small and very small establishments to fully benefit from
our safety program that is responsible for dramatic reductions in foodborne illness," said Raymond. "We will
continue to enhance our outreach efforts to these plants and enlist our partners to ensure critical training, access
to food safety experts and information resources are available in a format that's uniform, easily accessible and
consistent."
The FSIS initiative also offers the opportunity for increased interagency collaboration. Through enhanced outreach
efforts, FSIS will make plant owners and operators aware of loan programs available through USDA's Rural Business and
Cooperative programs. Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr also attended the event.
"Plant owners, working through lenders, will be able to obtain loan guarantees, making it easier for them to gain
access to commercial credit in order to upgrade facilities or equipment, which will further enhance food safety,"
said Dorr. "This initiative is a good example of USDA agencies working together to better serve the needs of
consumers and industry."
To view the news release on this event and the strategic implementation plan for strengthening small and very small
plant outreach, visit FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
NR_053106_01/index.asp.
FSIS Posts Reports and Presentations from Public Meeting on Risk-Based Inspection
FSIS posted on its Web site the reports and presentations from the recent National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry
Inspection (NACMPI) public meeting on risk-based inspection.
NACMPI held the public meeting from May 23-24, in Washington DC, to discuss issues related to the further development
of a more robust risk-based inspection system.
The subcommittees met on May 23, to discuss measuring establishment risk control for risk-based inspection and a
strategic implementation plan for enhancing outreach to small and very small plants. The full committee met on both days.
Reports and presentations from the NACMPI meeting can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
National_Advisory_Committee_on_Meat_&_Poultry/
index.asp.
FSIS to Issue Directives and Notices
FSIS publishes directives and notices to enable the agency to carry out its mission of protecting public health. Within
the next month, FSIS expects to issue the following directives and notices:
Directives
- 6000.1, Revision 1 - Responsibilities Related to Foreign Animal Diseases (FADs). This directive provides public health veterinarians (PHVs) instructions to follow when they suspect that animals may have FADs, or when they observe symptoms of FADs or other reportable conditions. This directive is being revised to update the lists of reportable diseases and add lagomorph (rabbits) diseases.
- 10,220.4 - Using the FAST Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST) to Detect Antimicrobial Drug Residues in Cattle and Swine. This directive is being issued to replace the Swab Test on Premises (STOP) in swine slaughter establishments. FAST is the preferred in-plant screen test for any slaughter class of swine or cattle. This directive also clarifies FSIS policies regarding the use of in-plant residue screening tests for the detection of antimicrobial drug residues in cattle and swine.
- 12,600.1 - Voluntary Reimbursable Inspection Services (Fee-for-Service). This directive describes voluntary reimbursable inspection services available to facilities such as warehouses, cold storage facilities and off-premises freezers.
Notices (Numbers are assigned as notices are issued.)
- Certification of Intestines or Animal Casings for Export. This notice provides instructions to inspection program personnel regarding intestines and casings from animals that are eligible to receive marks of inspection and be certified for export.
FSIS Provides Questions and Answers Regarding Use of Non-Amenable Animal Tissues in Inspected Products
FSIS issued Notice 30-06 on May 25, titled, Availability of Questions and Answers Regarding Use of Non-Amenable Animal
Tissues in Inspected Products.
This notice announces the availability of questions and answers regarding Notice 15-06, Use of Non-Amenable Animal Tissues
in Inspected Products, and other questions related to non-amenable animal tissues.
FSIS Notice 15-06 provides the clarification that non-amenable animal tissues do not need to bear a mark of inspection
(federal, state or non-domestic) to be included in amenable meat or poultry products produced in official establishments.
Notice 30-06 is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Notice_30-06/index.asp.
Contact FSIS' Technical Service Center at (800) 233-3935 with questions regarding Notice 30-06.
FSIS Updates Directive on Verifying an Establishment's Food Safety System
FSIS re-issued Directive 5000.1, Revision 2 on June 1, to provide comprehensive direction to consumer safety inspectors
(CSIs) on how they are to protect the public health by properly verifying an establishment's compliance with pathogen
reduction, sanitation and HACCP regulations.
The directive titled, Verifying an Establishment's Food Safety System, has been rewritten to include only
verification instructions for CSIs that were included in the directive's accompanying handbook.
This revision is necessary because the earlier version provided instructions to consumer safety officers, now called
enforcement, investigation and analysis officers (EIAOs). Instructions for EIAOs can be found in the 5100 series of
directives.
FSIS Directive 5000.1, Revision 2 is available on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/
5000.1_Rev2.pdf (PDF Only).
Export Tip of the Week
FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness, should be issued at an exporter's request for
products destined for U.S. embassies, ship stores and U.S. military use. One of the following three statements should
appear in the "remarks" section: (1) Product destined to U.S. Embassy; (2) Product destined to Ship Stores; or
(3) Product destined for U.S. military use.
Most countries accept FSIS Form 9060-5 with the appropriate statement in the "remarks" section, but there are
rare instances when a country will require additional documentation. For example, product destined to Germany for U.S.
military use or to ship stores requires a transit certificate. When in doubt, check the country requirements.
Visit FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Regulations_&_Policies/Export_Information/index.asp to learn more about requirements for exporting products to other countries.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
Complete information can be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS Issues Notice on International Standard-Setting Activities
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on June 1, titled, International Standard-Setting Activities.
This notice informs the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (Codex).
The notice also provides a list of other Codex standard-setting activities, including commodity standards, guidelines,
codes of practice and revised texts.
The agency is accepting comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov and by electronic mail at
FSIS.RegulationsComments@usda.gov.
This 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/2006-0004.htm.
Hot Links
FSIS' 100 Years Commemorative Web Page
This year, FSIS celebrates 100 years of protecting the food supply under the Federal Meat Inspection Act.
To access FSIS' 100 years commemorative Web page, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/100years/.
Questions and Answers on Avian Influenza
Want to know the latest information on avian influenza (AI)?
FSIS has an AI Question and Answer Fact Sheet on the front page of its
Web site (www.fsis.usda.gov), as well as a Poultry Preparation Fact Sheet.
Information about USDA avian influenza efforts can be found at www.usda.gov/birdflu
and at the U.S. government's comprehensive Web resource, www.pandemicflu.gov.
|
Last Modified:
June 2, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
To view PDF files you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
