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Note: Constituent Update will not publish on Friday, July 2 but we will be back Friday, July 9.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.
USDA Signs MOU with the Pan American Health Organization
The U.S. Department of Agriculture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) on June 24, 2004. The MOU outlines the ways in which PAHO and USDA will
cooperate in order to implement joint projects that strive to enhance the availability, and facilitate
the inter-hemispheric trade, of wholesome food for the people of the PAHO member states.
The MOU goals are:
- Increase the availability and facilitate the trade of safe food, particularly meat, poultry and egg products in the Western Hemisphere;
- Promote greater participation of countries with small-and medium-sized economies in the international standard-setting processes;
- Enhance program coordination to reduce redundancy among programs with common objectives, procedures and communications;
- Promote interaction between scientists and government food safety officials; and
- Facilitate the coordination and sharing of resources between the participants necessary for program management, scientific investigation, and standard-setting and to reach consensus on issues of common concern.
USDA and PAHO currently collaborate on several projects through strategic alliances to increase and improve food
safety, animal health and trade. The MOU is effective immediately and will be in place for the next three years.
BBQ Sauce Interim Final Rule Now Available
FSIS issued an interim final rule (Docket No. 96-006F) amending the regulatory standard of identity for "Beef
with Barbecue Sauce" and "Pork with Barbecue Sauce."
The final rule modifies raw and cooked meat yield requirements for "beef with barbecue sauce"
and "pork with barbecue sauce," enabling producers to be more commercially competitive with
producers of other meat and sauce products that do not have similar requirements.
The rule becomes effective on July 23, 2004 and is available in its entirety on FSIS' Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/FRPubs/96-006F.htm.
Reminder: FSIS Seeks Comments on Upcoming New Technology Web Site
FSIS issued a Federal Register notice (Docket No. 04-003N) on June 17, 2004, requesting comments on the types of information it
intends to post on its web site regarding new food safety technologies that meat and poultry establishments may implement.
FSIS is seeking comments on a proposed plan to post information that concerns the use of new technologies
in the production of meat, poultry, and egg products on its Web site. The posted information will focus on
new technologies currently under review, or that have already been reviewed, by the agency. Comments are
being sought specifically regarding the value to the public, potential costs and negative effects that
this information would have if made available to the public.
All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number 04-003N and be received by
July 19, 2004. Comments may be submitted to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250 or through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.
The notice in its entirety is available on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/04-003N.htm.
Locations Announced for July E. coli O157:H7 Workshops
FSIS is holding a series of teaching workshops around the nation through September 2004 for small and
very small plants on new directives designed to strengthen E. coli O157:H7 prevention procedures.
The workshops are scheduled on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. They will present the materials in the
directives to operators of small and very small federally-inspected plants, state-inspected plants,
federal and state inspection personnel, members of academia and other interested parties.
The three FSIS Directives to be covered during the sessions are: Directive 10,010.1 Revision 1,
Microbiological Testing Program and Other Verification Activities for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef
Products and Raw Ground Beef Components and Beef Patty Components; Directive 6420.0,
Verification of Procedures for Controlling Fecal Material, Ingesta, and Milk in Slaughter Operations;
and Directive 5000.2,
Review of Establishment Data by Inspection Program Personnel.
The following workshops scheduled for July are as follows:
- June 26 - Renaissance Boulder Suites Hotel at Flatiron, 500 Flatiron Blvd., Boulder, Colo., (303) 464 - 8400
- July 10 - The Westin New York at Times Square, 270 West 43rd St., New York, NY 10036,
(212) 201-2700
- July 17 - Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, 300 "J" Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 446-0100
- July 24 - Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017, (636) 532-5000
- July 31 - Ramada Inn - East, 1355 East Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36117, (334) 277-2200
To pre-register for this weekend's workshop in Broomfield, Colo., please call (202) 690-6520 or e-mail
renee.ellis@fsis.usda.gov.
You may also register for this workshop and all future workshops by calling (866) 553-3052 or via FSIS' Web site:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events
Library of Export Requirement Updated
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for
Guatemala, Honduras and Singapore. Complete information can be found at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/Export_Information/
Featured Office of the Week: Technical Service Center
The Technical Service Center (TSC) serves as the agency's hub for technical assistance, advice and
guidance regarding the implementation of national policies, programs, systems and procedures.
The TSC also acts as a liaison and conduit to exchange information and provide guidance to a variety of
groups, including plant owners and operators, trade group representatives, consumer groups and
any other group or individual who has questions about issues related to the regulation of meat,
poultry or egg products.
For more information on the TSC please visit their Web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/TSC/
or call the TSC toll-free at 1-800-233-3935.
THIS WEEK'S HOT WEB LINKS
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