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Special Edition: August 3, 2006
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Technical Service Center Implements New Automated Telephone System
As part of FSIS' efforts to enhance its outreach to owners and operators of small and very small plants, on August 2,
the Technical Service Center (TSC) in Omaha, NE, implemented a new automated telephone system.
When callers dial into the TSC, they will be directed to the appropriate specialist through a series of automated
voice prompts. These specialists are available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Standard Time.
The new phone number for the TSC is (402) 344-5000. The toll-free number will remain the same for program area personnel:
1-800-233-3935.
The toll-free number for FSIS' Office of Public Health Science in Omaha will also remain the same: 1-866-818-6747.
All fax numbers located at the TSC have changed. The new fax numbers are:
- TSC, Administrative: (402) 344-5005;
- TSC, Program Analysis Staff: (402) 344-5006;
- TSC, Technical Assistance Correlation: (402) 344-5007;
- TSC, Technical Assistance Correlation Residue: (402) 344-5008;
- TSC, Technical Assistance Correlation Import/Export: (402) 344-5009;
- TSC, Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review (OPEER): (402) 344-5104;
- TSC, OPEER/Internal Control Staff: (402) 344-5141;
- TSC, Office of Public Health Science: (402) 344-5166;
- TSC, Safety: (402) 344-5146.
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 notice:
Directives:
- 6000.1, Rev. 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 PHVs 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.
- 7000.1 - Verification of Non-Food Safety Consumer Protection Regulatory Requirements. This directive provides updated instructions for verifying compliance with the regulatory requirements designed to provide consumer protections other than food safety. This directive also issues new inspection system procedures for all the 04 and 05B procedures.
- 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 in swine slaughter establishments. FAST is the preferred in-plant screening 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.
Notice:
- Nationwide Young Chicken Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program. This notice provides
information to inspection program personnel at establishments participating in the FSIS Nationwide Microbiological
Baseline Data Collection Program for Young Chickens.
FSIS to Hold 2006 Food Safety Education Conference
FSIS will hold a food safety education conference titled, "Reaching At-Risk Audiences and Today's Other Food Safety Challenges"
in Denver, CO, from September 27-29. The conference will focus on educating general and at-risk populations such as
pregnant women, children, older adults, immune-compromised patients and culturally diverse populations about food safety.
The conference will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver, CO. The conference is less than two months
away and hotel rooms at the conference rate of $124.00 are going quickly. To reserve your hotel room, call the Adam's Mark
Hotel at (800) 444-2326.
This three-day conference, with pre-conference workshops on September 25-26, is being sponsored by FSIS; NSF International,
a non-profit public health company; the Food and Drug Administration; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; USDA's
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; USDA's Food and Nutrition Service; the NSF/WHO Collaborating
Center for Food Safety; and other partners.
The conference will be organized around five primary themes:
- Foodborne Illness Surveillance and Epidemiological Insights;
- Food Safety Behavioral and Attitudinal Research;
- Social Marketing, Educational Interventions and Program Research;
- Role of Foodservice and Food Industries; and
- New Technologies.
A limited number of exhibit spaces are still available. Showcase your organization, programs, services and products to a
diverse and motivated audience!
To register or view the conference program, visit FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/denver2006.
FSIS Issues Final Rule on Foreign Inspection System Supervisory Visits
FSIS published a final rule on August 3, in the Federal Register, titled, Frequency of Foreign Inspection System
Supervisory Visits to Certified Foreign Establishments.
The rule announces that FSIS is amending the Code of Federal Regulations to make the agency's requirements for foreign
inspection programs as consistent as possible with FSIS' domestic inspection program.
This final rule does not affect in-plant inspection requirements. FSIS is deleting the requirement that supervisory visits
take place "not less frequent[ly] than one such visit per month." Instead, FSIS will require foreign inspection systems to
make "periodic supervisory visits" to certified establishments to ensure that establishments meet FSIS requirements for
certification to export meat and poultry to the United States.
The final rule is available on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/03-033F.htm.
Office of Food Safety and Agricultural Marketing Service to Hold Public Meeting on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on August 1, to announce that USDA's Office of Food Safety and the
Agricultural Marketing Service will hold a public meeting to provide draft U.S. positions and receive public comments on
agenda items that will be discussed at the 23rd Session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held on October 16-21, in Arlington, VA.
The public meeting will be held on September 7, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, in Room 3074, USDA, South Agriculture Building, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.
The agency is accepting comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov
or 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/2006-0021.htm.
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 Food Defense Verification Procedures
FSIS issued Directive 5420.1, Revision 3, on August 1, titled, Homeland Security Threat Condition Response - Food Defense
Verification Procedures.
The directive details the emergency Food Defense Verification Procedures that inspection program personnel should follow
when the Department of Homeland Security declares a threat condition of yellow, orange or red.
The directive is available on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/
5420.1Rev3.pdf.
Export Tip of the Week
Country requirements are being revised to reflect the recently announced Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) export
verification program.
This program is for countries where the only restriction is that the meat be derived from animals less than 30 (LT30) months
of age.
Plants that already have an export verification program in place for other countries where this restriction applies need
only inform AMS by fax or electronic mail that they wish to be included in the LT30 program.
Countries currently subject to this program are: the Cayman Islands, Chile, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Malaysia, Philippines, St. Lucia and Ukraine.
For additional information, please call FSIS' Office of International Affairs at (202) 720-3473.
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Last Modified:
August 3, 2006 |
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