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Meeting to Discuss FSIS/FDA Regulation Over Certain Foods Announced
FSIS, in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
recently announced a public meeting concerning possible changes to the jurisdiction over certain food products
that contain meat and poultry.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and solicit public comment on an approach to providing consistency
and predictability in the inspection of certain foods containing meat and poultry products.
The meeting will be held December 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center,
5555 North River Road, Rosemont, Ill. By law, FSIS has authority over meat and poultry products, while FDA
has authority over all foods not under FSIS' jurisdiction. FSIS and FDA formed a working group to examine
jurisdictional issues for food categories that contain meat and poultry ingredients.
The group suggested that certain product categories are no longer consistent, mainly because of marketplace
changes. For example, FSIS regulates corn dogs, while FDA regulates bagel dogs.
The meeting is intended to invite public comment on an approach recommended by the working group. The approach
would utilize food conditions and factors when making jurisdictional decisions for existing and future food
products containing meat and poultry.
Those foods containing meat and/or poultry as ingredients primarily for the purpose of accentuating flavor are
recommended to be under FDA's jurisdiction, while products that primarily contain meat and poultry ingredients,
such as bagel dogs, meat and poultry-based sandwiches are recommended to be regulated by FSIS.
Those interested in attending the public meeting can register on FSIS' Web site at
https://register.grad.usda.gov/conferences/fda/fda-fsis_reg_form.cfm,
or by faxing registration information, including name, title, firm name, address, telephone number, e-mail
address and fax number to (301) 436-2605 at least five days before the meeting.
FSIS Adopts BAX® for E. coli Testing
On November 1, FSIS announced that it is adopting the BAX® system to detect E. coli in raw beef.
The BAX® system is a rapid, highly sensitive test for the detection of low levels of E. coli
O157:H7 in raw beef products.
FSIS will use it as an initial screening test for all raw beef samples that are analyzed for E. coli
O157:H7. Any sample found positive by a screening test must undergo further confirmatory analysis.
The BAX® system substantially reduces the number of samples that are initially found to be a screening
positive, but then later confirmed to be negative. By reducing the number of false screening-positives,
FSIS will save critical laboratory resources that can be used for other food safety or food defense testing,
which enhances FSIS' efforts to protect public health.
It will also reduce the number of days that raw product from negative production lots must be held pending
laboratory results.
FSIS is optimistic this will increase the number of establishments choosing to hold product pending FSIS
sampling results.
More information on the BAX® system is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
Technical Service Center Establishes IKE Scenario Comment Page
The FSIS Technical Service Center established the Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) scenario comment page
on FSIS' Web site this week. The Technical Service Center will use this page to present newly developed IKE
scenarios before they are distributed to inspection program personnel.
Preliminary IKE scenarios will be posted on the IKE Comment page for a period of five working days. During this
period, the public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the IKE.
After reviewing the IKE scenario, comments can be sent by e-mail to ike@fsis.usda.gov.
The Technical Service Center welcomes any comments that will assist in ensuring that IKE scenarios are clear, accurate,
and effective in articulating how to implement the specific Agency policy addressed.
After the comment period is over, all comments will be reviewed, and any necessary and appropriate changes will
be made to the IKE. It will then be, posted with the other IKEs on the Technical Service Center Web page, and
distributed to inspection personnel. For questions regarding the IKE scenario comment page, contact FSIS'
Technical Service Center at (800) 233-3935.
The IKE Comment page is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/IKE_Comment/.
Subscriptions to Constituent Update and News Releases Increase
Online subscriptions to FSIS Constituent Update and news releases provided by FSIS have soared since being
offered through the Agency's Web site.
Subscriptions to the FSIS Constituent Update have increased 23 percent since it was first offered online in May 2005.
At that time, there were 5,970 subscriptions to the Update. Currently, there are more than 7,300 subscriptions.
The e-mail subscription service for FSIS news releases was first offered on October 13, 2004. By the end of that
month, there were 2,071 subscriptions. Currently, there are more than 10,180 subscriptions to FSIS news releases.
Readers can find the link for the subscription service above the news releases on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/2005_News_Releases/.
Subscription service for the Constituent Update can also be found at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/2005_Constituent_Update/.
Award Nominations Being Accepted
FSIS is accepting nominations for the 2005 Howard E. Bauman award. The award is the highest food safety honor
presented by FSIS, and recognizes one or more individuals who have exhibited leadership and a longstanding
commitment to improving food safety and protecting public health.
Nominees must be U.S. citizens and only one nomination per person or organization will be considered. Nominations
for the award will be reviewed by a Nomination Review Committee appointed by Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr.
Richard Raymond and Agency Administrator Dr. Barbara Masters.
The nomination form is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSISForms/4450-1.pdf (PDF Only).
Webcast Reminder
Food defense workshops will be offered via Webcasts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST November 10.
The workshops address a number of issues regarding food safety and defense.
Further information is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following
countries: Egypt, European Union, Iraq, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Complete information can be found at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations/Export_Information/
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