 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FSIS To Allow Use Of Small Intestine From U.S. And Eligible Countries |
|
|
|
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich
WASHINGTON, Sep. 7, 2005 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS) today published an amendment to the interim final rule "Prohibition
on the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food." The new amendment continues to prohibit
the distal ileum, a specified risk material (SRM), for use as human food but allows use of the
remainder of the beef small intestine from cattle that are slaughtered in the U.S. or in a foreign
establishment eligible to export such products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a
similar amendment today, to the small intestine provisions of its interim final rule on bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
FSIS has determined that the portion of the small intestine traditionally used as food, or as a
casing for specialty sausage, can be safely and effectively separated from the section that contains
the distal ileum. The distal ileum, but not the remainder of the small intestine, was one of the
tissues of cattle that FSIS classified as a SRM associated with BSE in January 2004. In the
January 2004 interim final rule, FSIS asked for comments on procedures for effectively separating
the small intestine from the distal ileum.
FSIS has determined through examination of research that the effective distal ileum removal provides
the same level of protection from human exposure to BSE infection, as does the exclusion of the entire
small intestine from the human food supply. Establishments would have to demonstrate they have written
procedures for removing the distal ileum and that these procedures are part of its Hazard Analysis
Critical Control Point system, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures or other prerequisite programs.
FSIS has concluded that procedures requiring the removal of at least 80 inches of uncoiled and trimmed
small intestine as measured from the juncture of the ileum and the cecum would comply with this
requirement.
The amendment to the interim final rule is consistent with guidance related to BSE provided by the
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in its 2005 Terrestrial Animal Health Code. The OIE is
a chartered organization within the World Health Organization.
Under the amendment, U.S. producers and all certified establishments in foreign countries would be
allowed to manufacture the small intestine for human food. Sausage manufacturers who intend to use
the small intestine as casing material would need to provide FSIS with documentation that the casing
was effectively removed from the distal ileum. The regulation goes into effect Oct. 7 in order to
provide time for FSIS inspection program personnel to receive training on how to verify provisions
of the regulation.
Comments on the technical amendments must be received by Nov. 7. Written comments should be submitted
to the FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket #03-025IF, Room 102, Cotton Annex, 300 C Street, SW, Washington, DC
20250-3700. Comments also will be posted on the Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
2005_Interim_&_Final_Rules_Index/.
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
FSIS Advertisement Rotator
|
|
|
|
|
