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National Advisory Committee on
Meat and Poultry Inspection Meeting
June 5, 2002
Standing Sub-Committee Number 3
Issue: Farm Bill Provisions on Interstate Shipment of
State-Inspected Products
Sub-Committee Participants, evening of June 5:
Collette Schultz Kaster, Chairperson
Gladys Bayse, James Denton, Nancy Donley, Alice Johnson
FSIS Facilitators:
Bryce Quick, Bill Leese
Question 1: FSIS
supports the concept of interstate shipment, but is concerned about
expending significant Agency resources on the concept before the
necessary authorizing legislation is passed. Because the review
provision is not subject to appropriations, how can FSIS best use its
limited food safety resources to meet the mandate?
Recommend that FSIS review back as
far as 2000 all State Comprehensive Reviews that have been completed
and attempt to complete the reviews of the remaining States by March
2003.
Because the timeframe is probably too restrictive, additional funding
and an extension for the due date of the Report to Congress should be
pursued. Out-source contracting to complete the reviews should be
considered as an option.
Question 2:
What kind of guidance would be useful to
States in advance of legislation authorizing the interstate shipment of
State-inspected products?
Request States to adopt all current Federal food safety
regulations and their implementing policies, including FSIS Notices,
Directives, and memoranda.
Food Security guidelines be considered.
Ensure uniform compliance between the State and Federal regulatory
requirements.
Use the deficiencies identified in the State Comprehensive Reviews to
formulate guidance materials.
State inspection program personnel participate in FSIS field force
training.
Question 3:
The National Advisory Committee on Meat and
Poultry Inspection last visited this issue in 1997. Since then, much has
changed in regard to inspection notably, the full implementation of
the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Systems final rule. In
light of recent events, does the Committee have any additional concerns
with the concept of interstate shipment of State-inspected product or
with its implementation?
The recommendations for questions 1 and 2 should be initiated now.
However, the Committee felt that the following concerns should be
addressed prior to development of legislation:
Sustainability of State inspection programs and inspection
resources
Exposure to Federal inspection meetings (e.g., District
correlation meetings, etc.)
Some members of the Committee stated that they will not support
interstate shipment unless the Secretary has the authority to enforce
pathogen reduction performance standards in meat and poultry products.
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