National Advisory Committee on
Meat and Poultry Inspection
June 5-6, 2002
Issue Paper:
New Technology
Purpose
The preamble to the Pathogen Reduction Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point (PR/HACCP) rule states that the Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS) would pursue a strategy that encourages the development
and use of innovative technologies to improve food safety. The purpose
of this paper is to provide FSIS current thinking regarding this
strategy.
Discussion
FSIS has a longstanding interest in the technologies used in meat,
poultry and egg establishments. The facilities, equipment, and processes
used during slaughter and processing of meat, poultry, and eggs can
significantly affect the safety, quality and wholesomeness of the
finished product.
With the issuance of the Pathogen Reduction Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Point (PR/HACCP) final rule,
FSIS shifted away from a command and control approach to one that gives
establishments greater flexibility to innovate in order to meet food
safety requirements. This flexibility coupled with stringent food safety
standards creates an environment that FSIS believes is conducive to
innovation by plants and technology manufacturers to improve food
safety.
FSIS still has a regulatory interest in new technology if it could
affect product safety, inspection procedures, inspection program
personnel safety, or require changes in existing regulations. However,
the Agency is ensuring that it establishes flexible procedures that
facilitate the development, testing, and use
of new technologies in meat, poultry and egg establishments.
FSIS established a single entry point for in-plant research
protocols, the Technology Program Development Staff. Also, FSIS is
revising FSIS Directive 10,700.1 to update and streamline inspection
procedures regarding testing and use of new technologies in meat,
poultry and egg establishments.
In addition to providing flexibility to facilitate innovation, FSIS
believes that it should play a role in fostering the development and use
of technology to improve food safety. In its effort to encourage the use
of novel technologies to improve food safety, FSIS believes that it must
incorporate concepts that foster partnerships
that include government, industry, academia, and other stakeholders.
Further, FSIS believes that innovative food safety technologies must
be broadly applied and monitored to ensure universal application of its
associated public health benefits for all
establishments. Thus, FSIS is particularly interested in exploring ways
to foster the development of technologies to improve food safety that
will be available for use by small and very small establishments.
Questions
- What incentives would promote the use of technology?
- What incentives would foster technology partnerships?
Contact Person
Patrick R. .Burke
Technology Program Development Staff
Office of Policy, Program Development, and
Evaluation
FSIS, USDA
403 Cotton Annex 300 12th Street, SW.
Washington, D.C. 20250-3700
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