This instruction describes the procedures for species verification testing of imported fresh and cooked meat and poultry products.

2. CANCELLATION

Part 3, Section 7, "Species Verification Testing Program", dated April 1, 2002

3. FORMS

FSIS Form 9540-3, "Import Abnormal Container, Chemical, Species, Pathology Laboratory Analysis," (see Table 6).

4. IMPORTED PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO TESTING

All imported meat and poultry products are subject to species testing. The testing of raw products may occur either at the import facility or a Field Service or accredited laboratory, while cooked products can only be tested at the laboratory. Testing conducted at the import facility is performed on raw product using the Species Identification Field Test (SIFT). There are four (4) different species for which the import inspector may test using a SIFT.

Overnight Rapid Beef Identification Test (ORBIT) – Beef and Veal

Pork Rapid Identification MEthod (PRIME) – Pork

Poultry Rapid Overnight Field Identification Test (PROFIT) – Poultry

Sheep Overnight Field Test (SOFT) – Lamb and Mutton

SIFT shall never be used for any cooked product, including canned cooked product.

Inspection personnel shall refer to FSIS Directive 7355.1, "Use of Sample Seals for Laboratory Samples and Other Applications" for guidance on acquiring sampling supplies.

SIFT kits may be obtained by emailing "Sampling Supplies – Midwestern Laboratory" in Outlook. SIFT supplies must be stored appropriately and kept under security to prevent tampering prior to or during use.

1. Obtaining Assignments

   1. Species sampling is assigned by the Automated Import Information System (AIIS). Because of the nature of species testing (SIFT or laboratory), the species type of inspection (TOI) may be assigned under either a Physical or Laboratory TOI. Raw product will be assigned under Physical and cooked product will be assigned under Laboratory.

   2. When a species TOI is not assigned and inspection personnel suspect that the product species is different than the product label, inspection personnel shall contact their immediate supervisor for approval to sample the product for species. An unscheduled Species-Physical (SIFT) or Species-Lab (cooked product or no SIFT available) TOI is entered into the AIIS, as appropriate, upon concurrence from the supervisor.

2. Sample Size

1. For raw products, collect a ½-pound sample (all muscle tissue, if possible) from the lot.
2. For cooked products, one (1) sample unit (e.g., carton, package) from the lot.

3. Sample Selection

1. Raw Product (Species – Physical or Laboratory TOI)

Inspection personnel should randomly select one sample unit from the lot and remove a ½- pound sample from the unit.

2. Cooked Product (Species – Laboratory TOI)

Inspection personnel should randomly select one sample unit from the lot. If the unit is a non-shelf stable item, a ½ pound sample should be removed from the unit and placed in a clean plastic bag provided by the FSIS lab.

4. Intensified

5. Security

1. Preparing Samples for SIFT

   1. Inspection personnel shall conduct species testing of raw products at the import establishment in accordance with the procedures outlined in Performing the Species Identification Field Test: A Self- Instructional Guide. If the self-instructional guide is not available to inspection personnel, the supervisor should be promptly notified so one may be acquired.

2. When the raw product to be sampled can be positively identified by inspection personnel as the appropriate species, the; a) SIFT should not be performed, b) Physical Species TOI should be exempted in the AIIS, and c) reason identified (e.g., beef carcass, pork leg) in the AIIS.

3. When SIFT kits are not available or have expired, inspection personnel shall submit the raw species sample to the laboratory. When this occurs, the Species – Physical TOI must be exempted in the AIIS (indicate reason) and a Species – Lab added as an unscheduled TOI so the AIIS can receive the species lab result from the Laboratory Electronic Application for Results Notification (LEARN) system.

2. Preparing Samples for Laboratory Analyses

1. Inspection personnel shall refer to Section 1, "Laboratory General Procedures", for related sample preparation and mailing procedures.

2. Inspection personnel should refer to FSIS Directive 7355.1, "Use of Sample Seals for Laboratory Samples and Other Applications", for instructions and illustrations on the packaging and sealing of samples.

3. Samples units shall be REFRIGERATED or FROZEN when submitted to a laboratory. NOTE: Shelf stable product is not required to be refrigerated or frozen prior to submitting it to the laboratory.

4. Inspection personnel shall complete one FSIS Form 9540-3 for each lot for which a species sample is submitted to a laboratory. For lots with chemistry analyses also assigned, the chemistry and species sampling may be combined onto one form and one sample if both are submitted to the same FSIS Field Service Laboratory (FSL).

5. FSIS Form 9540-3 shall be enclosed in a separate bag and inserted along with the sample unit in a self-sealing bag. A copy of the form must be maintained for the case file.

6. Inspection personnel shall send the sample unit to the designated laboratory without further preparation (e.g., grinding), unless otherwise instructed.

3. Laboratory

1. Except as noted in B below and for SIFT, all species samples shall be submitted to the FSL identified in LEARN.

2. If requested by the importer/broker/applicant, species samples may be submitted to an accredited laboratory. To verify whether a lab is accredited to perform species testing, inspection personnel should refer to the list of accredited laboratories available in Outlook (outlook:\\Public Folders\All Public Folders\Accredited Laboratories).

4. Mailing

Samples submitted to FSIS FSL shall be mailed via the FSIS contract overnight delivery/courier mailing service. Samples must be shipped Monday through Friday so that they arrive at the laboratory overnight. A sample box shipped on Friday must have a "Saturday Delivery" sticker on it and "Saturday Delivery" marked on the shipping label to avoid delays and discarded samples. Samples MUST NOT be shipped on Saturday or the day before a Federal holiday.

8. RESULTS REPORTING PROCEDURES

   1. Results – Raw Product (SIFT)

      After the appropriate incubation period, inspection personnel shall read the SIFT plate(s). Inspection personnel shall refer to the guidance outlined in Performing the Species Identification Field Test; A Self-Instructional Guide for reading a SIFT plate.

      1.  Pass

When the SIFT test indicates compliance for species, inspection personnel shall enter the results as "Pass" into the AIIS Product/Physical TOI results screen for Species. The lot is eligible for release if it was on FSIS or Voluntary Hold and all other reinspection criteria have been met.

2. Fail

1. Notify plant management and place the lot on hold, if available. If the lot is already on hold, continue the hold;

2. Enter the result as "Failed" in the AIIS, but NOT reject or refuse entry on the lot;

3. Add an unscheduled Species – Lab TOI to the lot so the AIIS can receive the results from LEARN;

4. Notify the Office of International Affairs (OIA) of the SIFT failure by e-mail (ImportInspection@fsis.usda.gov); and,

5. Submit the reserve sample to the assigned FSL in accordance with the procedures in paragraphs VII, B-D.

2. Laboratory Results – Fresh or Cooked Product

1. Acceptable

The lot is not subject to further species sampling. If the lot was on FSIS or Voluntary Hold, the lot may be released if all other reinspection criteria have been met.

2. Not Acceptable

When the laboratory test result is "Not Acceptable", import inspection personnel shall e-mail the information to OIA at ImportInspection@fsis.usda.gov. OIA will research the reason for the "Not Acceptable" reporting.

1. The lot is continued on FSIS or Voluntary Hold until OIA researches the reason for the "Not Acceptable". Once OIA confirms the violation, the lot shall be refused entry.

2. The lot may be subject to recall if it was not held. OIA will contact import inspection personnel at the import establishment where the lot was inspected with guidance regarding disposition of the lot.

3. The foreign establishment that produced the product is placed on Intensified status in the AIIS until 15 consecutive lots of product from the same process category from that establishment are sampled and reported as "Acceptable".

4. Should OIA determine that the result is "Acceptable", corrections will be made in LEARN and in the AIIS to correct the sample result status from "Not Acceptable" to "Acceptable".

3. "Indeterminate" Result

When the laboratory test result is "Indeterminate", import inspection personnel shall e-mail the information to OIA at ImportInspection@fsis.usda.gov and copy their supervisor. OIA will determine the disposition of the lot and provide guidance for entry of the results into the AIIS.

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