 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
USDA Seeks to Modernize Poultry Inspection in the United States
Inspection Would Focus on Areas Most Critical to Ensuring Food Safety
FSIS is proposing a modernization of poultry slaughter inspection in the United States by focusing FSIS inspection resources
on the areas of the poultry production system that pose the greatest risk to food safety.
"The modernization plan will protect public health, improve the efficiency of poultry inspections in the U.S. and reduce spending,"
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "The new inspection system will reduce the risk of foodborne illness by focusing FSIS
inspection activities on those tasks that advance our core mission of food safety. By revising current procedures and removing outdated
regulatory requirements that do not help combat foodborne illness, the result will be a more efficient and effective use of taxpayer
dollars."
Currently, some FSIS employees in poultry establishments often perform several activities unrelated to food safety, such as identifying
visual defects. Under the proposed plan, all FSIS inspection activities will focus on critical food safety tasks to ensure that
agency resources are tied directly to protecting public health and reducing foodborne illnesses. Additionally, some outdated regulatory
requirements are being removed and replaced with more flexible and effective testing and process control requirements. Finally, all
poultry establishments will now have to ensure that their procedures prevent contamination in the production process and provide
supporting data to FSIS personnel. FSIS will continue to conduct on-line, carcass-by-carcass inspection as mandated by law. This rule
will allow FSIS personnel to conduct a more efficient carcass-by-carcass inspection with agency resources focused on more effective food
safety measures. Data collected by the agency over the past several years suggest that off-line inspection activities are more effective
in improving food safety. Inspection activities conducted off the evisceration line include pathogen sampling and verifying that
establishments are maintaining sanitary conditions and controlling food safety hazards at critical points in the production process.
The proposal was posted today on the FSIS website at
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
Proposed_Rules/index.asp
and will soon publish in the Federal Register. Once published, the public will have 90 days to submit comments through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, or by mail to: USDA, FSIS, OPPD, RIMD, Docket
Clearance Unit, Patriots Plaza III, Room 8-164, 355 E Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-3221. All items submitted by mail or e-mail
must include the agency name and docket number, which will be assigned when it is published in the Federal Register. For more information,
visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Proposed_Rules/index.asp.
FSIS Announces Implementation of Microbiological Baseline Data Collection for Raw Chicken Parts
Last week, FSIS posted on its website Notice 04-12, FSIS Nationwide Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program for Raw Chicken Parts.
This guidance provides updated instructions to inspection program personnel at establishments participating in the nationwide baseline study.
For approximately 6 months, FSIS will sample non-frozen, not-ready-to-eat chicken parts potentially destined for retail, hotels,
restaurants or similar institutions, known as HRIs, along with products bound for export or inclusion in special purchase orders.
This baseline study will provide FSIS and industry with data concerning the national prevalence estimate, percent positives, as well as
quantitative levels of selected foodborne pathogens and microorganisms. The data will enable the agency and industry to target interventions
and effectively work toward reducing the risk of foodborne pathogens in FSIS-regulated products. The agency also expects to establish
pathogen reduction performance standards for not-ready-to-eat chicken parts.
For general information regarding FSIS baseline studies, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Baseline_Data/index.asp.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements
for the following countries:
- Australia
- European Union
- Japan
Complete information can be found at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Food Safety Agencies to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss Foodborne Illness Attribution Estimates
FSIS, FDA and CDC are holding a public meeting to discuss federal efforts to enhance food safety strategies through improved use and
characterization of foodborne illness source attribution. The meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Discussions will include federal approaches to food source attribution and outline efforts to develop harmonized food source attribution
fractions to inform food safety strategies. The meeting also will be used to review a draft strategic plan developed by the Interagency
Food Safety Analytics Collaboration, which was formed in 2011 to increase collaboration on analytic projects.
Individuals are encouraged to pre-register online at
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/meetings_&_events.
Registration closes on Jan. 25.
The meeting will be held at USDA's South Building, Jefferson Auditorium, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250.
Non-USDA employees must enter through wing 5 on Independence Ave. and provide photo identification when entering the building.
For general information or to request special accommodations due to a disability, contact Juanita Yates, FDA's Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition, at (240) 402-1731 or Joan Lindenberger, FSIS, at (202) 720-6755.
Get Answers at askFSIS
AskFSIS is a web-based technology and policy question-and-answer forum on topics such as exporting,
labeling, inspection, programs and procedures.
In addition, askFSIS offers Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds that link back to the Q&As. To view
recently posted topics, visit http://askfsis.custhelp.com/.
Register for the 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum
USDA is hosting the 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum, Moving Agriculture Forward: USDA - Growing, Innovating, and
Celebrating 150 Years, Feb. 23-24, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.
The forum features 30 breakout sessions spotlighting a range of issues related to global food security, locally grown foods,
fighting foodborne illnesses, sustainability and the farm income outlook for 2012.
To learn more and register for the Forum, visit www.usda.gov/oce/forum.
Proposed Rule to Streamline Generic Labeling Approval Processes
FSIS proposed a new rule that will allow establishments to label a broader range of products without first submitting the label to
the agency for approval. After the rule goes into effect, FSIS will continue to verify that labels are accurate, not misleading and
in compliance with all labeling features.
Individuals are invited to submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov until Feb. 3. Comments may also be mailed to USDA, FSIS, OPPD, RIMD,
Docket Clearance Unit, Patriots Plaza III, 355 E St., S.W., Rm. 8-164, Washington, D.C. 20024-3221. All items submitted must include
the docket number FSIS-2005-0016.
In addition, a webinar on this subject will be held on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. ET. To access the webinar, go to
https://connect16.uc.att.com/usda/meet/?ExEventID=85277207
and follow the on-screen instructions. For questions, contact Kristin Goodwin at (301) 504-0878 or
kristin.goodwin@fsis.usda.gov.
Register for Webinar on Nutrition Labeling Rule
FSIS is delaying the effective date of the final rule that will require nutrition labeling of the major cuts of single-ingredient,
raw meat and poultry products and ground or chopped meat and poultry products. The original effective date of the final rule was
Jan. 1, but is now delayed until March 1.
The new effective date will ensure that industry has adequate time to comply with the requirements of the final rule. The Federal Register
notice announcing the delay was published on the FSIS website
(www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Interim_&_Final_Rules/index.asp).
A webinar on this subject will be held on Feb 28 at 2 p.m. ET.
To access the webinar, go to https://connect16.uc.att.com/usda/meet/?ExEventID=85277207
and follow the on-screen instructions. For questions, contact Kristin Goodwin at (301) 504-0878 or
kristin.goodwin@fsis.usda.gov.
Regulatory Webinar Available on Recalls of Products With Undeclared Allergens
The agency will host a webinar on Feb. 7 to provide guidance on addressing a recent increase of products recalled because of undeclared
allergens.
The discussion will focus on the steps that establishments can take to prevent the production of items containing undeclared allergens.
To access the webinar, go to https://connect16.uc.att.com/usda/meet/?ExEventID=85277207
and follow the on-screen instructions. For questions, contact Kristin Goodwin at (301) 504-0878 or
kristin.goodwin@fsis.usda.gov.
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli
Weekly updates for the agency's raw beef E. coli sampling program are posted on the FSIS website.
For previous and current year results, go to
www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ground_Beef_E.coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
Regulatory Cooperation Council and Beyond the Border
The U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) will hold an outreach event in Washington, D.C., on January 30-31, 2012, to offer
an opportunity for interested stakeholders to learn more about the Council and to provide valuable input into work plans being developed.
The event will be held at both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Office and the Department of Commerce.
The RCC was established February 4, 2011, by President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a way to promote economic
growth and to stimulate job creation. Additionally, the RCC seeks to increase regulatory transparency and coordination. Consequently,
on December 7, the RCC released a Joint Action Plan on Regulatory Cooperation as well as an inter-related Joint Action Plan on the
Beyond the Border Initiative (BtB). Information about the BtB initiative may be found at
www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/us-canada_btb_action_plan3.pdf.
In order to implement initiatives identified in the RCC and BtB Joint Action Plans, bilateral working groups, led by senior officials
from regulatory agencies, are developing work plans with objectives, deliverables and milestones for tangible progress within the
RCC's 2-year mandate. To that end, stakeholder participation is appreciated. To register for the stakeholder events on January 30-31,
or for further information about the RCC, visit www.trade.gov/rcc/. Should you not be able to
attend the event, alternative options to provide feedback will be made available.
Additional information about the RCC and BtB can be accessed via the link to the following White House Fact Sheet:
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/12/07/fact-sheet-us-canada-beyond-border-and-regulatory-cooperation-council-in.
Questions, comments and concerns relative to the RCC/BtB initiatives and the stakeholder meetings can be addressed to
RCC-BtB@one.usda.gov. For those unable to attend the stakeholder meetings in Washington, D.C.,
on January 30-31, they may submit comments to this same address for review and consideration.
Follow Us On Twitter
Find food safety information for at-risk people, along with tips and resources to keep consumers and other interested groups informed
of the latest agency news and events. Follow FSIS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/USDAFoodSafety.
Also Tweet en Espaņol
The FSIS Spanish language Twitter feed keeps consumers and other interested communities informed of the latest agency news and events
and provides useful food safety tips.
Follow FSIS' Spanish Twitter account at www.twitter.com/usdafoodsafe_es.
Visit USDA's Blog
Every day, the USDA Blog shares something new about its expansive mission. The blog provides a rich and diverse look at the work
within the department, spanning the nation—and even the world—and highlights the breadth of USDA programs and the role
they play in the lives of every American.
Go to http://blogs.usda.gov/ and see what's happening within the agency and across the department.
|
Last Modified:
January 24, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
To view PDF files you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
