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Johanns Announces Delay in Import of Meat
from Older Animals from Canada
USDA announced a final rule on December 29, 2004,
that establishes criteria for geographic regions to
be recognized as presenting minimal risk of
introducing Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
into the United States. It places Canada in the
minimal-risk category, and defines the requirements
that must be met for the import of certain
ruminants and ruminant products from Canada. A
minimal-risk region can include a region in which
BSE-infected animals have been diagnosed, but where
sufficient risk-mitigation measures have been put
in place to make the introduction of BSE into the
United States unlikely. The final rule published in
the Federal Register on January 4, 2005 and will
become effective March 7, 2005.
In a statement released February 9, Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns said: "Our ongoing
investigations into the recent finds of BSE in
Canada in animals over 30 months are not complete.
Therefore, I feel it is prudent to delay the
effective date for allowing imports of meat from
animals 30 months and over.
"At the same time, I am asking U.S. officials to
move forward in consideration and development of a
plan to allow imports of animals 30 months and
older for slaughter as well as beef from over
30-month animals as the next step in resuming full
trade with Canada. As always, decisions will be
made based on the latest scientific information and
with the protection of public and animal health the
highest priority.
"We remain very confident that the combination of
the rule's requirements, in addition to the animal
and public health measures that Canada has in place
to prevent the spread of BSE, along with the
extensive U.S. regulatory food-safety and
animal-health systems, provide the protection to
U.S. consumers and livestock. The removal of
Specified Risk Materials is the most effective
barrier to protect consumers, and therefore the
rest of the rule will proceed as announced."
To view the statement in its entirety visit:
www.usda.gov
FSIS Adds Slovakia to the Meat Export
Eligibility List
On February 8, 2005, FSIS issued a final rule
adding Slovakia to the list of countries eligible
to export meat products to the United States.
Reviews of Slovakia's laws, regulations, and other
written materials show that its meat processing
system meets requirements that are equivalent to
the relevant provisions of the Federal Meat
Inspection Act.
Meat products processed in certified establishments
in Slovakia will be eligible to be exported only if
these products are derived from cattle, sheep,
swine, or goats slaughtered in federally inspected
establishments in the United States or in certified
slaughter establishments in other countries
eligible to export meat to the United States. All
meat products exported from Slovakia to the United
States will be subject to reinspection at the U.S.
ports-of-entry by FSIS inspectors as required by
law. The final rule goes into effect on April 11,
2005.
To view Docket No. 99-018F visit:
www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies
Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee
on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
On March 15, 2005, the Office of the Under
Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of
Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
will hold a public meeting to provide information
and receive comments on agenda items that will be
discussed at the 26th Session of the Codex
Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling in
Budapest, Hungary, April 4 - 8, 2005. The public
meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in
room 1A002 of the Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building,
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Md.
For more information or for a sign language
interpreter, contact Dr. Gregory Diachenko,
Director, Division of Chemistry Research and
Environmental Review, Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition, FDA, Harvey W. Wiley Federal
Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park,
Md., 20740, at (301) 436-1898. Agenda items for the
meeting can be found at:
www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp
USDA Offers Dating Guidance for Valentine's
Day: Out with the Old, In With the New
If your plans for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner
begin with a peek inside your refrigerator, check
twice to be sure you've not missed the moment of
opportunity. That nice chicken breast, pork loin,
or steak bought a week ago and marked "sell by
February 1" may have passed its prime.
Dating can be delicate -- it's important to know
when the timing is right. "Sell by/use by/purchase
by/best-if-used-by" - how do consumers know which
to follow? To eliminate the guessing, USDA offers
some practical guidance on how to read those dates
-- on food labels -- and stay healthy.
Generally, dates such as "sell by" are voluntary,
meaning they are not mandated by the federal
government. Dates are provided by manufacturers as
a quality guide. One exception is baby formula and
some baby food in which this requirement is linked
to nutritional adequacy.
So what about that chicken you plan to roast and
serve? Think about timing when you're in the store.
Be sure that you buy fresh chicken before the "sell
by" date on the package. After that, you can keep
it in your refrigerator one to two days before
cooking. Or, pop it in the freezer and extend its
possibilities for up to one year.
If you have a question about meat, poultry or egg
products, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
toll free at 1-888-MPHotline or 1-888-674-6854,
TTY: 1-800-256-7072..
For more information and tips visit:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_020705_01/
Library of Export Requirement Updated
The Library of Export Requirements has
been updated to reflect changes in export
requirements for Qatar and Russia. Complete
information can be found at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Export_Information/
The USDA Food Safety Mobile: Taking Food
Safety Education on the Road
The USDA Food Safety Mobile travels continuously
throughout the United States to educate consumers
about the risks associated with mishandling food
and steps they can take to reduce their risk of
foodborne illness. The food safety mobile's next
dates and locations are as follows:
March 1, 2005 Stockton Food Bank (Stockton, Calif.)
- March 5, 2005 Cerritos Farmers Market (Cerritos,
Calif.)
- March 6, 2005 Encino Farmers Market (Van Nuys,
Calif.)
THIS WEEK'S HOT WEB LINKS
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