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National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods to Hold Public Meetings
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on March 14, to announce that from March 21-24, the National
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods will hold public meetings. Agenda items include
cooking parameters for seafood, consumer guidelines for the safe cooking of poultry products and the food safety
importance and public health significance of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.
The full committee will hold an open meeting on March 24, from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
The subcommittee on Determination of Cooking Parameters for Safe Seafood for Consumers will hold open meetings on
March 21-22, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The subcommittee on Consumer Guidelines for the Safe Cooking of Poultry Products will hold an open meeting on
March 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The subcommittee on Assessment of the Food Safety Importance and Public Health Significance of
Mycobacterium Avium subspecies paratuberculosis will hold an open meeting on March 23,
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The public meetings will be held at the Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22203.
The agency is accepting comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or by
electronic mail at FSIS.RegulationsComments@usda.gov.
The notice is available at FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2006-0002.htm.
Office of Food Safety to Hold Public Meeting on Codex Committee on General Principles
USDA's Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety will hold a public meeting to provide information and receive
public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 23rd Session of the Codex
Committee on General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, from April 10 - 14, in Paris, France.
The public meeting will be held on March 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 107-A of the Jamie Lee Whitten Building,
United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250.
For further information about the public meeting, contact Jasmine Matthews, U.S. Codex Office, FSIS, at (202) 205-7760.
FSIS Issues Correction to Notice on Ante-Mortem Inspection of Horses
FSIS published a Federal Register notice on March 14 titled, Ante-Mortem Inspection of Horses; Correction.
This notice corrects the preamble to the interim final rule that was published in the Federal Register on
February 8, amending its federal meat inspection regulations to provide a voluntary fee-for-service program under
which official establishments that slaughter horses will be able to apply and pay for ante-mortem inspection.
The notice is available on FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/05-036C.htm.
IKE Preliminary Scenario Available Online
FSIS has made preliminary Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) scenario 03D-06, Clarification of the Appeal Process for
FSIS Personnel and Industry (example: Appeal Granted), available for comment through March 24.
This scenario is the first of two which will focus on the appeals process. The second preliminary IKE scenario covering
this topic will be issued on March 27.
The scenario can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/
IKE_Comment/index.asp.
If you have questions or comments regarding the preliminary IKE scenario, then contact FSIS' Technical Service Center at
(800) 233-3935 or by electronic mail at
ike@fsis.usda.gov.
E. coli Positive Samples Reported
The third and fourth E. coli O157:H7 positive cases this year were reported from samples collected on March 1,
in FSIS' microbiological sampling program. The third positive sample was collected in Washington, and the fourth
positive sample was collected in Oregon.
This report brings to 283 the overall number of positive samples analyzed since the inception of the program. There
have been 2,328 samples analyzed so far this year. Overall, 82,238 samples have been analyzed.
For more information about results from the sampling program, visit FSIS' Web site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
2006_EColi_Positive_Results/index.asp.
Export Tip
Not all import requirements of a foreign country are reflected in FSIS' Export Library. In most cases, this is because
the importing country accepts product from the United States accompanied by FSIS Form 9060-5 titled, Meat and Poultry
Export Certificate of Wholesomeness.
At an exporter's request, FSIS should provide Form 9060-5 to the exporter for these countries. The export certificate
should contain only the basic information with no additional comments in the "Remarks" section.
If the exporter requests additional information on the certificate, FSIS employees should request a copy of the document
stating that additional information is required. This document must be issued by the government of the importing
country and should be provided to FSIS' Office of International Affairs for further review.
Exporters are advised to work closely with their importers to ensure that when the product arrives at its international
destination, it will be allowed entry. Exporters are also advised to check with USDA's agricultural attaché assigned
to cover that country. The listing of agricultural attachés can be accessed at the following Web site:
http://www.fas.usda.gov.
Visit FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Regulations_&_Policies/Export_Information/index.asp
to learn more about requirements for exporting products to other countries.
USDA and Health and Human Services to Hold Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee on Food Labeling
USDA's Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Department of Health and Human Service's Food and Drug
Administration will hold a public meeting to provide draft U.S. positions and receive public comments on agenda items
that will be discussed at the 34th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
from May 1-5, in Ottawa, Canada.
The public meeting will be held on April 7, from 9 a.m. to noon, in room 1A-003 of the Harvey W. Wiley Building, 5100
Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740.
The agency is accepting comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov
or by electronic mail at FSIS.RegulationsComments@usda.gov.
The notice is available on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2006-0003.htm.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
- Mexico
- Russia (Egg Products)
Complete information can be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
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Last Modified:
March 28, 2006 |
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