Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700

FSIS Constituent Update: February 6, 2004

FSIS Announces New Electronic Animal Disposition Reporting System

On January 29, 2004, FSIS issued a notice announcing that the electronic Animal Disposition Reporting System (eADRS) will replace the current method of tracking animals presented to slaughter as well as reporting information regarding humane handling activities. The notice is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/11-04.htm.

FSIS Unveils New Humane Handling Activities Tracking System

On February 2, 2004, FSIS announced the implementation of The Humane Activities Tracking (HAT) program to document inspection activities to ensure that livestock are humanely handled in federally inspected facilities. HAT will provide FSIS with more accurate and complete data on the time spent by FSIS personnel performing nine specific humane handling related tasks to ensure humane handling and slaughter requirements are met. The notice is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2004/hats.htm.

FSIS Issues Notice on Sanitation and Age Determination of Cattle

On January 29, 2004, FSIS issued a notice answering questions regarding proper methods to sanitize equipment exposed to Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) as well as the proper methods for determining the age of animals presented for slaughter. The notice is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/10-04.htm.

Public Health Alert Issued

On January 29, the Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert to remind consumers of the importance of following food safety guidelines when handling and preparing raw meat. FSIS issued the alert after being informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an outbreak investigation involving 37 illnesses of Salmonella Typhimurium in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Many of the people who became ill reported eating ground beef and some reported eating raw ground beef. FSIS is working with the CDC to determine the source of the contamination. The alert is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2004/alert012904.htm.

Export Requirement Updates

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and French Polynesia (Tahiti). Complete information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/export/explib.htm

Reminder: BSE Teaching Workshops Continue This Weekend

FSIS is holding a series of teaching workshops on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) regulatory issues through March 2004. The second in the series will occur this Saturday, February 7, in Boise, Idaho. These programs have been designed to meet the needs of owners and operators of small and very small establishments that process cattle or produce products using Advanced Meat Recovery (AMR) and for State plants and State program personnel.

Registration for the workshops will begin at 8:30 a.m., and workshops will start at 9:00 a.m. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the meetings and can do so by either calling (800) 384-3100 or by accessing the FSIS website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. Meeting agendas may be viewed at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/pubevent.htm.

Reminder for USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum

On February 19-20, 2004, the USDA will host over 100 industry representatives, government officials and leading experts at the Agricultural Outlook Forum to discuss how American farmers, the food industry and policy makers are responding to current issues and concerns. Keynote speakers include Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman and Safeway, Inc., CEO Steven A. Burd.

The forum will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Participants can register online at: http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm or by calling (202) 314-3451.

Microbiological Criteria for Foods Meeting to be Held

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a public meeting of the full committee on Friday, February 13, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel Atlanta, 3405 Lenox Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326. In addition to the plenary session, NACMCF Subcommittees also will hold meetings that are open to the public on February 10-12, 2004, at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel. For additional meeting information, contact Karen Thomas, Advisory Committee Specialist, at (202) 690-6620. Access the agenda at www.fsis.usda.gov/ophs/nacmcf/meetings.htm.

Codex Schedules Public Meetings for 2004

A number of public meetings have been scheduled to occur prior to Codex Committee sessions this year. The Delegates to the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), the Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (CCMH), the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC), the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS), the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), and the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP) have all posted public meetings. Dates, times, and locations for these meetings are available at http://www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.

THIS WEEK’S HOT WEB LINKS

*This section has been added to remind readers of information available on the FSIS web site.
Web links will vary from week-to-week.

• Statement by Dr. Garry L. McKee on the GAO Report on Humane Methods of Slaughter Act
  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2004/mckee020204.htm

• Remarks by Dr. Merle Pierson on FSIS’ Measures to Protect the Food Supply in the Wake of the BSE Finding
  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/speeches/2004/mp_amif.htm

For Further Information Contact:
FSIS Constituent Affairs Program
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 720-5704
E-mail: LisaWallenda.Picard@fsis.usda.gov

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