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

FSIS Constituent Update: February 13, 2004

BSE Recall Update

On February 9, 2004, FSIS issued an update on the progress of the Class II recall that was initiated on December 23, 2003. The update details the steps taken to insure the public’s confidence in the meat supply as well as how much product has been collected to date. The full update is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/recalls/prelease/update067-2003.htm.

Export Requirement Updates

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for Japan, Japan Egg Products, Republic of Korea, Mexico, People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, and South Africa. Complete information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/export/explib.htm

Three BSE Teaching Workshops Slated

On February 6, 2004, FSIS welcomed over 60 participants from small and very small establishments and state personnel to the Agency’s second BSE workshop in Boise, Idaho. Participants attending the workshop were presented with an explanation of the new BSE regulatory requirements and were provided technical assistance and resource materials.

FSIS has received positive feedback from participants at both the Tacoma, Washington, and Boise workshops. Those commenting said that the workshops were well organized and the information presented was useful and practical. They also commended the Agency for its commitment to enhance food safety and for its continued outreach efforts to small and very small plants, as well as state program personnel.

FSIS encourages participants to pre-register for the workshops.  Participants can either call (800) 384-3100 or click on one of the links below for the workshop in their area. 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/forms/reg_siouxfalls.asp

Madison, Wisconsin: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/forms/reg_madison.asp

Binghamton, New York: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/forms/reg_binghamton.asp

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.

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.

• Links to State Departments of Public Health and Agriculture
  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/stategov.htm

• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/topics/bse.htm

• Updated Course Descriptions and Schedules for Center of Learning
  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ofo/hrds/SLAUGH/Courses/fsre.html

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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