FSIS reviews new technologies that companies employ to ensure that their use is consistent with Agency regulations and will not adversely affect product safety, inspection procedures, or the safety of FSIS inspectors.

To obtain additional information, direct your questions to the Risk & Innovations Management Division through askFSIS.

New Technology Procedures

• Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New Technology) | PDF (May 2, 2007)
  FSIS announces its intention to request an extension of an approved information collection regarding the procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology.
• Guidance on Requesting a Waiver of FSIS Regulatory Requirements for the Use of New Technology (Updated Oct 21, 2010; PDF Only)
  Guidance waiver document which informs meat and poultry establishments, egg product plants, companies that manufacture and sell technology to official establishments, and other interested persons of the procedure for obtaining a regulatory waiver for a limited period of time to test their new technology.
• Procedures for Notification and Protocol Submission of New Technology | PDF (Feb 19, 2004)
  Guidance document provided to assist establishments in determining whether they need to notify FSIS of new technologies that they propose to use in meat, poultry, or egg product establishments and when to submit protocols for in-plant testing of new technologies.
• Procedures for Notification and Protocol Submission of New Technologies (Apr 14, 2005; PDF Only)
  This document sets out the standard operating procedures of the FSIS New Technology Staff when an official meat, poultry, or egg product establishment, or company that manufactures technology for use in official establishments submits its intent to use a new technology or submits a protocol for an in-plant trial of a new technology.
• Procedures for New Technology and Experimental Protocols for In-Plant Trials | PDF (Jun 24, 2003)
  FSIS Directive 10,700.1 which informs inspection personnel about the procedures that the Technology Program Development Staff will follow to notify the field about official meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants that will use new technologies or that will conduct in-plant trails of new technology.
• Procedures for Notification of New Technology | PDF (Feb 11, 2003)
  FSIS establishes new, flexible procedures to actively encourage the development and use of new technologies in meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants.

Retained Water in Raw Meat and Poultry Products 

• Compliance Guidelines for Retained Water | PDF (Jun 2, 2003)
  Compliance guidelines issued by FSIS which were designed to assist establishments in developing their data collection protocols, maintaining operational control of their process, and properly labeling the finished product.
  • Retained Water - Sample Labels
• Retained Water in Raw Meat and Poultry Products (Nov 27, 2002; PDF Only)
  FSIS Directive 6700.1 provides instructions to inspection program personnel on the procedures for conducting inspection activities concerning the consumer protection standards for retained water in raw meat and poultry products.
  • FSIS Directive 6700.1 Amendment 1 (Jan 7, 2003; PDF Only)
    Amendment which provides further clarification to inspection program personnel about product for export.
• Protocol for Evaluating Retained Water in the Following Single Ingredient Poultry Product: Young Chicken Carcasses Jan 2001)
  FSIS provides a sample protocol for evaluating retained water in young chicken carcasses.
• Protocol For Evaluating Retained Water in the Following Single Ingredient Red Meat Product: Steer/Heifer Carcasses (Jan 2001)
  FSIS provides a sample protocol for evaluating retained water in steer/heifer carcasses.