FSIS Delays Verification Sampling of Not Ready-to-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products

FSIS is delaying the start of verification sampling and testing for Salmonella in not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products from the original date of May 1, 2025, to the new date of November 3, 2025. Establishments will also have until November 3, 2025, to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans for these products. This additional time is necessary for FSIS to finalize its instructions to inspectors and prepare its inspection program personnel and laboratories for the new sampling and testing. In addition, this additional time is necessary for FSIS to provide industry with guidance on holding and controlling products pending FSIS’ sampling results.

Reminder: Implementation Date for Chile eCert of Eligible Imported Products

As announced in the March 28, 2025, Constituent Update, FSIS changed the implementation date for Chile to send electronic certification (eCert) for Chilean products eligible for U.S. import under FSIS jurisdiction. Beginning April 14, 2025, Chile will send eCert data to FSIS instead of the original date of March 31. Once import eCert is implemented, FSIS will no longer require paper inspection certificates issued by Chile for Chilean imports. ECert import data will be received directly in FSIS’ Public Health Information System (PHIS), advancing the agency’s goals of modernizing and digitizing certification processes wherever possible.

Importers or U.S. customs brokers that submit FSIS electronic import applications through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) can find the specific partner government (PG) records needed for all countries (both eCert and non-eCert) in the FSIS guidance document titled, “Data Samples and Guidelines for Using the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set for Electronic Completion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) Application for Import Inspection (FSIS Form 9540-1).”

Beginning April 14, 2025, Chile will be identified as an eCert country for the purposes of the ACE-PHIS interface. Importers and U.S. customs brokers that use the paper FSIS Form 9540-1 application rather than the electronic import application can find further information in FSIS Directive 9900.4.

Reminder: FSIS Posted Industry Testing Instructions for Philippines PHIS Export Onboarding

As announced in the February 14, 2025, Constituent Update, the Philippines will be onboarded into FSIS’ Public Health Information System (PHIS) export module on May 19, 2025. As a reminder, to ease preparation and ensure a successful industry testing period, FSIS has provided industry users with testing instructions for export requirements unique to the Philippines. These instructions can be found on the Industry Testing Instructions: Philippines PHIS Export webpage, or by navigating to the PHIS components page, under the heading “Export,” then “Information for Industry,” and subsequently under “Constituent Updates.”

Industry users are encouraged to use the Industry Test Environment to test application submittals for export to the Philippines prior to implementation. The Philippines was added to the Industry Test Environment on February 17, 2025, so that industry partners can begin testing.

For further guidance on PHIS export and enrollment, please refer to the following user guides:

• PHIS Industry User Guide
• Editing 9060 Records Quick Reference Guide
• PHIS Quick Reference Guide for Corporate and Establishment Management

Please contact internationalcoordination@usda.gov with any questions regarding these changes. Technical questions can be directed to PHISTechnicalQA@usda.gov.

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

• Until April 21, 2025: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Importation and Transportation of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
• Until April 21, 2025: Notice of Request to Revise an Approved Information Collection: Imported Undenatured Inedible Product and Samples for Laboratory Examination, Research, Evaluative Testing, or Trade Show Exhibition
• Until April 21, 2025: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Registration Requirements

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

• North Macedonia
• Solomon Islands
• Qatar
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• Tunisia
• Mexico
• India
• Jordan
• Turkey
• Kiribati
• Peru
• Azerbaijan
• Ecuador
• Colombia
• Hong Kong
• Armenia
• China
• Canada

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.