FSIS Removes Voluntary Ante-Mortem Inspection Regulations for Horses

On April 21, 2025, FSIS will publish a final rule amending federal meat inspection regulations to remove the regulation that established a voluntary fee-for-service program for ante-mortem inspection of horses. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the voluntary fee-for-service program on March 28, 2007. FSIS is removing the regulation to ensure the agency’s regulations accurately reflect current requirements.

FSIS to Update Allergen Related Programs and Documents

FSIS intends to update allergen related programs and documents in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recently updated guidance document titled, “Final Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Edition 5).” The updates include removing coconut from the list of tree nuts that FDA considers major food allergens.

The agency will update allergen related programs and documents including its “Allergen Sampling Verification Program” and “Ongoing Verification of Product Formulation and Labeling Targeting the Nine Most Common (‘Big 9’) Food Allergens” directives to align with FDA’s guidance by removing any references to coconut as a tree nut allergen. In addition, FSIS laboratories will no longer report results for coconut testing associated with the Allergen Sampling Verification Program.

These updates are expected to be published in Spring 2025. Note that even though FDA no longer considers coconut to be a major food allergen, it still contains protein that could cause an allergic reaction and must be declared in the ingredients statement on the label if it is used as an ingredient in the product.

For more information on the Big 9 allergens and controlling for major food allergens and ingredients of public health concern, see FSIS Directive 7230.1 and the FSIS Compliance Guideline Allergens and Ingredients of Public health Concern: Identification, Prevention and Control, and Declaration through Labeling.

NARMS Partners FSIS, FDA, and CDC Publish Antimicrobial Resistance Findings

On April 1, 2025, the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) multiagency team published their findings on macrolide (i.e. Azithromycin, Erythromycin etc.) resistance in Salmonella and Campylobacter isolated from food-producing animals, in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. This publication can also be accessed from FSIS’ NARMS Webpage.

This publication focuses on the phenotypic aspects of Salmonella and Campylobacter resistance to a range of candidate antimicrobials in the macrolide family and elaborates on the potential for cross-resistance among macrolide drugs. The important findings from this study can be used to make informed risk management decisions with respect to potential for macrolide resistance/cross-resistance in food-producing animals and humans.

FSIS Posts Individual Category Status and Aggregate Results for Poultry Carcasses, Chicken Parts, and Comminuted Poultry Tested for Salmonella

Today, FSIS updated the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, and comminuted poultry products on the Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting page on the FSIS website. Additionally, FSIS posted the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, or not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products at the location linked above.

FSIS Updates Import Presented Refused and Import Refusal Reason Datasets

Today, FSIS updated the Import Presented Refused and Import Refusal Reason datasets on the Import and Export Data page. The Import Presented Refused dataset includes lot-level information for import volume along with import refusal data at the lot-level and the Import Refusal Reason is provided as a secondary dataset, providing each refusal reason as its own row to facilitate analysis.

The Import Presented Refused and Import Refusal Reason datasets are updated monthly and will be posted the third Friday of each month, with data broken out by fiscal year (FY), starting with data from FY 2014 (starting on October 1, 2013) through the most recent FY. These datasets are released in an open, non-proprietary Comma-separated value (csv) format. Instructions on how to open csv files using Excel are available on the FSIS website in the Comma Separated Values Guide section.

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

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Notice 10-25 - Government Travel Charge Card Account Details Review

Export Requirements Update

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

• Azerbaijan
• Ukraine
• Canada
• Kuwait
• North Macedonia
• Albania
• Japan
• Iraq
• Mexico
• Taiwan
• European Union
• Singapore

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