FSIS Releases Revised Guideline for Training Establishment Carcass Sorters in NPIS

FSIS has updated its industry guideline, “FSIS Guideline for Training Establishment Carcass Sorters in the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS),” for training establishment carcass sorters. The guideline was updated to reflect the final rule, “Condemnation of Poultry Carcasses Affected With Any Form of Avian Leukosis Complex; Recission,” published on August 17, 2023. This guideline provides information to help poultry establishments train employees to conduct carcass and associated viscera sorting activities that are required under the NPIS.

FSIS Posts Updated Quarterly Humane Handling Datasets

Today, the quarterly humane handling inspection datasets were updated on the FSIS website. The datasets include: (1) the number of administrative enforcement actions taken, (2) the number of humane handling verification tasks performed, (3) the number of humane handling verification tasks that resulted in a noncompliance record (NR), and (4) the number of hours spent observing and verifying the humane treatment of livestock. This posting contains the most recent four quarters of data by district, HACCP size, and quarter.

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

On April 19, 2024, FSIS will update 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 will post 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.

This posting reflects the change to the categorization calculation announced in the March 1, 2024 Constituent Update. FSIS will exclude current commercial vaccine subtypes confirmed in FSIS raw poultry samples. This exclusion will apply to the calculation used to categorize establishments under the raw poultry Salmonella performance standards for categorizations calculated on or after April 1, 2024.

Upcoming Events

• Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products with U.S.-Origin Claims: April 30: 1:00-2:15 p.m. ET; May 15, 1:00-2:15 p.m. ET.

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 May 17, 2024: Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products with U.S.-Origin Claims
• Until May 31, 2024: Availability of Revised Guideline for Controlling Retained Water in Raw Meat and Poultry
• Until June 3, 2024: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Voluntary Recalls of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
• Until June 17, 2024: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Animal Disposition Reporting
• Until June 17, 2024: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Consumer Complaint Monitoring System

Export Requirements Update

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

• China
• Mexico
• Turkey
• Mauritius
• Hong Kong
• Cuba
• Guatemala
• European Union
• Azerbaijan
• Barbados
• Dominica
• New Caledonia
• El Salvador
• Taiwan
• United Arab Emirates
• Canada
• Ecuador
• North Macedonia

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