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

FSIS has updated the individual establishments’ category status for Salmonella performance standards for poultry carcasses at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations/microbiology.   

FSIS has also updated the aggregate sampling results relative to process control categories for establishments producing young chicken or turkey carcasses, raw chicken parts or Not Ready-To-Eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations/microbiology.

Reminder: Comment Period for the Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection Proposed Rule Ends on May 2

In response to requests from industry and consumer groups, FSIS extended the comment period by 30 days for the Federal Register proposed rule, “Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection” (83 FR 4780, Feb. 1, 2018). The original deadline to submit comments was April 2, 2018; the new deadline to submit comments is May 2.

As FSIS explained in the proposed rule, FSIS has proposed to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to establish a new inspection system for market hog slaughter establishments that provides public health protection at least equivalent to the existing inspection system. Market hog slaughter establishments that do not choose to operate under the new swine inspection system may continue to operate under their existing inspection system. The Agency also proposed several changes to the regulations that would affect all establishments that slaughter swine, regardless of the inspection system under which they operate or the age, size or class of swine. These proposed changes would allow all swine slaughter establishments to develop sampling plans that are more tailored to their specific operations and thus be more effective in monitoring their specific process control. These proposed changes also would ensure that before the start of slaughter operations, food-contact surfaces are sanitary and free of enteric pathogens.

The proposed rule can be found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/frn2016-0017. Comments on the rule may be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, available at: http://www.regulations.gov; by mail sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza 3, Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700; or by hand or courier delivery to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E St. SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700. All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2016-0017.

Policy Updates

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/directives-notices. The following policy updates were recently issued:

• Notice 21-18 - Scientific Integrity Training at FSIS
• Notice 22-18 - Completion of the Export Certificate Questionnaire
• Notice 23-18 - Notification of Export Certificates to The People’s Republic of China
• Directive 2100.3 - Information Technology Procurement Process Improvement

Export Requirements Updates

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

• Japan
• People’s Republic of China
• Taiwan

For a complete list of countries, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/import-export.