FSIS Enhances Residue Testing

Starting October 1, the FSIS laboratory system intends to expand its residue testing capabilities in support of the National Residue Program (NRP) through two new, comprehensive methods. 
 
FSIS will implement a testing method for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are a class of persistent organic environmental contaminants that include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The purpose of this activity is to gain a better understanding of PFAS concentrations in beef muscle. The testing method for PFAS compounds, titled “Screening, Determination, and Confirmation of PFAS by UPLC-MS-MS” (CLG-PFAS2.00), will analyze for 16 of these compounds in beef muscle. In fiscal year 2020, FSIS intends to use this method to test KIS-Test positive, bovine muscle samples obtained from carcasses that have already been condemned as unfit for human consumption. About 1,700 samples of this type are typically received by the FSIS laboratories each year, and this will allow FSIS to test for PFAS without collecting any new or additional samples. Throughout fiscal year 2020, the PFAS testing program will be continuously monitored and evaluated by FSIS in consultation with its NRP partner agencies, FDA and EPA.
 
The agency will also start using a next generation multi-residue screening method to strengthen its ability to detect animal drug residues. “Screening and Confirmation of Animal Drug Residues by UHPLC-MS-MS” (CLG-MRM3.00) will be an improvement over the current CLG-MRM1.08 method due to the use of more sensitive instrumentation. As a result, the number of animal drug residues analyzed in a sample will increase from 92 to 107 unique compounds. The method is applicable for the analysis of kidney and muscle in several slaughter classes (beef, pork, poultry, goat, and sheep), as well as Siluriformes (catfish) muscle and liquid egg products. Starting October 1, the new method will be applied to inspector-generated samples. FSIS intends to begin using this method to analyze NRP scheduled residue samples later in fiscal year 2020.  
 
Both methods will be available on the public Chemistry Laboratory Guidebook (CLG) website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/publications/chemistry-laboratory-guidebook for implementation by FSIS on October 1. Information about the agency’s testing programs may be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/sampling-program.

Australia Eligible to Export Raw Pork Products to the United States

FSIS reviewed Australia’s documented inspection program for raw pork and conducted an on-site verification audit of Australia’s raw pork inspection system from Aug. 6 – 22, 2018.  FSIS has concluded that Australia has implemented a raw pork product inspection system that is equivalent to that of the U.S. inspection system.  FSIS has, therefore, determined that Australia is eligible to export raw pork derived from swine slaughtered on and after August 29, 2019 to the U.S.

In March 2011, FSIS issued Federal Register Notice 76 FR 11752, which affirmed FSIS’ 1999 equivalence determination (64 FR 30299) that Australia’s modernized slaughter inspection system, the Australian Export Meat Inspection System (AEMIS), is equivalent to FSIS’ food safety inspection system.  In March 2018, Australia requested that FSIS expand its equivalence determination to include raw pork products produced under AEMIS.  The document review and on-site verification audit support expansion of the equivalence determination for AEMIS to include raw pork products.  The 2018 FSIS audit report is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/publications/australia-foreign-audit-report.

Export Requirements Updates

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

• Australia
• Chile
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Panama 
• Singapore

Complete information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/import-export

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 update was recently issued:

Docket No. FSIS-2019-0011 - Notice of Request To Revise an Approved Information Collection Import Inspection Application and Application for the Return of Exported Products to the United States