FSIS Posts Updated Dataset on Import Refusals

The updated dataset on import refusals for products regulated by FSIS is now available on the FSIS website. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry and egg products to be inspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS inspects each shipment to verify labeling, proper certification, general condition, any signs of tampering and to identify product adulterated by transportation damage. FSIS also performs additional activities on a random and/or for-cause basis such as physical product examination and laboratory sampling for pathogens and chemical residues.

Any product that does not meet FSIS requirements is refused entry and the importer has up to 45 days (30 days for egg products) to have the product destroyed for use as human food, re-exported/returned to the foreign country, converted to animal food or brought into compliance with FSIS requirements, if applicable (e.g. relabeled, remarked, replacement certificate). 

This dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and contains each shipment with product that was refused entry. For more information, please visit: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations.   

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

On Feb. 20, 2018, FSIS will update 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 also will update 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.

E. coliTesting Update

FSIS posts biweekly updates of the Agency’s raw ground beef E. coli sampling program, which includes testing results of raw ground beef component samples for E. coli O157:H7 and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STECs) from FSIS routine and follow-up sampling programs. Data are also presented for non-O157 STECs by each non-O157 STEC serogroup.

Between June 4, 2012 and Feb. 11, 2018, FSIS laboratory services analyzed a total of 21,853 beef trim samples (17,829 domestic and 4,024 imported), 4,596 routine follow-up samples (4,482 domestic and 114 imported), and 364 non-routine follow-up/traceback samples. 212 samples were found to be positive; 127 were domestic trim samples, 11 were imported trim samples, 70 were domestic follow-up samples, and four were non-routine follow-up/traceback samples. To date, three samples have been positive for both O157:H7 and at least one non-O157 STEC strain and 11 samples have been positive for two different non-O157 O-groups.

To review testing results, visit the E. coli data tables at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations/microbiology.

Export Requirements Updates

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

• Hong Kong
• People’s Republic of China

Complete information can be found at https://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.  The following policy updates were recently issued:

• Notice 11-18 - Office of Investigation Enforcement and Audit Responsibilities Related To Siluriformes Fish and Fish Products
• Directive 1060.1 - Agency Surveys
• Docket No. FSIS-2005-0015 - Egg Products Inspection Regulations