Constituent Update - February 9, 2024
FSIS to Onboard Additional Countries to PHIS Export Component
Starting May 20, 2024, export certificates for meat and poultry products (excluding casings and egg products) exported to 21 additional countries will be generated in FSIS’ Public Health Information System (PHIS).
The additional countries are:
Barbados; Belize; Cabo Verde; Costa Rica; El Salvador; Eswatini; Mali; Marshall Islands; Mongolia; Nauru; Niger; Rwanda; São Tomé and Príncipe; Somalia; South Sudan; Tunisia; Tuvalu; Vanuatu; Yemen; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.
All export certificates (FSIS Form 9060-5 series) generated through PHIS will be digitally signed by FSIS and printed by industry personnel with PHIS access. FSIS inspection program personnel will print only upon request when industry does not have a functional printer or PHIS access (see FSIS Notice 09-23 for more information on printing procedures). Any attestations for the 21 countries, as documented in the FSIS Export Library, will be captured in the FSIS Form 9060-5 remarks section or the FSIS Form 9060-5B (continuation sheet).
Industry is encouraged to use the Industry Test Environment (ITE) to test application submittals for export to these 21 countries. FSIS is providing testing instructions for industry on the FSIS website, PHIS Components page, under Information for Industry. Please note that an electronic identification account that includes identity verification steps is required for all persons who will access PHIS, for both the test environment and the live production environment. Note that user accounts are disabled for those who have not used PHIS in 60 days. For those new to PHIS-export, please register with Login.gov to initiate, update, or complete the electronic identification account and the PHIS enrollment process. Instructions can be found in the PHIS Industry User Guide, section 2 (Overview of PHIS). FSIS is also continuing to plan for onboarding Mexico into the PHIS export component, with a target completion date of calendar year 2024. Please monitor future editions of the Constituent Update for more information. As noted in previous Constituent Updates, industry is strongly encouraged to ensure establishment information in PHIS is aligned with Mexico’s approved establishment list. Misaligned information risks held or rejected shipments upon Mexico’s implementation in PHIS.
For further guidance on PHIS export and enrollment, please refer to the following user guides:
- PHIS Industry User Guide
- Editing 9060 Records Quick Reference Guide
- PHIS Quick Reference Guide for Corporate and Establishment Management
Please contact internationalcoordination@usda.gov with questions regarding these changes. Technical questions can be directed to PHISTechnicalQA@usda.gov.
FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals
On February 15, 2024, FSIS will update the publicly posted dataset on import refusals for products that the agency regulates. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry, and egg products to be reinspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS reinspects each shipment to verify labeling, proper certification, general condition, and 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. Within 45 days for meat and poultry or 30 days for egg products, the importer must have the product destroyed for use as human food, re-exported to the foreign country, converted to animal food, or brought into compliance with FSIS requirements, if applicable (e.g., relabeled, remarked, or issued a replacement certificate).
The current Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and the archived Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. The datasets contain each shipment with product that was refused entry. To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.
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 February 13, 2024: Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Web-Based Surveys
- Until April 8, 2024: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Mechanically Tenderized Beef Products
Export Requirements Update
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- China
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- United Arab Emirates
- European Union
- Japan
- Korea
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Qatar
- Turkey
- India
- New Caledonia
- Azerbaijan
Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.