FSIS Posts FY 2020 Annual Plan

FSIS has posted to the agency’s website its fiscal year (FY) 2020 Annual Plan, the fourth annual plan aligned with FSIS’ 2017-2021 Strategic Plan. The annual plan details the ways the agency will achieve its strategic goals over the next fiscal year.

In keeping with FSIS’ efforts to modernize inspection systems, business practices, and policies, much of the agency’s work for FY 2020 builds upon data collection and program evaluations completed during FY 2018 and FY 2019. FSIS will implement science-based recommendations from program evaluations to drive sampling programs for microbiological and chemical hazards, ensure robust systems to verify humane handling, and improve how agency directives and notices are delivered to field personnel. FSIS will also capitalize on two years of consumer research studies to deliver targeted food safety messages aimed at addressing the most common unsafe food handling practices and preventing foodborne illness. The agency will continue this systematic, data-driven approach to evaluation and modernization in FY 2020 as we take a closer look at foreign material and undeclared allergen recalls.

The FY 2020 Annual Plan is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-07/annual-plan-fy2020.pdf.

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

On January 21, 2020, FSIS will update the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts and comminuted poultry products at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations.

Additionally, FSIS will post the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 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.

Tips for Faster Label Approval Process

Labels are currently taking about 12-14 business days to evaluate. 

TIP: The disclaimer statement relating to hormone use in swine is no longer necessary on labels bearing a negative hormones claim relating to pork or pork used in the product; however, establishments do not have to take immediate action to remove the disclaimer, which may be done generically.

Previous animal raising labeling claim guidance issued by FSIS stated that hormones were not approved for use in swine; therefore, to approve the label, FSIS looked for a disclaimer statement on the label, such as “There are no hormones approved for use in swine by Federal Regulations.”  However, there are hormones approved by the Food and Drug Administration marketed by drug makers to be used in swine in the United States for various reasons (e.g., gestation). Based on the updated guidance, if establishments submit a pork label with a “no hormones” claim to FSIS, the agency will look for documentation to support the claim. However, if establishments don’t include that supporting information at this time, FSIS will not send the label back requesting the information, if all other information is in order. Starting on April 1, 2020, if the label application does not have the supporting information, FSIS will return the label and request additional information. Examples of this type of claim include: “Raised Without Added Hormones,” “No Added Hormones Administered,” “Raised Without Steroids,” and “No Growth Promotants.”

Additionally, establishments do not need to resubmit their labels for approval to remove the disclaimer statement from pork and pork product labels. The change can be made generically under 9 CFR 412.1. Establishments may wait until the next printing of the label or take steps to remove the disclaimer immediately.

FSIS will continue to provide updates regarding label turnaround time, as well as suggestions to assist industry to streamline label submissions in its Constituent Update.

Export Requirements Updates

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

• Brazil
• Kenya
• Mexico

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. The following policy updates were recently issued:

• Docket No. FSIS-2019-0030 - National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods; Renewal
• FSIS Notice 02-20 - Analysis of E. coli and Enteroccocus of Fish of The Order of Siluriformes
• FSIS Notice 03-20 - Cecal Sampling to Expand the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Program to Include Veal, Sheep, Lamb, and Goats
• FSIS Notice 04-20 - Lymph Node Testing to Complement The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Program
• FSIS Notice 05-20 - New FSIS Security Paper and Seven Digit Export Stamp for use with the Export Module of the Public Health Information System - Phase Three