FSIS Publishes Final Rule to Eliminate Trichinae Control Regulations

As announced in last week’s Constituent Update, on May 31, 2018, FSIS published the final rule eliminating prescriptive regulatory requirements for destroying Trichinella spiralis in ready-to-eat (RTE) and not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pork and pork products. FSIS also announced the availability of a compliance guide to help establishments, particularly small and very small establishments, in understanding the controls that are effective for the prevention and elimination of trichinae in RTE and NRTE pork. FSIS has posted the compliance guide on its website: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-guidelines.    

To read the complete story from last week, please visit: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-04/ConstiUpdate052518.pdf.  

FSIS Information Sheet on Antibiotic Residues in FSIS-Regulated Products 

FSIS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partner to identify, rank, and test for chemical residues (e.g., antibiotics and other drugs) in meat, poultry and egg products under the National Residue Program (NRP). On June 1, 2018, FSIS is publishing an information sheet on its National Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) webpage to promote consumer understanding and raise awareness of the safeguards put in place to prevent illegal antibiotic residues from entering the food supply. This questions-and answers-sheet serves to clarify and explain the difference between antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues in animal-derived products and associated terms.

Reminder: PHIS Export Component to Launch June 29 

As previously announced, on June 29, 2018, FSIS will begin implementing the Public Health Information System (PHIS) export component with a limited number of countries, and then gradually expand to additional countries. Countries in the first phase include Afghanistan, Andorra, Bahamas, Bolivia, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mozambique, San Marino, Tanzania, and Uganda. FSIS would like to remind you that all parties doing business in PHIS are required to have electronic Authentication Level 2, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You can register online and find the steps to complete this process here: https://www.eauth.usda.gov.   

Information about the export component is available on the FSIS website at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/compliance-guidance/phis. Please continue to monitor this website and read the Constituent Update for any upcoming information. Please submit questions concerning the PHIS export functionality to PHISTechnicalQA@usda.gov.

FSIS Webinar on Individual Salmonella Category Status for Poultry Parts and Comminuted Poultry

On June 13, FSIS will host a webinar from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET about the posting of individual Salmonella category status data for poultry establishments that produce poultry parts and not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry. The webinar will provide an overview of FSIS’ sampling practices and explain the category determination process, expectation for establishments in Category 3, and assignment of follow-up samples and Public Health Risk Evaluations (PHRE). 

To access the webinar, visit http://ems7.intellor.com/login/805948 and follow the on-screen instructions. Use the following information when logging on: Meeting Number: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633, Access Code: 0615252. Please be sure to log on as a participant. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the website upon availability. For questions, contact Jeremy “Todd” Reed at jeremy.reed@usda.gov.

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 30-18 - Distribution of Windows 10 Computers 
• Directive 13000.5 - Public Health Information System Export Certification

Docket No. FSIS-2015-0036 - Elimination of Trichinae Control Regulations and Consolidation of Thermally Processed, Commercially Sterile Regulations

Export Requirements Updates

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

• Argentina 
• El Salvador 
• Mexico 
• New Caledonia
• South Africa
• Taiwan 
• Western Samoa

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