Tips for Faster Label Approval Process

Labels are currently taking about 5-7 business days to evaluate. 

TIP: Establishments submitting meat or poultry labels to FSIS for approval should ensure that the principal display panel (PDP), as well as any alternate PDPs, bear the four specific mandatory label features required on a PDP in order to avoid unnecessary application returns.   

The principal display panel, or “PDP,” is the part of the label most likely to be displayed, presented, shown, or examined under customary conditions to the consumer (9 CFR 317.2(d) and 381.116(b)). The PDP of meat and poultry products must bear the following four mandatory label features: the name of the product, the official inspection legend, the net quantity of contents, and if necessary, a handling statement. These mandatory features may also be duplicated on other panels, however, they must always appear on the PDP. Other mandatory label features (e.g., the list of ingredients) may also appear on the PDP.

If a panel, other than the PDP, is likely to be displayed similar to a PDP under customary conditions of sale, or if the panel bears three or more of the mandatory labeling features required on the PDP, then the panel is considered an alternate PDP. FSIS regulations require that a package bearing an alternate PDP must duplicate information required to be placed on the PDP on the alternate PDP (9 CFR 317.2(d) and 381.116(b)).

A future Constituent Update will describe the placement of other mandatory features on the Information Panel.

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.

Policy Update

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:

FSIS Notice 19-21 - FSIS Sampling of Fowl Slaughtered Under the New Poultry Inspection System as Authorized by Waiver