FY 2022 Appropriations Bill Enhances FSIS Workplace Flexibilities

On March 15, President Biden signed the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill into law, which updated the agency’s statutes to allow FSIS to offer new workplace flexibilities to its in-plant inspection personnel. 

An inspector will no longer need to be in an overtime status in order for the plant to be charged for services that are provided outside of the established hours of operation. 

This change will be cost neutral to industry and inspection services provided will not change. Establishments will be billed for any time that services are requested outside of their approved hours of inspection regardless of the overtime status of the in-plant inspection personnel. This change does not impact the requirement for inspection of slaughter and processing procedures as required under the statutes.

FSIS is committed to meeting Agency obligations with the National Joint Council (NJC) of Food Inspection Locals. This agency update aligns with the current need for schedule flexibility and work-life balance initiatives. FSIS also anticipates that the change will enhance our efforts to recruit and retain in-plant inspection personnel.

FSIS Launches New Webpage: Reducing Salmonella in Poultry

FSIS has launched a new webpage highlighting the agency’s ongoing efforts to reduce Salmonella in poultry. In October 2021, FSIS announced that it is mobilizing a stronger, more comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. Since then, FSIS has initiated several activities to gather the data and information necessary to support future action. The new webpage will provide you with the agency’s most up to date news, information, and resources on Salmonella in poultry. FSIS has also established a dedicated mailbox for questions or suggestions about reducing Salmonella in poultry: salmonella@usda.gov.

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

On March 21, 2022, FSIS will update the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, and comminuted poultry products on the Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting page. Additionally, FSIS will post the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, or not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products at the location linked above.

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy updates were recently issued:

FSIS Notice 14-22 - Revised Availability of Protective Equipment for Employees Stationed at USDA and FSIS Facilities

FSIS Notice 15-22 - Revised Availability of Protective Equipment for Inspection Program Personnel and In-Commerce Personnel

Export Requirements Update

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

• Turks & Caicos Islands
• Uruguay
• India
• Barbados
• New Zealand
• Myanmar
• Benin
• Jordan
• Western Samoa (Samoa)
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
• Vietnam
• Korea
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Costa Rica
• Singapore
• China
• Canada
• Kiribati
• French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• Ukraine
• Hong Kong
• Tunisia
• Solomon Islands
• Belarus
• Egypt
• Morocco
• European Union
• South Africa
• Kazakhstan
• United Kingdom
• Cuba
• Japan
• Nicaragua
• Honduras
• New Caledonia
• Taiwan

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.