FSIS Releases Fiscal Year 2017 Year in Review

FSIS recently released the FSIS Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Year in Review. The report provides an overall summary of the Agency’s performance, as well as key accomplishments to track FSIS’ effectiveness toward meeting its mission and goals in 2017. The report highlights new approaches taken to enhance food safety compliance, data capabilities and our employees’ skills and expertise to modernize the way we protect public health. The Year in Review also addresses expanding FSIS’ use of Public Health Risk Evaluations and Whole Genome Sequencing, drafting a new Swine Slaughter Modernization Rule, continued implementation of the Poultry Slaughter Modernization Rule and incorporation of Siluriformes inspection into Agency processes as key areas of focus for 2017. The report is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-07/FSIS-FY2017-Year-in-Review.pdf.

FSIS Announces Availability of Fiscal Year 2017 Residue Testing Results

FSIS is announcing the availability of the United States National Residue Program (NRP) for Meat, Poultry and Egg Products sampling results for fiscal year (FY) 2017. The publication is the latest version of the “FSIS Red Book,” which outlines the results of the residue analyses for the various sampling plans for domestic and imported products. The report is available athttps://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations/residue-chemistry.

FSIS Updates Two Chemistry Methods

FSIS has revised two Chemistry Laboratory Guidebook methods. The method, “Screening and Confirmation of Animal Drug Residues by UHPLC-MS-MS,” includes two changes: updates to the quality control screening criteria and the name of the analyte beta-zearalanol is now correctly identified as taleranol. The method, “Protein Determination by Combustion,” has been updated to include a new instrument to analyze protein content and the method’s quality control criteria have been clarified. The methods will be available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/publications/chemistry-laboratory-guidebook. The Agency intends to begin using both methods after April 30, 2018.

E. coli Testing Update

FSIS posts biweekly updates of the Agency’s raw ground beef E. coli sampling program, which includes testing results of raw ground beef component samples for E. coli O157:H7 and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STECs) from FSIS routine and follow-up sampling programs. Data are also presented for non-O157 STECs by each non-O157 STEC serogroup.

Between June 4, 2012 and March 11, 2018, FSIS laboratory services analyzed a total of 22,337 beef trim samples (18,311 domestic and 4,026 imported), 4,696 routine follow-up samples (4,582 domestic and 114 imported) and 373 non-routine follow-up/traceback samples. 213 samples were found to be positive; 128 were domestic trim samples, 11 were imported trim samples, 70 were domestic follow-up samples, and four were non-routine follow-up/traceback samples. To date, three samples have been positive for both O157:H7 and at least one non-O157 STEC strain and 11 samples have been positive for two different non-O157 O-groups.

To review testing results, visit the E. coli data tables at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualizations/microbiology.

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 19-18 - Training Requirement for International Travel
• Notice 20-18 - FY 2018 Yearend Closing Instructions
• Directive 5000.4 Rev. 2 - Performing The Pre-Operational Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures Verification Task
• Directive 5000.5 Rev. 2 - Verification of Less Than Daily Sanitation Procedures in Processing Operations

Export Requirements Updates

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

• People’s Republic of China
• Republic of Korea
• Taiwan

Complete information can be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/import-export.