New Address for FSIS’ Docket Room

FSIS has moved its docket room to 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700. The FSIS Docket Room is the official repository for all documents related to the development of FSIS dockets published in the Federal Register, including notices, proposed rules, interim final rules and final rules, and other documents upon which FSIS decision makers rely when developing policy. Supporting materials for FSIS dockets, as well as public comments on dockets and petitions for policy change are stored in the docket room. 

FSIS encourages the public to submit comments on dockets and petitions to the federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. This website provides the ability to type short comments directly into a comment field or to attach a file of lengthier comments.

Otherwise, the public may send comments to: Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700. 

To schedule a visit to the FSIS Docket Room, please call (202) 720-5627 to ensure FSIS staff are prepared for and available to facilitate your visit.

Updated Meat and Poultry Hazards and Controls Guide is Available

FSIS has updated the Meat and Poultry Hazards and Controls Guide. The guide was developed to help FSIS inspection program personnel and enforcement, investigations and analysis officers evaluate different aspects of an establishment’s hazard analyses and support for the hazard analyses decisions. The guide has been updated to include slaughter sections for beef, swine, and poultry. Additional examples of potential hazards and frequently used controls are also provided. For questions, please contact askFSIS at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/askfsis or call 1-800-233-3935.

Identifying Regulatory Reform Initiatives at USDA

On July 17, 2017, USDA published a request for information, Identifying Regulatory Reform Initiatives, pursuant to Executive Order 13777—Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda. USDA is requesting ideas from the public on how to provide better customer service and remove unintended barriers to participation in department programs in ways that least interfere with customers and allow USDA to accomplish its mission. USDA is asking for public ideas on regulations, guidance documents, or any other policy documents that are in need of reform. Examples include ideas to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal those regulations or policies.

Comments and information are requested on or before July 17, 2018. USDA will review comments in four batches over a one-year period. The cut-off period for comments for the last batch is July 17, 2018.

Comments can be submitted the following two ways:

• Submit comments electronically through the federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov.
• Submit comments on paper, disk, or CD-ROM by mail, hand delivery, or courier to: Office of Budget and Program Analysis, USDA, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 101-A, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, D.C. 20250.

For proper delivery, in your comment specify “Identifying Regulatory Reform Initiatives.” For more information, please visit https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/07/17/2017-14920/identifying-regulatory-reform-initiatives.   

FSIS to Resume Web Posting of Salmonella Performance Standards for Establishments Producing Chicken Parts and Not-Ready-to-Eat Comminuted Poultry Products

FSIS intends to begin web posting of individual establishment categories for Salmonella performance standards for chicken parts and not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products starting in October 2018. Before FSIS begins posting this information, FSIS intends to conduct follow-up sampling at Category 3 establishments producing chicken parts and comminuted poultry products. FSIS will provide more detailed information concerning this posting in a future Constituent Update.

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 24-18 -Fiscal Year 2018 Dioxin Survey
• Notice 25-18 - Criteria for Recommending an Onsite Verification Audit as Part of a Reinstatement of Equivalence Determination or When Making an Expansion of Initial Equivalence Determination Regarding Equivalent Country Request to Add a New Species/Process Category

Export Requirements Updates

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

• European Union
• Jamaica

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