FSIS Posts First Public Dashboard of Establishments

FSIS In response to feedback from stakeholders and the public, FSIS is combining two existing datasets on FSIS-regulated establishments to be accessible on a single map. This format will enhance the customer service experience by allowing individuals to search by location (i.e., region, state, individual establishment), production information (i.e., meat slaughter, poultry slaughter, processing activity) or by geographical areas on a map to quickly find establishments in their area or throughout the country.

Each month, FSIS posts establishments’ location and inspection activity information as part of the Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory. This information can be acquired in multiple formats -- a webpage list, downloadable Excel files, or through the MPI Directory App. FSIS also posts additional information for each establishment, including the species slaughtered over the previous year and types of products produced on the Establishment-Specific Datasets webpage.

The Data Documentation: Establishment Demographic Data - Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) Directory Supplement describes the data fields and explains how to join this data with other FSIS public data sets. The dashboard and more information can be found at Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory.

Availability of Generic Labeling Webinar

On September 25, 2019 FSIS presented a labeling webinar titled "Generic Labeling Overview." The webinar discussed prior label approval, generic labeling, special statements and claims, the Label Submission and Approval System (LSAS), how to streamline the label submission process, resources available to stakeholders, how to contact FSIS for guidance, as well as other labeling related topics. This webinar was recently posted on the FSIS website at Labeling Policies.

Tips for Faster Label Approval Process

Labels are currently taking about 12-14 business days to evaluate.

In limited special circumstances that require temporary production at another establishment, an official establishment may transfer labels, wrappers, or containers bearing official marks with its establishment number to any other official establishment for short-term use up to 60 days under a temporary label approval. Transferred labeling bearing a pre-printed establishment number (i.e., the transferring establishment’s number) must be code marked to identify the establishment that actually produces the product (i.e., the receiving establishment). The code mark is a unique identifier, such as a numeric code, consisting of the lot number and the establishment number in which the product was produced.

As with all other temporary labels, establishments are required to submit to FSIS for review an application for a temporary transfer label; FSIS must approve the label before establishments can use it on product in commerce. The label application for a plant transfer temporary approval should include a description of the unique code for traceability purposes, and should explain why a transfer of labeling is needed. In addition, the application should include the original transferring establishment’s label approval, the date or dates the labeling material will be shipped and used, the amount of labeling material, and the type of labeling material (example: 2,000 printed bags shipped November 10, 2019 or 1,000 sticker labels to be used from November 10 through December 17, 2019). To reduce the amount of time needed to review the label application, establishments may include the information above in a letter in the body of the label application rather than just in the label summary in the Labeling Submission and Approval System (LSAS).

It is important to remember that FSIS regulations do not permit multiple establishment numbers to be placed on one product label. If the establishment number of the receiving establishment is used as part of the code, it should be embedded as part of the unique code such that it does not appear to be an establishment number. For example, if the receiving establishment number is "1234" the unique identifier codes "EST 1234 ABC789" or "EST1234ABC789" (ABC789 being an example lot code) are not acceptable because "EST" can only precede the establishment number as per 9 CFR 317.2(i) and the transferred label already bears the establishment number of the original facility. The codes "1234ABC789" or "1234 ABC789" are acceptable because "1234" does not appear to be an establishment number as it is not preceded by "EST".

For additional information about the transfer of labeling please see FSIS Directive 7000.4.

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.

Retail Deli Lm Pilot Project Update

On Jan. 25, 2016, FSIS launched a multi-year nationwide pilot project to assess whether retail delicatessens are using the recommendations in the document titled FSIS Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Lm in Retail Delicatessens. Since January 2016, FSIS has assessed a total of 5,845 retail delis to determine the adoption rate of the recommendations. FSIS continues to track progress for this pilot project in its Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Plan and the FSIS Strategic Plan, FY 2017-2021.

As of the fourth quarter in fiscal year (FY) 2019, FSIS has exceeded its target with 1,314 assessed retail delis following 93% of the 33 recommendations, over the previous 12 months (target 92%).

Under its strategic and annual plans, FSIS is also tracking whether the retail delis assessed are following all of the top eight recommendations identified in the FSIS Retail Lm Guidance. The top eight recommendations can be found on pages 1-2 of the FSIS Directive 10.310.1- Pilot Project: Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens.

As of the fourth quarter in FY 2019, FSIS has exceeded its target with 71% of the 1,314 assessed retail delis following all eight of the most important recommendations, over the previous 12 months (target 62%).

Retailers can ask questions regarding the Lm deli pilot project through askFSIS or by telephone at 1-800-233-3935. When submitting a question, retailers should use the "Submit a Question tab" and enter "Retail Lm" in the subject field, select "General Inspection Policy" for the product, "Sampling" for the category, and "Domestic (U.S.) Only" for the policy arena.

Export Requirements Updates

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

• Chile
• Colombia
• Cuba
• Ecuador
• Peru
• Singapore

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

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:

FSIS Notice 46-19 - Analysis for Salmonella of All Imported Beef (Including Veal) Products Sampled for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli