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Constituent Update
Thursday, November 09 2023

Constituent Update - November 9, 2023

Paraguay’s Eligibility to Export Raw Beef Products to the United States

On November 9, 2023, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a final rule to allow the importation of fresh beef from Paraguay under certain conditions. The final rule will enable raw intact beef products produced from cattle slaughtered in certified Paraguayan establishments on or after the final rule’s effective date of December 14, 2023 (30 days after publication), to be eligible for export to the United States.

On March 24, 2023, FSIS granted a reinstatement of equivalence to Paraguay for their raw intact beef products food safety inspection system based on the assessment of the country’s food safety inspection system documentation and in-country verification audits conducted from November 1-17, 2021, and July 11-22, 2022. However, Paraguay, at the time, had been ineligible to export raw beef products to the U.S. due to animal health restrictions imposed by APHIS related to foot-and-mouth disease.

FSIS will update the Import & Export Library page on the FSIS website to reflect the change in Paraguay’s eligibility once the final rule is in effect.

FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals

On November 15, 2023, FSIS will update the publicly posted dataset on import refusals for products that the agency regulates. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry, and egg products to be reinspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS reinspects each shipment to verify labeling, proper certification, general condition, and any signs of tampering and to identify product adulterated by transportation damage. FSIS also performs additional activities on a random and/or for-cause basis, such as physical product examination and laboratory sampling for pathogens and chemical residues.

Any product that does not meet FSIS requirements is refused entry. Within 45 days for meat and poultry or 30 days for egg products, the importer must have the product destroyed for use as human food, re-exported to the foreign country, converted to animal food, or brought into compliance with FSIS requirements, if applicable (e.g., relabeled, remarked, or issued a replacement certificate).

The current Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and the archived Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. The datasets contain each shipment with product that was refused entry. To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.

Upcoming Events

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

Policy Update

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

FSIS Notice 62-23 - Federal Benefits 2023 Open Season

FSIS Notice 61-23 - Cutoff Dates for Fiscal Year 2024 Purchases

FSIS Directive 4810.1 - On-The-Job Injury and Illness Compensation Program - Revision 5

Export Requirements Update

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

  • Panama
  • European Union
  • Mexico
  • French Polynesia (Tahiti)
  • Colombia
  • Taiwan
  • Korea
  • Ukraine
  • Curacao
  • Singapore
  • Hong Kong
  • Kazakhstan
  • New Zealand
  • Qatar
  • Myanmar
  • Ecuador
  • Nicaragua
  • Honduras
  • El Salvador
  • Japan
  • Guatemala
  • Canada
  • Egypt
  • Costa Rica
  • South Africa

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

Last Updated: Nov 09, 2023