FSIS Posts FY 2024 Annual Plan

FSIS has posted to its website the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Annual Plan. The annual plan details the ways the agency will achieve its fiscal year goals, which include preventing foodborne illness and protecting public health; transforming inspection systems, policies, and scientific approaches to improve public health; and achieving operational excellence.

For more details, please view the FY 2024 Annual Plan.

FSIS Posts New Raw Poultry Laboratory Sampling Establishment-Specific Dataset

Today, FSIS posted the new updated Raw Poultry Laboratory Sampling Establishment-Specific Dataset, as announced in the August 18, 2023, Constituent Update. This dataset combines the Exploratory and Special Program Poultry Sampling, Raw Chicken Carcasses Sampling, Raw Chicken Parts Sampling, Raw Comminuted Chicken Sampling, Raw Comminuted Turkey Sampling, Raw Turkey Carcasses Sampling, and Raw Poultry Follow-Up Sampling datasets. The dataset has also been updated to include the exploratory young chicken carcass rehang sampling project, Salmonella enumeration, and sanitary indicator organisms (aerobic count and Enterobacteriaceae). The dataset is available on the Establishment-specific Datasets on Laboratory Sampling page.

Subsequent postings of this dataset will follow the regular posting schedule for establishment-specific datasets. New datasets are released the first Friday of the next quarter with a quarter lag, meaning data for FY2023 Q4 (i.e., July, August, September 2023) are planned to be released January 5, 2024, data for FY2024 Q1 (i.e., October, November, December 2023) are planned to be released April 5, 2024, and so forth.

FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals and Import Volume

On October 16, 2023, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will update the publicly posted datasets on import refusals and country-level import volume 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 re-inspects 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.

Both the current and archived Import Volume datasets are updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. These data represent the volume of imported meat, poultry, and egg products presented for reinspection to FSIS at official import inspection establishments.

To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.

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:

• Until November 27, 2023: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Egg Products Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures
• Until December 11, 2023: Notice of Request for New Information Collection: Small and Very Small Establishment Outreach Survey
• Until December 11, 2023: Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection: Salmonella Initiative Program

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 53-23 - Fiscal Year 2023 Quality Step Increase Instructions

FSIS Notice 54-23 - Raw Pork Products Sampling Program

FSIS Notice 55-23 - End of Year Performance Management Instruction

Export Requirements Update

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

• Canada
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Vietnam
• European Union
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Hong Kong
• St. Lucia
• Costa Rica
• Panama
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• Dominica
• Denmark
• India
• El Salvador
• Mauritius
• Namibia
• Benin
• New Caledonia
• United Arab Emirates
• Qatar
• Jordan
• Curacao
• Chile
• Ecuador
• Barbados
• Colombia
• Uruguay
• Guatemala
• Western Samoa (Samoa)
• Solomon Islands
• Jamaica
• Nicaragua
• Honduras
• Kiribati
• Cuba

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