FSIS Food Defense Guidance Documents are Available 

The U.S. enjoys the safest food supply in the world. However, the food system continues to increase in complexity, diversity, and reliance upon interconnected domestic and global systems. In this evolving landscape, food defense, which is the protection of food products from intentional contamination or adulteration intended to harm the public or cause economic disruption, continues to be a priority for FSIS. 

FSIS works with federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies, industry, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from intentional contamination of the food supply.

FSIS has developed multiple tools and resources to educate industry on how to safeguard the American food supply from an intentional adulteration incident. While the food defense resources and guidelines that FSIS produces are always available online at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fooddefense, you can also contact FSIS to have copies sent to you.  Contact FSIS by email at FoodDefense@usda.gov or by calling 202-981-6889 to request copies.

Export Requirements Updates

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

• Mexico
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand

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

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/directives-notices. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Notice 33-19 - Time and Attendance Reporting Procedures for Pay Period 20 2019

FSIS Notice 34-19 - Fiscal Year 2020 Pay Periods and Official Payday Dates

FSIS Directive 5100.5 - Public Health Regulations and FSIS Response to Elevated Public Health Regulation Noncompliance Rate