Reminder: Small and Very Small Establishment Outreach Survey

As announced in the February 16, 2024, Constituent Update, FSIS is soliciting feedback from small and very small establishment owners through a survey to understand how FSIS can better serve the needs of small establishments and improve outreach. The survey began on March 4 and will close on April 12, 2024. The survey is available in multiple languages.

FSIS asks that you please complete the survey. This survey is one of many ways FSIS is working to bring equity to small and very small establishments. By giving feedback through this survey, owners of small establishments can help FSIS determine what needs exist and how resources can be deployed most effectively. This voluntary survey will take approximately 5 minutes or less to complete and responses are confidential.

If you are a small or very small establishment owner, please check that your Establishment Profile in PHIS has an accurate email address. If you have still not received a survey by April 3, please reach out to OPARMSPEB@usda.gov.

PHIS Industry Users: Updates to USDA eAuthentication Login

As announced in the July 21, 2023, Constituent Update, the USDA eAuthentication Service launched a new login page and partnered with Login.gov to provide easy-to-use and secure online access to USDA programs and services, including PHIS and the export module. The transition to Login.gov is being implemented in a phased approach, with phase one having begun on July 24, 2023.

On the evening of Monday, March 25, 2024, FSIS launched Phase 2 of the transition to Login.gov. This phase will continue with Login.gov as optional, but all external customers with existing eAuth accounts will be prompted to switch to a Login.gov account every time they log in. These changes are being implemented to prepare users for the complete transition to Login.gov. USDA is targeting the end of September 2024 as the goal for full implementation. At that time Login.gov will be required to access USDA resources.

FSIS Extends Modified Poultry Line Speed Waivers

In July 2022, FSIS announced it was contracting with a team of third-party worker safety experts to conduct a study with select poultry establishments to measure the impact of increased line speeds on worker safety. Poultry establishments with existing line speed waivers that opted into the study and agreed to provide worker safety information were eligible to apply for a modified line speed waiver as part of the study. 

On March 31, 2023, FSIS granted modified line speed waivers to select poultry establishments. The modified line speed waivers were originally set to conclude on March 31, 2024, a year from the date they were granted.

FSIS is extending the modified line speed waivers through November 15, 2024. This extension will allow the worker safety experts to complete establishment visits, analyze data, and produce a report of their findings. 

USDA Finalizes New Requirements for the Voluntary “Product of USA” Labeling Claim

On March 11, 2024, FSIS announced a final rule with new regulatory requirements to better align the voluntary “Product of USA” claim with consumers’ understanding of what the claim means. The final rule allows the voluntary “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” claim to be used only on FSIS-regulated products that are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. The final rule also responds to comments received on the March 2023 proposal. 

Establishments voluntarily using a claim subject to the final rule will need to comply with the new regulatory requirements by January 1, 2026, and are encouraged to do so as soon as practicable after the publication of this final rule.

FSIS will hold webinars to further educate industry about labeling requirements. Additional information on the upcoming webinars will be shared through future Constituent Updates.

FSIS Posts Individual Category Status and Aggregate Results for Poultry Carcasses, Chicken Parts, and Comminuted Poultry Tested for Salmonella

On March 20, 2024, FSIS updated the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, and comminuted poultry products on the Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting page on the FSIS website. Additionally, FSIS posted the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, or not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products at the location linked above.

PHIS Q&A

Question: I am attempting to complete form 9080-3 but I’m not allowed to fill in the telephone number, how can this field be edited?

Answer: The grant curator in the district office needs to update the phone number in the establishment profile. Please reach out to your inspector for assistance.

Visit PHIS Help for Industry for additional resources.

Knowledge Article

askFSIS Public Q&A: How long will it take for the Labeling and Program Delivery Staff (LPDS) to respond to our request for temporary approval?

LPDS evaluates all requests for temporary approval in the order in which they are received. If an establishment believes it has "extraordinary circumstances" for which it needs immediate evaluation of the request for temporary approval, an accelerated label evaluation can be requested. The procedures for requesting an evaluation of labeling under extraordinary circumstances are described in the FSIS guidance document at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/compliance-guidance/labeling/label-submission-and-approval-system-lsas; However, it should be understood that the use of transferred labeling bearing the transferring establishment's number is only to be used in limited circumstances. It is the establishments' responsibility to plan for foreseeable circumstances.

Questions? Please submit them through askFSIS by filling out the web form on the FSIS website.

SMALL PLANT ROUNDTABLE

May 7, 2024 - Orlando, FL
May 9, 2024 - Miami, FL
FSISCongressional@usda.gov

ESTABLISHMENT TOWN HALL

April 17, 2024
4 PM Eastern
FSIS@usda.gov