FSIS Releases Revised Guideline to Assist with the Donation of Eligible Meat, Poultry and Egg Products to Non-Profit Organizations

FSIS has updated the guideline titled, “FSIS Guideline to Assist with the Donation of Eligible Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products to Non-Profit Organizations,” in response to comments from the previous version and to improve readability. This guideline provides information for meat, poultry, and egg product establishments that are interested in donating products to non-profit organizations.

For more information, please view the Federal Register notice.

FSIS Announces Adjusted Dollar Limitations to Qualify for Retail Exemption

FSIS announced the dollar limitations on the amount of meat and poultry that a retail store can sell to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions without disqualifying itself for exemption from federal inspection requirements. In accordance with FSIS' regulations, for calendar year 2024, the value for the retail dollar limitation for meat and meat products (including Siluriformes) is $100,900, and the value for the retail dollar limitation for poultry and poultry products is $74,200. These dollar limitations will be effective on June 17, 2024. Please view the Federal Register notice for further information.

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

On May 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 will post 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.

FSIS Encourages Industry Testing for Upcoming PHIS Countries

FSIS continues to encourage industry to use the Industry Test Environment (ITE) to test application submittals for export to the 21 countries announced in the Constituent Update on February 9, 2024, and for China, as announced on March 22, 2024. The 21 countries were onboarded in PHIS on May 20, 2024, and China will be on July 1, 2024. FSIS has provided testing instructions for industry on the FSIS website PHIS Components page, under Information for Industry, for the 21 countries and for China. Please note that an electronic identification account that includes identity verification steps is required for all persons who will access PHIS, for both the test environment and the live production environment. Note that user accounts are disabled for those who have not used PHIS in 60 days.

FSIS Posts Quarterly Sampling Data for Residue Sampling

FSIS updated the Quarterly U.S. National Residue Sampling Report, which will provide residue sampling data for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2024. The report covers domestic (scheduled and inspector-generated) and import sampling programs.

PHIS Q&A

Question: I need to access an application that another employee created. What should I do?

Answer: You have 3 options:

Option 1: The creator of the application can add users to the access control page (prior to the application being approved), to provide access to other users at the establishment. Refer to the PHIS Industry User Guide (beginning on page 124). Access can be granted by individual user or by establishment.

Option 2: A Corporate Administrator can edit the document in most cases (see instructions below if one is not already assigned).

• The USDA Inspector or PHV needs to add the user to the establishment profile contact page with the role Corporate Administrator.
• Go to Establishment Profile and select the Establishment.
• Open the Contacts page.
• Add a new Contact or edit an existing Contact and enter the role Corporate Administrator.
• Enter the user information (the same as entered for the user eAuth account).
• Save the change.

When the industry user opens the enrollment page below, the role is automatically activated if the entered contact information matches the eAuth information.

• Open the page https://phis.fsis.usda.gov/enrollment
• Select the Open FSIS Dashboard to activate the role and access PHIS. The page redirects to the PHIS home page.

It is necessary to Sign Out and then Sign In to complete the reactivation. If the “Open FSIS Dashboard” link is not available, this usually indicates that information in the contact page isn’t correct. The usual name issue is a typo in the name or a nickname was entered. Another common issues is when the email contains upper case (eAuth always uses lower case).

Option 3: Start a new application

Visit PHIS Help for Industry for additional resources.

Knowledge Article
askFSIS Public Q&A: What does FSIS consider to be the surface area available to bear labeling?

The surface area available to bear labeling includes all the surface area of the container even if it is not traditionally used, e.g., jar lids, bottle necks, or if it is an odd shaped part of a package because there are different opinions about what is practically available or usable space.

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

SMALL PLANT ROUNDTABLE

Friday, July 26, 2024
Round Rock, TX
FSISCongressional@usda.gov

ESTABLISHMENT TOWN HALL

June 12, 2024
4 PM Eastern
FSIS@usda.gov

To sign up for the CONSTITUENT UPDATE, go to our website or email us at:
FSIS@usda.gov