DO NOT IMPLEMENT THIS NOTICE UNTIL FEBRUARY 1, 2024.

1. PURPOSE
   This notice informs veterinary medical officers (VMO) and supervisory consumer safety inspectors (SCSI) of the continuation of the intermittent sampling of ceca from both the sheep and lamb slaughter subclasses under the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Program.    
2. BACKGROUND
   FSIS issued FSIS Directive 10,100.1, rev. 3, FSIS Cecal Sampling Under the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Surveillance Program, with an update informing VMOs/SCSIs of the slaughter subclasses set for intermittent sampling and an explanation that FSIS may assign this sampling periodically during certain years/periods. The directive also states that FSIS will notify inspection staff via an FSIS notice before assigning this sampling.
3. AWARENESS MEETING
   Inspection program personnel in federally inspected lamb and sheep slaughter establishments are to discuss the following information with establishment management at the next weekly meeting: 
   1. FSIS will be sampling lamb and sheep cecal samples during the months of February through September 2024;
   2. Sampling codes for this will be under NARMS_LB for lamb and NARMS_SH for sheep; and
   3. There are no changes to sample collection procedures or sample results reporting with this continuation of intermittent sampling under these codes. 
4. SAMPLING OF LAMB AND SHEEP
   VMOs/SCSIs are to be aware that there are no changes to the sampling frequency, timeframes, or sampling instructions used in collecting NARMS cecal samples for the sheep and lamb slaughter subclasses. For more information on NARMS sampling instructions for sheep, lamb, and other species, they are to refer to FSIS Directive 10,100.1, Rev. 3, FSIS Cecal Sampling Under the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Program, and the NARMS Sampling Training Materials on the IPP Help page under the NARMS Sampling option. 
5. QUESTIONS
   Refer questions regarding this notice through supervisory channels or as needed to the Office of Policy and Program Development through askFSIS or by telephone at 1-800-233-3935. When submitting a question, complete the web form and select Sampling as the Inquiry Type.
   
   NOTE:  Refer to FSIS Directive 5620.1, Using askFSIS, for additional information on submitting questions.