
Mandatory Training for All Field Inspection Personnel Prior Label Approval Program: Expansion of Generic Label Approval
FSIS Notice
11-23
Issue Date
Feb 27, 2023
Expiration Date
Mar 01, 2024
Full Notice
- PURPOSE
This notice provides instructions to Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSIs), Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspectors (SCSIs), Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs), and Frontline Supervisors (FLS) on the mandatory Expansion of Generic Label Approval training that is to be completed no later than March 20, 2023. These are the personnel required to take this training. - BACKGROUND
- On January 18, 2023, FSIS published the final rule, Prior Label Approval System: Expansion of Generic Label Approval, in the Federal Register [88 FR 2798], Also, on January 18, 2023, FSIS issued FSIS Directive 7221.1, Prior Labeling Approval, to align instructions to IPP with the expansion of generic labelling approval eligibility established by the final rule. This rule amended the Federal meat, poultry, and egg products inspection regulations found in 9 CFR to expand the circumstances under which labels for meat, poultry, and egg products are generically approved. Generically approved labels do not need to be submitted to FSIS for review or approval before they can be used on product in commerce.
- Specifically, the final rule:
- Extends generic label approval to products only intended for export that deviate from domestic labeling requirements by removing 9 CFR 412.1 (c) (2);
- Revises the types of “special statements and claims” requiring label submission (9 CFR 412.1(e) and 412.2(b)) by providing for generic approval of three additional types of claims:
- “Organic” claims that appear in a product label's ingredients statement which designate an ingredient as certified “organic” under the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS's) National Organic Program;
- “Geographic landmarks” displayed on a product label, such as a foreign country's flag, monument, or map; or
- “Negative” claims made on product labels that identify the absence of certain ingredients or types of ingredients (e.g., “No MSG Added,” “Gluten Free”)
- Permits the generic approval of the labels of products that receive voluntary FSIS inspection on the same basis as amenable meat, poultry, and egg products. Products that may receive voluntary FSIS inspection include rabbits (9 CFR 354), certain non-amenable species of livestock and poultry animals such as elk, bison, and migratory waterfowl (9 CFR 352, subpart A, and 9 CFR 362), and products that contain meat, poultry, or eggs (9 CFR 592) but are not under FSIS jurisdiction, such as closed faced sandwiches (9 CFR 350.3(c) and 362.2(a)), and non-amenable egg patties or omelets (9 CFR 592.20).
- Specifies that, effective March 20, 2023, LPDS will no longer evaluate generically approved labels submitted voluntarily for FSIS review.
- To assist Inspection Program Personnel in the implementation of the final rule and the verification activities related to the new regulations, FSIS has developed a training course titled; “Prior Label Approval: Expansion of Generic Label Approval.”
- TRAINING AVAILABILITY AND COMPLETION
- CSIs, SCSIs, PHVs, and FLSs are required to take the training. FSIS has enrolled these IPP, and the training has been added to the “My Mandatory Training” section of employees' AgLearn dashboard. These IPP may also access the training by clicking on this link and IPP Help under Mandatory Training.
- The training is estimated to take one hour or less to complete. After IPP have completed the course in AgLearn, they will automatically be credited.
- QUESTIONS
Questions on accessing the training or documenting completion in AgLearn are to be directed to the AgLearn Administrator at FSISAgLearn@usda.gov.