BACKGROUND

1. On 6/25/24, FSIS announced the availability of its updated FSIS Guideline for Residue Prevention in the Federal Register (89 FR 53039).  The guideline assists establishments that slaughter livestock and poultry. The guideline incorporates new information on purchase specifications and documentation that can be used to support that violative residues are not reasonably likely to occur. The guideline also addresses FSIS policy for establishments that perform residue testing.

2. The guideline is not a regulatory document. Therefore, establishments are not required to use the guideline to comply with FSIS regulations. IPP are to continue to make compliance determinations based on statutory and regulatory requirements, using instructions in applicable policy issuances (e.g., FSIS Directive 5000.1, Verifying an Establishment's Food Safety System, FSIS Directive 5000.6, Performance of the Hazard Analysis Verification Task, and FSIS Directive 10800.1 Residue Sampling, Testing and Other Verification Procedures under the National Residue Program for Meat And Poultry Products. When necessary, IPP are to refer questions to their supervisor.

WEEKLY MEETING
IPP are to make establishment management aware of the availability of this updated guidance document at the next weekly meeting with establishment management.

QUESTIONS
Refer questions regarding this notice to your supervisor or as needed to the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD) through askFSIS, or by telephone at 1-800-233-3935. When submitting a question, complete the web form and select General Inspection Policy as the Inquiry Type.

NOTE: Refer to FSIS Directive 5620.1, Using askFSIS, for additional information on submitting questions.