1. PURPOSE
   This notice provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) at official import inspection establishments on actions to take when verifying the accuracy of inspection certificates for poultry products imported from the Republic of Poland (Poland). These certificates, provided by the General Veterinary Inspectorate, Poland’s central competent authority in charge of food inspection, assure that these products meet FSIS requirements.
2. BACKGROUND
   On October 7, 2021, FSIS issued the Federal Register notice, Eligibility of the Republic of Poland to Export Poultry and Poultry Products to the United States(86 FR 55799). The Federal Register notice announced that Poland’s poultry inspection system is equivalent to FSIS’ food safety inspection system. Effective October 7, 2021, Poland is eligible to export to the United States poultry products from birds slaughtered in Poland on or after October 7, 2021. Poland is eligible to export to the United States raw and processed poultry products derived from birds slaughtered in Poland. The eligible processing categories include: Raw Intact, Raw - Non-Intact, Heat Treated - Shelf Stable, Not Heat Treated - Shelf Stable, Fully Cooked - Not Shelf Stable, and Thermally Processed - Commercially Sterile. Poland is already eligible to export pork products to the United States, and this notice does not change the requirements for pork.
3. IPP RESPONSIBILITIES
   1. IPP are to follow the instructions in FSIS Directive 9900.1, Imported Product Shipment Presentation and are to verify the slaughter dates on the inspection certificate for poultry are on or after October 7, 2021.
   2. When the inspection certificate for poultry does not contain certification of the slaughter dates, or the products are certified as slaughtered before October 7, 2021, IPP are to fail the Certification Type of Inspection (TOI) in the Public Health Information System (PHIS). This will initiate a refused entry in PHIS. IPP are to refer to FSIS Directive 9900.8, Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Refused Entry into the United States for disposition.
   3. Poultry products derived from birds slaughtered in Poland certified as slaughtered before October 7, 2021 are not eligible for entry into the United States.
4. QUESTIONS
   Refer questions regarding this notice to your immediate supervisor 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 through askFSIS, complete the web form and select Import for the inquiry type. 
   
   NOTE:  Refer to FSIS Directive 5620.1, Using askFSIS, for additional information on submitting questions.

Related Information:

Docket No. FSIS-2015-0042: Eligibility of the Republic of Poland to Export Poultry and Poultry Products to the United States