The Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 (E-FOIA) requires agencies to make certain types of records, created by the agency on or after November 1, 1996, available electronically (Reading Room). Under E-FOIA, individuals can obtain electronic access to certain agency records without having to make a formal FOIA request (5 U.S.C. §552(a)(2) (2000)). By the same token, records required to be made publicly available pursuant to FOIA section (a)(2) ordinarily cannot be the subject of regular “FOIA requests.” (5 U.S.C. §552(a)(3)(A)).

The FSIS Reading Room contains documents specifically identified for inclusion by FOIA section (a)(2) and 7 CFR Subtitle A, Part 1, Section 1.4, and fall in the following four categories:

1. Final opinions [and] . . . orders made in the adjudication of cases;
2. Policy statements and adopted interpretation not published in Federal Register;
3. Administrative staff manuals and instructions that affect the public; and
4. Records that are frequently requested / of interest.
   • How to Request Labeling Records

Report of FOIA Requests

Receive email notification when the Report of FOIA Requests is updated.

The reports provide a listing of FSIS FOIA requests received during the designated one-month period.

• Latest Report
  • January 2020
• FOIA Request Reports Archive

Final Opinions and Orders

• USDA Laws and Regulations
  • Adjudicatory Decisions
  • Regulations and Directives
• FSIS
  • Federal Register
  • Quarterly Enforcement Reports
    • FSIS Adjudications
  • Humane Handling Quarterly Reports and Humane Handling Enforcement Actions

Policy Statements and Adopted Interpretations

• FSIS Directives
• FSIS Notices
• USDA Directives and Policy Memoranda
  • About USDA Directives

Administrative Staff Manuals

• FSIS Significant Guidance Documents
• Hazard Analysis and Pathogen Reduction
• Laboratory Guidebooks and Methods

FSIS FOIA Annual Reports

• Reports for 2006 and later years are incorporated in USDA's annual FOIA reports.

Other Helpful Resources

• A to Z Index, FSIS Website
• Open Government Act – S.2488
• USDA FOIA Regulations | PDF
• USDA FOIA Service Center
  • USDA FOIA Public Access Link (PAL)
• USDA Privacy Act Regulations
• USDA System of Records Notices
• U.S. Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act