Constituent Update - November 15, 2024

Constituent Update - November 15, 2024

FSIS Extends Modified Poultry Line Speed Waivers to Complete Worker Safety Study

FSIS is extending the modified poultry line speed waivers through January 15, 2025, so the study measuring the impact of increased line speeds on worker safety can be completed.

In July 2022, FSIS announced it was contracting with a team of third-party worker safety experts to conduct a study to measure the impact of increased poultry line speeds on worker safety. The worker safety experts have collected data in New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) establishments participating under modified line speed waivers. The modified poultry line speed waivers were set to expire on November 15, 2024.

This extension will allow the worker safety experts to complete and submit the report of their findings.

FSIS Posts NACMPI Meeting Materials

The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) held a virtual public meeting on September 16 and 17, 2024. The transcripts and subcommittee reports from the meeting are available on the FSIS website.

During the meeting, NACMPI reviewed and advised FSIS on whether the agency should change its definitions for establishment sizes to better assess and describe current business operations. The committee also offered input on ways technology could enhance FSIS' inspection activities.

NACMPI provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture concerning state and federal programs with respect to meat and poultry inspection and other matters that fall within the scope of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act.

Mexico PHIS Export Updates

As announced in previous Constituent Updates, as of November 4, 2024, all FSIS meat and poultry product export certificates for products exported to Mexico are generated, issued and officially maintained in FSIS' Public Health Information System (PHIS). This change excludes certificates for casings and egg products. Following the first week of implementation, FSIS is providing a set of updates for stakeholders.

FSIS continues to address the associated IT issues as a top priority. FSIS welcomes feedback from industry on the status of PHIS performance and functionality. To provide feedback, please contact FSIS at [email protected]. Note that specific, not general, information is needed on the issues encountered for FSIS to pinpoint and address any systems related issues as quickly as possible.

As stated in the FSIS Export Library for Mexico, industry should be aware of Mexico's requirement that a printed version of the digitally signed FSIS Form 9060-5 series certificate, including the PHIS-generated watermark ("Approved Certificate - Available for Validation in PHIS"), must be printed by establishment personnel with PHIS access, and must accompany the shipment. Since November 4, 2024, no wet-signed 9060-5 series export certificates, including letterhead certificates, are issued for meat and poultry products for export to Mexico. Stakeholders should review the comprehensive update to the FSIS Export Library for Mexico for additional information on PHIS export processes for Mexico, which includes instructions on how, and in what order, to enter statements and information in the PHIS application for meat and poultry exports to Mexico.

FSIS has also been notified that nullified original certificates that have been replaced have been presented to Mexico. When U.S. meat or poultry export shipments arrive at the border with certificates that have been previously replaced, the original certificates are not valid for U.S. exports. It is critical that only valid, current certificates are presented to Mexican port officials, including in the case of replacements.

FSIS continues to strongly encourage industry to ensure establishment information in PHIS is aligned with Mexico's approved establishment list. Misaligned information may result in held or rejected shipments at the border. To expedite aligned information, FSIS is processing new 9080-3 applications to correct establishment name, establishment number, address, on an expedited basis for the month of November 2024. Note that added or revised species, product types, type of establishment, or other changes to an establishment's eligibility will be processed in the regular way (See Mexico's entry in the U.S. Establishments by Country page).

FSIS will provide additional updates on Mexico and PHIS in the Constituent Update as implementation continues to progress.

FSIS Announces Food Safety Fellows for FY 2025

FSIS has selected two Food Safety Fellows through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) program. The fellows are students currently working towards their Ph.D. and have an interest in improving food safety and public health. During their fellowship, in collaboration with FSIS scientists, they will apply their scientific and technical knowledge to inform FSIS decision making and improve the safety of the food supply.

The two fellows are:

Sheetal Jah, Louisiana State A&M University

Sheetal is investigating the use of an antimicrobial bio-sanitizer to prevent biofilm formation by Listeria Monocytogenes and Salmonella. She aims to develop and characterize an antimicrobial peptide produced by Bacillus megaterium, to determine its effectiveness in a food processing environment. She will also investigate how pathogens persist on surfaces, to inform mitigation strategies. This would help improve sanitation and decrease the likelihood of contamination during processing.

Reagan Brashears Jimenez, Texas Tech University

Reagan's project involves assessing risks associated with Salmonella in pork, including quantifying Salmonella and identifying highly pathogenic Salmonella, along the supply chain. She will also study the swine microbiome, from the farm and throughout the processing facilities. This will allow an evaluation on what points in the processing chain are most likely to be contaminated, enabling targeted interventions to reduce pathogen prevalence.

Every year, FSIS hires food safety fellows through the ORISE program. More information on this program can be found on the "FSIS/ORISE Food Safety Fellowship Program" page of the FSIS website.

FSIS Updates Import Presented Refused and Import Refusal Reason Datasets

On November 15, 2024, FSIS updated the Import Presented Refused and Import Refusal Reason datasets on the Import and Export Data page. The Import Presented Refused dataset will include lot-level information for import volume along with import refusal data at the lot-level and the Import Refusal Reason is provided as a secondary dataset, providing each refusal reason as its own row to facilitate analysis.

The Import Presented Refused and Import Refusal Reason datasets are updated monthly and will be posted the third Friday of each month, with data broken out by fiscal year (FY), starting with data from FY 2014 (starting on October 1, 2013) through the most recent FY. These datasets are released in an open, non-proprietary comma separated values (csv) format. Instructions on how to open csv files using Excel are available on the FSIS website in the "Comma Separated Values Guide" section.

FSIS to Post Individual Category Status and Aggregate Results for Poultry Carcasses, Chicken Parts, and Comminuted Poultry Tested for Salmonella

On November 20, 2024, FSIS will update the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, and comminuted poultry products on the Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting page on the FSIS website. Additionally, FSIS will post the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, or not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products at the location linked above.

Reminder: FSIS to Host Virtual Public Meetings on Salmonella Framework

As announced in the November 1, 2024, Constituent Update, FSIS will host virtual public meetings on December 3 and 5, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. EST on both dates. The focus for December 3 will be on final product standards. The focus for December 5 will be on statistical process control monitoring methods and related topics. Each session will provide an opportunity for a small group of varied stakeholders to present their views and engage in discussion regarding the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products proposed rule and determination. FSIS plans to provide time for stakeholders from the larger group to ask questions.

Use this link to register for the December 3 session

Use this link to register for the December 5 session

As a reminder, FSIS extended the comment period for the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products proposed rule and determination until January 17, 2025. Written comments may be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, available at www.regulations.gov; by mail sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700, or by hand or courier delivery to 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All items submitted must include the agency name and docket number FSIS-2023-0028.

Upcoming Events

• FSIS Webinar on Food Donation Guideline November 2024: November 18, 2024,1:00-2:00 p.m. EST.
• Product Standards and the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products: December 3, 2024, 1:00-4:00 p.m. EST.
• Process Control Monitoring and the Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products: December 5, 2024, 1:00-4:00 p.m. EST.

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

• Until January 17, 2025: Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Directive 10510.1 - Raw Pork Products Sampling Program

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

• India
• Canada
• Taiwan
• Japan
• Vietnam
• Qatar
• Guatemala
• El Salvador
• North Macedonia
• Ecuador
• Costa Rica
• Solomon Islands
• Honduras
• St. Luca
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Cuba
• Uruguay
• Azerbaijan
• Singapore
• Chile
• Turkey
• Jamaica
• Barbados

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.

Last Updated: Nov 15, 2024