Deadline Extended to Comment on NACMCF Document

As announced in the November 4, 2022, Constituent Update, the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a virtual public meeting on November 15 where they will discuss and vote on adopting the report, “Enhancing Salmonella Control in Poultry Products.” The deadline to submit written comments on this document was originally November 15, 2022. FSIS has extended the deadline to December 30, 2022. The document was posted to the FSIS website on November 1, 2022; therefore, this extension provides 60 days for public review.

The report provides detailed responses with nine recommendations addressing the risk management questions posed to the committee by FSIS. Instructions on how to comment are available in the Federal Register notice.

The meeting agenda and the report are available on the FSIS events page. Attendees must register to attend, and registration will be open until the day of the meeting. By registering, attendees will receive a unique attendee ID, meeting links, dial-in numbers, and access codes. More information on the NACMCF charges is also available on the FSIS website.

Stay Food Safe This Thanksgiving Holiday

Cooking the biggest meal of the year is no easy task. As you plan to gather with friends and family, FSIS is here with reminders about the importance of food safety.

How do you safely thaw a turkey? To what temperature should you cook your turkey? How long will Thanksgiving leftovers last? FSIS has the answer to these questions and more.

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. ET. Consumers with questions can call 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), chat live at https://ask.usda.gov/s/, or email to MPHotline@usda.gov. Services are available in English and Spanish. Leading up to the holiday, customer service representatives on the hotline will be available during regular hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. To keep you and your family food safe through the holidays, follow FSIS on Twitter for more Thanksgiving tips.

FSIS to Post Establishment-Specific Dataset on Exploratory and Special Program Poultry Sampling

FSIS is preparing to publish the next establishment-specific dataset on exploratory and special program poultry sampling. FSIS intends to begin publishing these datasets in January 2023.

Prior to publishing the dataset, FSIS is seeking comments on a sample dataset and data documentation until December 22, 2022. The sample dataset and corresponding data documentation include sampling results of FSIS’ non-regulatory poultry microbiological sampling projects, including poultry establishments with a very low volume of production (≤ 1,000 lbs/day), religious-exempt chicken carcasses, comminuted or mechanically separated poultry and chicken quarter or half-carcasses and chicken parts. This dataset also includes data associated with special programs, such as a response to an outbreak or testing a new sampling methodology. To comment, visit Regulations.gov and follow the online instructions at that site for submitting comments to Docket FSIS-2014-0032 for this sample dataset and data documentation.

Establishment-specific datasets were first released in 2016 as announced in the July 14, 2016, Federal Register.

Six weeks before the first publication, FSIS will share the data via email with establishments. After the first publication, product type information from the Exploratory Sampling for Chicken Parts - Quarter and Half Carcasses project will continue to be emailed to applicable establishments six weeks before each publication. Except for results from the Exploratory Sampling for Chicken Parts - Quarter and Half Carcasses project, establishments can access their data using the “Industry Sampling Results for Primary Establishment Number Detailed” report within the Public Health Information (PHIS).

To remain consistent with the other establishment-specific datasets, the first datasets will be posted with an archive and current file. The archive file will contain data through fiscal year (FY) 2021; the current file will contain FY2022 data. Both the archive and current files are planned to publish on January 27, 2023. Subsequent postings will follow the regular posting schedule for establishment-specific datasets. New datasets are released the first Friday of the next quarter with a quarter lag, meaning data for FY2023 Q1 (December 2022) are planned to be released on April 7, 2023, data for FY2023 Q2 (March 2023) are planned to be released July 7, 2023, and so forth. Existing datasets will be updated quarterly.

FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals

On November 15, 2022, FSIS will update the publicly posted dataset on import refusals for products that the agency regulates. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry, and egg products to be reinspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS reinspects each shipment to verify labeling, proper certification, general condition, and any signs of tampering and to identify product adulterated by transportation damage. FSIS also performs additional activities on a random and/or for-cause basis, such as physical product examination and laboratory sampling for pathogens and chemical residues.

Any product that does not meet FSIS requirements is refused entry, and the importer has up to 45 days (30 days for egg products) to have the product destroyed for use as human food, re-exported/returned to the country of origin, converted to animal food, or brought into compliance with FSIS requirements, if applicable (e.g., relabeled, remarked, or issued a replacement certificate).

The current import refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and the archived dataset is updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. The datasets contain each shipment with product that was refused entry. To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.

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 November 18 Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection
• Until November 22: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products
• Until November 25: Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information Collection: In-Home Food Safety Behaviors and Consumer Education: Web-Based Survey
• Until November 28: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Undenatured Inedible Meat Products
• Until December 16: Proposed Framework for Controlling Salmonella in Poultry
• Until December 27: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Specified Risk Materials
• Until December 27: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Permit To Obtain Specimens of Condemned or Other Inedible Materials From Official Establishments
• Until December 30: NACMCF Report: Enhancing Salmonella Control in Poultry Products

Upcoming Events

• November 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET: NACMCF Public Meeting

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 Notice 65-22 - Mandatory Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Training for All FSIS Employees

Export Requirements Update

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

• Japan
• European Union
• Hong Kong
• China
• Canada
• Taiwan
• Korea
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• Western Samoa (Samoa)
• New Caledonia
• French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• Jordan
• United Arab Emirates
• Qatar
• India
• Vietnam

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