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FSIS Announces Signing of Procedural Agreement with Mexico
This week, the agency announced the signing of a procedural agreement with Mexico's National Service of Health, Food Safety and Agro-Alimentary Quality (SENASICA). The document has been a collaborative effort between the governments and represents a new level of interaction and cooperation between FSIS and SENASICA.
Senior representatives from Mexico came to Washington, D.C., to sign the document, "Terms of Reference," which focuses on matters of equivalence, audit procedures, the listing and delisting of eligible establishments for export to the two respective countries and establishing more effective means of communication in areas of public health.
FSIS Administrator Al Almanza and SENASICA Director in Chief Enrique Sanchez-Cruz signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.
The agreement was intended to provide an opportunity for improvement of established procedures. FSIS and SENASICA worked together after developing written standard procedures by which the agencies interact on matters of food safety and public health.
To view the full written procedural agreement, visit the FSIS web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
Terms_of_Reference_Mexico_US.pdf.
Comment Period for HACCP Systems Validation Documents Extended
The agency is mailing a copy of the draft guidance on HACCP validation to plant owners and operators of small and very small plants.
The intent is to present a copy of the guidance and provide instruction on how to participate during the extended comment period, which ends June 19. The materials will be mailed by May 7.
Interested parties should submit their comments to draftvalidationguidecomments@fsis.usda.gov , or mail comments to the Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS, George Washington Carver Center, Room 2-2127, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705.
For help in accessing the letter or information on submitting comments, contact the Small Plant Help Desk at 1-877-374-7435 or infosource@fsis.usda.gov.
FSIS has made available three documents on the validation of HACCP systems on its Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/HACCP_Validation_Ltrs.pdf (PDF Only).
The agency will review comments received and decide how it will proceed with respect to the validation of HACCP systems.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following countries:
Complete information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Let's Talk: Food Safety Assessments (FSAs) and Recalls
FSIS will host a web seminar next month, "Lessons Learned From FSAs and Recalls During the Fiscal Year 2010 Second Quarter."
This seminar will discuss issues concerning for-cause FSAs and class I recalls related to Listeria, E. coli and Salmonella.
The meeting will be held on May 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. To participate, call (800) 857-5750, and use the passcode FSA. To join online, go to https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW7154220&p=FSA&t=c.
For additional information, contact Denise Gallman at (301) 504-3346 or netmeetingseminars@fsis.usda.gov.
Inspection Seminars Designed for International Government Officials
The agency will host the first of three meat and poultry inspection seminars for international officials in Puerto Rico, from May 18 to June 4.
The purpose of the seminars is to familiarize international government officials with U.S. inspection regulations and procedures used by
USDA to assure that the nation's meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome and properly labeled.
This session, to be held at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez, will cover basic HACCP certification and an in-depth review of
FSIS verification of HACCP and sanitation requirements. Other topics and activities include: import and export policies and procedures,
foreign inspection program equivalence and field trips to import and export locations, as well as processing and slaughter plants.
This seminar will be conducted in Spanish and participation will be limited to 30 individuals.
For more information and to register, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/
2010_Meat_&_Poultry_Inspection_Seminars/index.asp
Get Answers at askFSIS
AskFSIS is a Web-based technology and policy question-and-answer forum on topics such as exporting,
labeling, inspection, programs and procedures.
In addition, askFSIS offers Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds that link back to the Q&As.
Visit http://askfsis.custhelp.com to find the answers to your questions
and receive automatic updates. Recently posted topics include:
USDA Seeks Comments on New Rules to Enhance Food Safety
FSIS recently announced that it is seeking comments on proposed measures to enhance food safety. The proposed rule would
implement a provision of the 2008 Farm Bill and is a priority for the President's Food Safety Working Group (FSWG)
supported by key findings announced on July 7, 2009.
Comments regarding the adopted regulations must be received on or before May 24, 2010. All submissions must reference the
Food Safety and Inspection Service and include docket number FSIS-2008-0025.
Submissions can be made through the federal e-rulemaking portal at
www.regulations.gov
or sent to the Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS, George Washington Carver Center, Room 2-2127, 5601 Sunnyside Ave.,
Beltsville, MD 20705.
To review the related press release,
visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov. More information on the FSWG can be found at www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.gov.
New Podcasts
Tune in to podcasts on selecting, handling and preparing meat and poultry products to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
This week, FSIS released these podcasts helpful to plant owners and operators.
- Industry: Food Irradiation - Part II
Check out these podcasts at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_&_events/Podcasts/index.asp.
Spanish language consumer podcasts are available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
En_Espanol/Podcasts_SP/index.asp.
Video-casts in American Sign Language are available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_&_events/SignFSIS/index.asp.
To continue automatically receiving podcasts, renew your subscription. For assistance, e-mail podcast@fsis.usda.gov.
New Resource: N60 Sampling Video
Great News! The agency has posted to its web site a video which demonstrates the techniques used for FSIS N60 sampling.
Topics include a description of the sampling procedures, needed supplies and sample packaging and shipping.
The video is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Meat_Poultry_&_Egg_Inspection_Video/index.asp#Safety.
Updates on FSIS Testing for E. coli
Weekly updates for the agency's raw beef E. coli sampling program are posted to the FSIS Web site.
For comparative previous and current year results, go to
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
Ground_Beef_E.Coli_Testing_Results/index.asp.
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Last Modified:
April 30, 2010 |
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