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Export Certification Checklist |
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Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service podcast. Each episode
will bring you cutting edge news and information about how FSIS is working to ensure public
health protection through food safety. While we’re on the job, you can rest assured that
your meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, properly labeled,
and packaged correctly. So turn up your volume and listen in.
Host:
Hello and welcome! I’m Jeff White with FSIS. Joining me today is my colleague Rita Kishore
and we’ll be discussing meat, poultry and processed egg products that are exported to
foreign countries. Welcome, Rita.
Guest:
Hi, Jeff. I’m glad to be here today.
Host:
Okay, let’s get started. Rita, let’s say I have a product – a meat product – that I’m
going to export to a foreign country. What’s the first thing I would need to do?
Guest:
I recommend first to take a look at the information FSIS provides about exporting meat,
poultry and processed egg products.
The agency’s Web site has a great deal of information. As a matter of fact, there’s an
Export
Certification Checklist that outlines seven steps for exporting products.
Host:
Can you describe the steps on the checklist?
Guest:
Sure.
Step 1 is to become familiar with the country requirements that you plan to ship your
products to. One country may accept certain products that another country may not. So
it’s important to know requirements of each country.
Step 2 is to see if the country requires pre-approval of plants, in other words there
is a plant list for that country.
Most countries accept products from all federally inspected establishments. However, some
countries require the producing and/or shipping plant to be on a plant list.
Host:
Can you explain what plant approval involves?
Guest:
There are about 20 or so countries that require pre-approval of plants before shipping.
The plant lists can be found by consulting the “Export
Information” page on the FSIS Web site. When required, product must be produced and/or
shipped from one of these approved plants to be eligible. The process for obtaining plant
approval can be found in each “Eligible Plants” section of each set of country requirements.
Host:
Alright, what’s the next step?
Guest:
The third step – once you know the product can be exported to specific country – is obtaining
a copy of FSIS Form 9060.6, which is the Establishment Application for Export. You can
get the application from the FSIS inspection personnel at the establishment, which then
brings us to the fourth step.
This step requires the form to be completed, signed and presented to the FSIS inspection
personnel. Inspection personnel will review the application and perform the re-inspection
procedures that are outlined in the FSIS directives. Then the inspection personnel signs
the application and provides a blank export certificate.
Host:
How are the containers in my consignment linked to the certificate being issued?
Guest:
Step 5 covers that.
The serial number on the certificate must be stamped on each shipping container with the
export stamp. This is required by the regulations.
Host:
Rita, what can you tell us about the last two steps?
Guest:
Okay. Step 6 is when the export certificate is presented to the appropriate FSIS signing
official along with any other certificates that may be required by the country. Most certificates
may be signed by the FSIS inspector. Some countries do require the signature of the FSIS
Public Health Veterinarian. The country requirements will indicate who needs to sign the
certificate.
And, finally, the last step requires that the original copy of the certificate is provided
to the exporter for presentation to the importing country with the shipment.
Host:
These seven steps seem pretty straight forward. However, I’m sure there’s additional
information you need to know about exporting products.
Guest:
You’re right. The checklist is straight forward and provides a good overview. As I mentioned
earlier, the FSIS Web site covers a lot of information on exports. One way to get information
is askFSIS – a Web-based feature designed to
help answer technical-and policy-related questions on inspection and public health regulations. And you can
always talk to the inspection personnel or contact the Office of International Affairs.
Host:
The FSIS Web site address is
www.fsis.usda.gov. Rita, what number can people call if they have questions?
Guest:
The FSIS Office of International Affairs can also be reached at (202) 720-0082 in Washington,
D.C.
Host:
Thanks, Rita, for joining me today and presenting an overview of the Export Certification
Checklist.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your feedback on our podcast. Or if you
have ideas for future podcasts, send us an e-mail at podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To learn more
about food safety, try our web site at www.fsis.usda.gov.
Thanks for tuning in.
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