 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FSIS to Hold Technical Meetings on Risk-Based Inspection in Processing
FSIS will hold a series of technical public meetings to address specific issues raised by stakeholders
during the development of risk-based inspection in processing.
The first meeting will be held on April 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. FSIS will discuss the algorithm used to
determine categories of inspection under RBI for processing establishments, use of public health significant
non-compliance records and the proposed RBI timeline.
A technical summit on food attribution, co-hosted by FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the Food and Drug Administration, will be held on April 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The agency will
invite experts to provide information and views on the definitions of attribution as well as state-of-the-art
methods in collecting attribution data.
The use of production volume data as a proxy for exposure is the topic for the meeting on April 25. The fourth
meeting, slated for April 30, will focus on the use of industry data in the risk algorithm. Both meetings
will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The most current expert elicitation on inherent product risk will be discussed at the fifth meeting, which
will be held sometime in July. Details of this meeting will be announced at a later time.
All of the meetings will be held in Room 244 of the George Mason University, Arlington Campus, located at
3401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201. Stakeholders will also be able to participate through audio
conference. Directions to the site, phone-in information, the agenda and other meeting materials will be
posted on the FSIS Web site at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081021121517/http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
Any changes in meeting dates or times will also be posted on the Web site as well as published in upcoming
Constituent Updates.
Pre-registration for each meeting is encouraged. To register online, go to
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081021121517/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Meetings_&_Events/index.asp,
select the appropriate meeting and indicate whether you will be attending onsite at George Mason University or
participating by phone.
You may also register by contacting Sally Fernandez by phone at (202) 690-6524, by fax at (202) 690-6519, or by
e-mail to sally.fernandez@fsis.usda.gov.
To access issue papers, background information, meeting transcripts, workshop presentations and reports in
support of risk-based inspection in processing, go to
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081021121517/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Risk_Based_Inspection/index.asp.
FSIS Launches New Web Page Designed for Small and Very Small Plants
FSIS has added one more way to stay informed about small and very small plant issues with the launch of a Web
page dedicated to these establishment categories.
A working group with representatives from the Office of Public Health Science, the Office of Policy, Program,
and Employee Development and the Office of Public Affairs, Education and Outreach developed this page to
address one of the key action items included in the FSIS Strategic Implementation Plan for Strengthening
Small and Very Small Plant Outreach.
The new Web page covers topics such as current food safety resources, regulatory policies, contact information,
compliance guidelines, common questions and export information. It also covers FSIS directives and notices,
newsletters and magazines. One highlight is a feature titled "What Do You Need to Know Today?" which will
change often to answer some of the questions most frequently asked by small and very small plants.
Seven task-oriented links to hot topics and important resources for small and very small plants are also included.
These links allow users to order small and very small plant resource materials, find information on risk-based
inspection, view FSIS workforce training resources, import products, create a food defense plan,
review guidance material in support of new technology and subscribe to newsletters.
The user-friendly page is accessible from anywhere on FSIS' Web site. To access the page, go to
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081021121517/http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
The link for the page is located in the left column, under the pull-down tab for "Browse By Audience."
Office of Food Safety to Hold Codex Public Meeting
USDA's Office of Food Safety and the Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration
will hold a public meeting on April 10.
The purpose of the meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft
U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 35th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), scheduled for April 30 - May 4, in Ottawa, Canada.
The meeting will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., in Room 107A, Jamie Whitten Federal Building, 1200 Independence
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250.
For further information about the public meeting, contact Edith Kennard, international issues analyst, (202) 205-7760.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
Complete information can be found at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081021121517/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
FSIS Offers Food Safety Recommendations for Spring Holidays
FSIS issued a news release on March 26 to offer food safety recommendations for spring religious holidays.
"During the holidays, when we are hosting family, we tend to prepare larger, more complex meals than
what we are accustomed to cooking and that increases the potential for foodborne illness," said USDA
Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard A. Raymond. "That is why it is so important to remember
and follow good preparation and cooking habits in the kitchen."
The news release offers consumers important advice on how to safely prepare and handle popular egg and meat
dishes for Passover and Easter. It also addresses the four key recommendations that can help consumers
reduce the risk of foodborne illness during holiday gatherings.
The news release is available at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081021121517/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
NR_032607_01/index.asp.
|
Last Modified:
March 30, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
