| This page provides a text alternative
for the October 2007 issue available in full-color
PDF (623kb).
FSIS Launches New Web Page Designed for Small and Very
Small Plants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection
Service (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 different FSIS offices
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 plant owners and operators.
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 food safety inspection, view FSIS
workforce training resources, create a food defense plan, review
guidance material in support of new technology and subscribe to
newsletters and other publications.
The user-friendly page is accessible from anywhere on FSIS' Web
site. Click on the Small & Very Small Plants page, which is located
in the left column under the pull-down tab for "Browse By Audience."
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Federal Grant of Inspection Guide Available Online
The Small/Very Small Plant Guide - Applying for a Federal Grant
of Inspection for Meat and Poultry Establishments is now available
online at www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Grant_of_Inspection_Guideline/index.asp.
This comprehensive guide was developed to aid those who are contemplating
applying for a Federal grant of inspection. The guide describes
the seven basic steps required for obtaining Federal meat and poultry
inspection, including:
- Filing application for inspection;
- Meeting regulatory performance standards at your facility;
- Obtaining approved labels;
- Obtaining an approved water source letter;
- Obtaining approved sewage system letter;
- Providing a written standard operating procedure for sanitation; and
- Providing a written Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
plan.
District offices
can also provide either a hard copy or electronic
version of the guide to every prospective applicant. For additional
inquiries, district office personnel will be able to assist prospective
plant owners with the application process.
The guide also provides an extensive list of agency contacts, technical
resources and regulatory references. The Federal regulations are
also provided and are referenced throughout the document. The guide
is featured on FSIS' Small & Very Small Plants and
Businesses &
Partners Web pages. Click on either of these links, which are located
in the left column under the pull-down tab for "Browse By Audience."
Further inquiries can be made at (202) 690-6520.
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Protecting Consumers from BSE: How to Remove Specified Risk Material
How do operators of slaughter and processing facilities go about
removing specified risk materials (SRMs) from cattle carcasses?
FSIS is pleased to make available a new DVD, which provides operators
of small, very small, and custom-exempt slaughter and processing
facilities detailed guidance on how to comply with agency regulations
concerning removal of SRMs.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, under
a cooperative agreement with FSIS, developed this training and reference
guide titled "Specified Risk Material, Identification, Removal and
Disposal." The DVD provides diagrams and other references as well
as a 17-minute video providing a step-by-step, hands-on demonstration
on how a typical, very small facility removes SRMs and complies
with the regulations.
SRMs are inedible and cannot be used in human food. They must be
removed from edible portions of carcasses because they carry a higher
risk for transmitting the infectious agent (i.e., prion) associated
with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). SRMs include the brain,
skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia,
and vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse
processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of
the sacrum) in cattle 30 months of age and older; and the tonsils
and distal ileum in all cattle regardless of age. This prohibition
is a public health measure that applies to all facilities that slaughter
and process cattle for human food use.
The SRM requirement is one of three control measures FSIS first
imposed on beef slaughter and processing over 3 years ago to protect
the public from BSE. After the U.S. government confirmed in December
2003 that an imported cow had BSE, FSIS quickly published, on January
12, 2004, emergency interim rules to protect public health from
potential BSE-contaminated animal tissues.
In addition to identifying SRMs as inedible and ineligible for
human food, FSIS also prohibited the use of non-ambulatory disabled
cattle (aka "downer" cattle) for human food. Non-ambulatory disabled
cattle have a significantly higher rate of BSE infection than healthy
cattle, based on studies conducted in Europe, and if offered for
slaughter must be condemned and prevented from being slaughtered
for use as human food. Other control measures included the prohibition
on the use of high-pressure stunning devices because such pressure-driven
devices can translocate SRM tissues into edible tissues.
The final version of the SRM rule,
which closely resembles the
interim final rule, was published in the Federal Register on July
13, 2007, and will become effective October 1, 2007. Of note, there
are new requirements related to the removal of the spinal cord from
carcasses during the slaughter operation. Also, there are new record
keeping requirements related to the handling and removal of the
vertebral column from beef loins if the bone-in product is shipped
to another Federal establishment for further processing to remove
the SRMs.
For more information on the final rule or to obtain a copy of the
DVD, "Specified Risk Material, Identification, Removal and Disposal,"
call (202) 690-6520 or send a fax to (202) 690-6519.
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ask FSIS at www.fsis.usda.gov
FSIS now has askFSIS, a new web-based feature, designed to help
plant owners and operators get answers to technical and policy questions
24 hours a day. More information about this innovative feature will
be in the November 2007 issue of Small Plant News. For assistance
concerning askFSIS, send an e-mail to askFSIS@fsis.usda.gov.
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Food Safety Resources
A wealth of food safety information is available to small and very
small plants just for the asking. Find out what is available by
looking at the FSIS Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov or at the Food
Safety Resource brochure that was mailed to establishments in January.
This brochure contains a list of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Point (HACCP) systems-related materials as well as food defense
topics. Most materials are available in both English and Spanish.
Nearly 1,000 requests have been processed already with more arriving
every day. The top five most requested items include:
- HACCP - The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System (Video)
- HACCP - Plant Implementation and Records Management (Video)
- HACCP Self-Study Training Package (Video and booklet set)
- Process Validation Workshop (Three-tape video set and booklet)
- Supporting Documentation Materials for HACCP Decisions (Ohio State University publication)
Requesting materials is easy. Simply fax the order form found on
the brochure to (202) 690-6519 or complete an online version of
the form and send it to FoodSafetyResources@fsis.usda.gov.
The online form can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
HACCP_Resources_Order_Form/index.asp.
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Education Sessions
Small and very small plant owners and operators are invited to join
FSIS inspection personnel at regulatory education sessions to bring
industry and inspection personnel together to promote a uniform
understanding of the regulations. Online registration forms are
provided at www.fsis.usda.gov.
To register by phone, call 1-800-336-3747.
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Briefs
FSIS Posts Listeria monocytogenes Compliance Guideline
for Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry Plants
FSIS posted on its Web site a guide to assist small and very small
plants with the implementation of strategies to control Listeria
monocytogenes (Lm) in ready-to-eat products. The guide is titled,
Summary of Listeria monocytogenes Compliance Guideline for Small
and Very Small Meat and Poultry Plants that Produce Ready-to-Eat
Products (PDF Only). It also contains practical recommendations developed
from an analysis conducted on food safety assessments in small and
very small plants that had product that tested positive for Lm by
FSIS. The guide can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov.
Public Health-Based Inspection Updates Available by
E-mail
FSIS has added Public Health-Based Inspection System to its e-mail
subscription service. This service will alert customers about information
and resource materials in support of public health-based inspection.
The e-mail alert service provides automatic and customized access
to specific food safety news and information. Customers who subscribe
will be notified via e-mail when updates have been made. To subscribe,
go to www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/
index.asp.
Podcasting
Coming soon! FSIS will soon make available audio clips on topics
of interest. These audio clips can automatically be sent to your
computer or portable music player every time a new episode is available.
Stay tuned for more information concerning this new way of communicating
important FSIS messages.
Resources Spotlight
Beginning with the next issue of Small Plant News, a different food
safety resource will be highlighted in every issue. The spotlight
will describe the resource and indicate how to obtain a copy.
Feedback Requested
Please let us know your thoughts about this first-of-its-kind newsletter
specifically targeted to small and very small plants. Please send
your comments to SmallPlantNews@fsis.usda.gov
or call (202) 690-6520.
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FSIS to Host Web Seminars
FSIS is reaching out to small and very small plants through four
Web seminars during the third and fourth quarters of 2007.
This initiative was developed by the Outreach Task Force, comprised
of representatives from each FSIS program area and directed by Executive
Associate Dr. Karlease Kelly. The task force has been working on
creating ways to streamline access to important regulatory information
and improve its delivery to the owners and operators of small and
very small plants.
These meetings follow up on last year's Regulatory Education Sessions.
The 2-hour sessions were given across the United States, and were
held at night or on weekends so plant owners or employees were free
to participate without having to miss work.
Recent Web seminars have covered topics such as FSIS compliance
guidelines for the production of safe meat and poultry jerky products,
and controlling Salmonella in small and very small plants that produce
raw poultry products.
Future seminar topics include an update on the new rule related
to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and specified risk materials
removal, basic sanitation procedures, new technology and labeling.
Call (202) 690-6520 to obtain more information about previous and
upcoming seminars; or to register, go to the following Web page
at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Outreach_Sessions_SVS_Plants/index.asp.
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Editorial Column: Committed to Outreach In More Ways Than
One
One of the most important responsibilities of Federal agencies that
deal with safety issues—whether food or aviation—is to keep the
greater public aware of important developments that can eliminate
hazards and improve life. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service
uses a wide range of technologies to inform and educate, such as
an interactive telephone hotline and Web site, printed materials,
and regular communication with the public through mass media.
We also have a responsibility to you, the industry we regulate.
FSIS ensures safe meat, poultry and processed egg products in nearly
6,000 plant locations around the country as well as at each port
of entry for foreign foods that fall under our jurisdiction. Even
more surprising is that over 90 percent of these plants are considered
small or very small businesses.
Over the past two decades the communication emphasis has increasingly
been on electronic information through computers and the Internet.
There certainly is a tendency to think that everyone is reachable
through some electronic means.
Well, an interesting thing happened here recently.
First, some background. There are about four dozen FSIS formal
food safety-related documents pertaining to virtually every conceivable
plant situation-from controlling Salmonella bacteria to
preventing mad cow disease. Of course, most of the publications
discuss the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, or HACCP,
the gold standard for food safety. The documents have been bundled
into a small brochure titled "Food Safety Resources." The brochures
were mailed to every address in FSIS' directory of plants offering
any or all of the regulatory and scientific material without any
charge or handling fees. All respondents had to do to get information
was mail or fax in their request to us and provide their company
name, address and phone number.
Our mailing yielded a success rate eight times greater than the
industry average, which is a 1 percent return on every 100 mailings.
More importantly, in excess of 10,000 FSIS food safety documents
were mailed out to recipients, many of whom requested everything
in the brochure, which also included food defense materials.
The success of a single mailing demonstrated to us that we may
be living in an electronic world but sometimes paper is indispensable.
We plan future mailings to reach this important target market. If,
for some reason, you're a small business owner who did not receive
our invitation to a wealth of food safety information, then you
can order online at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/
HACCP_Resources_Order_Form/index.asp
The old-fashioned way works, too, by simply calling (202) 690-6520
and requesting the brochure or additional information.
We've also enhanced and customized the pages on our Web site devoted
to small business at www.fsis.usda.gov/
Small_Very_Small_Plants/index.asp
and we are producing this new newsletter specifically targeted to
small and very small plants that will be mailed directly to you.
Sometimes an issue is so intractable that we need to be walked
through the answer by another knowledgeable voice. Industry can
also get answers to FSIS-related questions by calling our Policy
Development Division at 1-800-233-3935. All these options demonstrate
our commitment to be accessible in as many formats as possible because
ensuring food safety is one of the most vital services FSIS can
provide.
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Commonly Asked Question & Answer
Q. Am I required to document SSOP and
HACCP corrective actions on the NR, or do I have to write them on
my company record?
A. The requirement in 9 CFR 416.16 and
417.3(c) is that you document Sanitation SOP and HACCP corrective
actions. The establishment can document these corrective actions
on its records or on the NR. If the documentation is on the NR,
the NR becomes part of the HACCP or Sanitation SOP records and is
required to meet the recordkeeping requirements of those regulations.
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Small Plant NEWS
Editor: Keith Payne
Editorial Staff: Mary Gioglio, Beatrice Herbert, LaVonne Johnson,
Sheila Johnson
Design: Rowena M. Becknel
Contact: Small Plant News, USDA/FSIS/ SIPO, Aerospace Building,
3rd Floor-Room 405, 14th and Independence Ave., SW, Washington,
DC 20250. (202) 690-6520
E-mail: SmallPlantNews@fsis.usda.gov |
