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FSIS to Extend Comment Period on Term "Natural"
FSIS has extended the comment period on how to define the term "natural" until March 5.
FSIS held a public meeting on December 12 to discuss a petition to establish a definition for the
voluntary claim "natural." The agency also gathered comments on conditions under which the claim
should be allowed to be used on the labels of meat and poultry products.
The original comment period closed on January 11; however, FSIS has taken this action to respond to requests
that were made at and after the December 12 meeting.
To view a transcript from the public meeting, visit FSIS' Web site at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
Natural_Claims_Transcripts.pdf (PDF Only).
FSIS Issues Notices
FSIS issued Notice 01-07 on January 8 to clarify how inspection program personnel should document
regulatory noncompliance related to 9 Code of Federal Regulations 310.22 for controlling specified
risk materials (SRMs), as well as other regulations.
The agency also issued Notice 02-07 on January 10 titled, Export Library Revisions for December 2006.
This notice provides links to the pages of the Export Library for those countries that made changes in
their export requirements during December 2006. A red asterisk (*) indicates the most recent change
in the country's requirements.
Both notices can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
FSIS_Notices_Index/index.asp.
FSIS to Hold Regulatory Education Sessions for Small and Very Small Plants
FSIS will hold regulatory education sessions on January 24 and 31 for the owners and operators of small
and very small plants in California, Virginia and Wyoming.
The sessions will cover a regulatory walk-through of sanitation standard operating procedures and the
hazard analysis and critical control point and rules of practice regulations. The agency has moved
forward with plans to expand the regulatory education sessions.
The regulatory education sessions will be held at the following locations:
- Wednesday, January 24 from 5-7 p.m., at the Embassy Suites Hotel - Covina, 1211 E. Garvey Street, Covina, Calif.;
- Wednesday, January 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Doubletree Charlottesville, 990 Hilton Heights Road, Charlottesville, Va.; and
- Wednesday, January 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the High Plains Power, 230 West Main, Riverton, Wyo.
To register by phone, call (800) 336-3747. Online registration forms and information about upcoming sessions
can be found at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Outreach_Sessions_SVS_Plants/index.asp.
FSIS to Mail Food Safety Resource Brochures
FSIS recently mailed a copy of its Food Safety Resources: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
Systems Small and Very Small Plant Outreach brochure to all meat and poultry establishments.
The mailing is part of an ongoing outreach program to provide small and very small plants with the latest
and most comprehensive information on foodborne hazards, up-to-date procedures and proven technologies.
FSIS Generic HACCP Models; guidance documents; and FSIS workshop materials on Listeria monocytogenes,
E. coli O157:H7 and food defense materials will be offered at no cost. Most materials are available
in both English and Spanish.
The brochure is also available on the FSIS' Web site at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
HACCP_Resources_Brochure.pdf
(PDF Only).
FSIS Solicits Feedback from FOIA Customers
On January 10, FSIS launched an electronic customer feedback section on the agency's Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) Web page.
The feedback section has been made available so that unsolicited comments and suggestions from customers
who have requested records from FSIS can be shared.
Prior to launching this section, FSIS researched several USDA and various other agency Web sites to determine
the most efficient and cost effective approach to receiving this type of feedback.
This section serves as part of FSIS' continuing efforts to improve customer service, as well as comply with
the President's Executive Order 13392.
To access the FOIA customer feedback section, visit FSIS' Web site at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FOIA/index.asp.
IKE Preliminary Scenario Available Online
FSIS has made available the preliminary Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) Scenario 01D-07, Citing
Relevant Regulations When Documenting SRM Noncompliance, for comment through January 19.
This IKE scenario supports FSIS Notice 01-07. It is designed to help inspection program personnel understand
that they should include all relevant regulatory citations when documenting noncompliance, including the
failure to properly remove, segregate or dispose of specified risk materials.
The scenario can be viewed on FSIS' Web site at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/
IKE_Comment/index.asp.
If you have questions or comments regarding this preliminary IKE scenario, contact FSIS' Technical Service
Center at (800) 233-3935, or by e-mail at
ike@fsis.usda.gov.
Export Requirement Updates
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated to reflect changes in export requirements for the following:
- Australia
- Cayman Islands
- European Union
- Russia
- United Kingdom
Complete information can be found at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
Export_Information/index.asp.
Export Tip of the Week
FSIS does not provide an export license for meat and poultry products destined to foreign countries.
If required, such licenses may be issued by the Department of Commerce or the Department of Treasury
depending on the country.
For further information, call FSIS' Office of International Affairs at (202) 720-3473.
Helpful Resources
E-mail Subscription Service - FSIS' e-mail alert service provides automatic and
customized access to selected food safety news and information. Visit
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/
Email_Subscription/index.asp
to sign up for agency e-mail alerts.
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline - Food safety experts are available year-round Monday
through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time to answer questions about safely preparing and cooking
foods. The toll-free number is 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Recorded messages are available 24 hours a day.
Ask Karen - FSIS' virtual representative can answer your food safety questions
24 hours day, seven days a week. Visit "Ask Karen" at
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117152211/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Food_Safety_Education/Ask_Karen/index.asp.
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