Food Safety and Inspection Service 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 34 of 34
Availability of FSIS Guideline for Industry Response to Customer Complaints
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of an updated version of the guideline for industry on how to respond to customer complaints of meat and poultry products contaminated with foreign materials. FSIS originally published the guideline in March 2019. Additionally, FSIS is responding to comments received on the March 2019 guideline.
Availability of FSIS Guideline To Assist With the Donation of Eligible Meat & Poultry Products to Non-Profit Organizations
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of and requesting comment on a guideline for meat and poultry establishments interested in donating products to non-profit organizations. FSIS has received several questions from meat and poultry establishments and non-profit organizations on this subject and has decided to address the major concerns associated with donation in this guideline. FSIS encourages establishments to donate meat and poultry products to non-profit organizations, when possible, to reduce food loss and waste.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Common or Usual Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Containing Added Solutions)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding labeling requirements for raw meat and poultry products that do not meet the standard of identity regulations and to which solutions have been added. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on June 30, 2021.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding the qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback on service delivery by the Food Safety and Inspection Service. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on June 30, 2021.
Egg Products Inspection Regulations
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is correcting a final rule that published on October 29, 2020. The final rule requires official plants that process egg products (herein also referred to as ``egg products plants'' or ``plants'') to develop and implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) and to meet other sanitation requirements consistent with FSIS's meat and poultry regulations.
Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling Regulations
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is establishing January 1, 2024, as the uniform compliance date for new meat and poultry product labeling regulations that will be issued between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. FSIS periodically announces uniform compliance dates for new meat and poultry product labeling regulations to minimize the economic impact of label changes.
Changes to Accreditation of Non-Federal Analytical Testing Laboratories.
FSIS is proposing to revise the regulations prescribing the statistical methods used in measuring the performance of chemistry laboratories in its voluntary Accredited Laboratory Program (ALP) and to expand the scope of accreditations offered by the program. Currently, participants in the ALP are accredited for the analysis of food chemistry (moisture, protein, fat, and salt), specific chemical residues, and classes of chemical residues. FSIS is proposing to change the statistical method it uses to evaluate laboratory proficiency testing (PT) sample results to the z score approach for those accreditations that are currently evaluated by Cumulative Summation (CUSUM). FSIS also is proposing to accredit non-Federal laboratories for microbiological indicator organisms and pathogen testing, in response to industry interest. Additionally, the Agency is proposing to make various minor edits and changes to the regulation for the sake of clarity and to incorporate all sample types under the jurisdiction of FSIS (e.g., to include egg products), as appropriate for the associated analyte, and to improve program flexibility. Improving program flexibility includes updating definitions to remove specific references that are currently limiting the program.
2021 Rate Changes for the Basetime, Overtime, Holiday, Laboratory Services, and Export Application Fees
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the 2021 rates it will charge meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, and importers and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime, and holiday inspection and identification, certification, and laboratory services. Additionally, FSIS is announcing that there will be no changes to the fee FSIS assesses to exporters that choose to apply for export certificates electronically through the export component of the Agency's Public Health Information System. The 2021 basetime, overtime, holiday, and laboratory services rates will be applied on January 3, 2021.
Egg Products Inspection Regulations
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the egg products inspection regulations to require official plants that process egg products (herein also referred to as ``egg products plants'' or ``plants'') to develop and implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) and to meet other sanitation requirements consistent with FSIS's meat and poultry regulations.
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods; Membership Nominations
Pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). There are 9 vacancies. Advisory Committee members serve a two-year term that may be renewed for two additional consecutive terms, at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.
Availability of FSIS Import Guidance
In July 2017, FSIS published and requested comment on guidance for importing meat, poultry, and egg products into the United States. FSIS is announcing updates to this guidance and responding to comments received on the guidance. FSIS intends for this guidance to help U.S. importers, customs brokers, official import inspection establishments, and other interested persons understand and comply with FSIS import requirements. The guidance represents current FSIS thinking, and FSIS will update it as necessary to reflect comments received and any additional information that becomes available.
Prior Label Approval System: Expansion of Generic Label Approval
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend its inspection regulations to expand the circumstances under which FSIS will generically approve the labels of meat, poultry, and egg products. FSIS is also proposing to cease evaluating generically approved labels submitted to FSIS for review.
Food Safety: Consumer Outreach and Education Today and for the Future
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is hosting a virtual public meeting with participation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Partnership for Food Safety Education. FSIS seeks to establish a comprehensive understanding of how consumers handle and prepare food today, by reviewing recent research and forthcoming research, so as to develop the most effective approach for consumer outreach and education in the future. Industry, consumer representatives, non-profits, food safety advocates working at state, county and local levels, and other interested individuals are invited to participate in the meeting and comment on the data and science that drive FSIS consumer education.
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
Pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The committee is authorized under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and Poultry Products Inspection Act and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The committee will convene virtually on September 24-25, 2020. The objective of the public meeting is for the Committee to review and advise about the steps FSIS should take to ensure better control of artisanal, shelf-stable ready- to-eat (RTE) fermented, salt-cured, or dried products that rely on multiple hurdles for lethality. NACMPI will also review and advise whether the Agency should continue not to test boxed beef primal and sub-primal products for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), if they are intended for intact cuts.
Salmonella-State of the Science
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is hosting a virtual public meeting with participation from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). FSIS will discuss the Agency's commitment to reducing Salmonella contamination associated with FSIS-regulated products and thus saving lives, by leading with science, building relationships, and influencing behavior change. Industry, interested individuals, organizations, and other stakeholders are invited to participate in the meeting and to comment on the data and science that drive FSIS Salmonella reduction efforts.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Marking, Labeling and Packaging)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding the regulatory requirements for marking, labeling, and packaging of meat, poultry, and egg products. This collection covers the labeling approval process whereby establishments are to submit their labels to FSIS for approval and maintain related files. There are no changes to the information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2021.
Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information Collection (Salmonella Initiative Program)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a revision of the approved information collection regarding the Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP). Based on an increase in SIP participation, FSIS has increased its total annual burden estimate by 9,363 hours. The approval for this information collection will expire on January 31, 2021.
Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information Collection (Accreditation of Laboratories, Transactions, and Exemptions)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a revision of the approved information collection for the accreditation of laboratories; transactions with official meat and poultry establishments, egg products processing plants, and other firms; and exemptions from requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. FSIS has reduced the burden estimate for this collection by 13 hours based on updated information. The approval for this information collection will expire on December 31, 2020.
Retail Exemptions Adjusted Dollar Limitations
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the dollar limitations on the amount of meat and meat food products and poultry and poultry products that a retail store can sell to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions without disqualifying itself for exemption from Federal inspection requirements. Because Siluriformes fish have been regulated, along with traditional meat products, under the Federal Meat Inspection Act since 2016, FSIS has included Siluriformes fish and fish products in its calculations for the retail dollar limitation for meat products in this announcement. FSIS requests comments on the inclusion of Siluriformes fish and fish products with meat products.
Expansion of FSIS Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) Testing to Additional Raw Beef Products
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing plans to expand its routine verification testing for six Shiga toxin- producing Escherichia coli (non-O157 STEC; O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, or O145) that are adulterants, in addition to the adulterant Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, to ground beef, bench trim, and raw ground beef components other than raw beef manufacturing trimmings (i.e., head meat, cheek meat, weasand (esophagus) meat, product from advanced meat recovery (AMR) systems, partially defatted chopped beef and partially defatted beef fatty tissue, low temperature rendered lean finely textured beef, and heart meat)(hereafter ``other raw ground beef components'') for samples collected at official establishments. STEC includes non-O157 STEC; O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, or O145, that are adulterants, and E. coli O157:H7. Currently, FSIS tests only its beef manufacturing trimmings samples for these six non-O157 STEC and E. coli O157:H7; all other aforementioned raw beef products are presently tested for E. coli O157:H7 only. FSIS also intends to test for these non-O157 STEC in ground beef samples that it collects at retail stores and in applicable samples it collects of imported raw beef products. FSIS is requesting comments on the proposed sampling and testing of ground beef, bench trim, and other raw ground beef components. FSIS will announce the date it will implement the new testing in a subsequent Federal Register notice. Additionally, FSIS is responding to comments on the November 19, 2014, Federal Register notice titled ``Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Certain Raw Beef Products.'' FSIS is also making available its updated analysis of the estimated costs and benefits associated with the implementation of its non-O157 STEC testing on raw beef manufacturing trimmings and the costs and benefits associated with the expansion of its non-O157 STEC testing to ground beef, bench trim, and other raw ground beef components (https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/c37a7129-639c-41fa-ab75-be6 dddcd1c44/ placeholder-link?MOD=AJPERES&useDefaultText=0&useDefaultDesc= 0).
Inspection of Yak and Other Bovidae, Cervidae, and Camelidae Species
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend its regulations to define yak and include it among ``exotic animals'' eligible for voluntary inspection. This proposed change responds to a petition for rulemaking. It would officially allow yak products to be voluntarily inspected and to bear the USDA voluntary mark of inspection, benefitting the yak industry. FSIS is also requesting comments on whether all farmed-raised species in the biological families Bovidae, Cervidae, and Camelidae, if not already subject to mandatory inspection, should be eligible for voluntary inspection, and whether any species in these families should be added to the list of amenable species requiring mandatory inspection. FSIS already requires mandatory inspection for several species of the Family Bovidae (cattle, sheep, and goats). The Agency also provides voluntary inspection to several species of Bovidae not subject to mandatory inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, as well as several species of Cervidae. These species include: Reindeer, elk, deer, antelope, water buffalo, and bison.
Elimination of the Requirement To Defibrinate Livestock Blood Saved as an Edible Product
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is proposing to remove a provision from the Federal meat inspection regulations that requires the defibrination of livestock blood saved as an edible product. This proposed action would eliminate a regulatory requirement and its associated costs to industry without affecting food safety. Moreover, it would allow industry to fulfill a demand for non-defibrinated blood products.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (In-Home Food Safety Behaviors and Consumer Education: Web-Based Survey)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information for an exploratory Web-based survey of consumers to evaluate food safety education and communication activities and to inform the development of food safety communication products. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on October 31, 2020.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding poultry slaughter inspection. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on September 30, 2020.
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Laboratory Assessment Requests)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to collect information from laboratories that test food samples during illness outbreak investigations. This is a new information collection with 22.5 burden hours.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (State Meat and Poultry Programs)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding State Meat and Poultry Programs. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on July 31, 2020.
Expansion of Use of the Term “Healthy”
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing that it will allow establishments to use the implied nutrient content claim ``healthy'' on their labels which: (1) Are not low in total fat, but have a fat profile makeup of predominantly mono and polyunsaturated fats; or (2) contain at least ten percent of the Daily Value (DV) per reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) of potassium or vitamin D. FSIS is making this announcement to maintain consistent requirements for food labels by allowing the same uses of the claim ``healthy'' for meat and poultry products as are currently allowed for food products under the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) jurisdiction.
Notice of Request To Renew of an Approved Information Collection: In-Home Food Safety Behaviors and Consumer Education: Annual Observational Study
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to renew the approved information collection regarding observational studies to inform the development of food safety communication products and an evaluation of public health education and communication activities. The approval for this information collection will expire on June 30, 2020. FSIS has reduced the total burden estimate for the renewal collection by 833 hours because FSIS plans to conclude its research in two years, after the renewal. The original burden estimate was for three years.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and Requests for Waivers)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding the procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology and requests for waivers. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Sanitation SOPs and Pathogen Reduction/HACCP)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) and pathogen testing and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems requirements. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to create a new information collection regarding the voluntary destruction of imported meat, poultry, and egg products. This is a new information collection with an estimated burden of 17,818 hours.
Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information Collection (Advanced Meat Recovery)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of an approved information collection regarding the regulatory requirements associated with the production of meat from advanced meat recovery (AMR) systems. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Nutrition Labeling of Major Cuts of Single-Ingredient Raw Meat or Poultry Products and Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding nutrition labeling of the major cuts of single-ingredient raw meat or poultry products and ground or chopped meat and poultry products. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.
National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods; Renewal
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice is announcing the intention of the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to renew the charter for the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). The purpose of NACMCF is to provide impartial, scientific advice, and peer reviews to Federal food safety agencies for use in the development of an integrated national food safety systems approach that assures the safety of domestic, imported, and exported foods.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
