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Constituent Update - June 9, 2023

Regulatory

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The following press release was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service on June 9. It is reproduced in full below.

Reminder: Upcoming NACMPI Meeting

The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) will convene a virtual meeting on June 21-22, 2023, from 10-4 p.m. ET.

Further details and registration for the virtual, public meeting are available on the FSIS website. At the meeting, NACMPI will review and discuss how FSIS can enhance outreach efforts to best promote equity and bring economic opportunity to underserved communities and individuals, while strengthening the food supply chain and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. FSIS is seeking input on the topic regarding prospective applicants for FSIS inspection and existing small and very small establishments currently receiving FSIS inspection.

The purpose of NACMPI is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on state and federal meat and poultry inspection programs, food safety, and other matters that fall within the scope of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. Additional information may be found in the April 25, 2023 Federal Register notice.

FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals

On June 15, 2023, FSIS will update the publicly posted dataset on import refusals for products that the agency regulates. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry, and egg products to be reinspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS reinspects each shipment to verify labeling, proper certification, general condition, and any signs of tampering and to identify product adulterated by transportation damage. FSIS also performs additional activities on a random and/or for-cause basis, such as physical product examination and laboratory sampling for pathogens and chemical residues.

Any product that does not meet FSIS requirements is refused entry, and the importer has up to 45 days (30 days for egg products) to have the product destroyed for use as human food, re-exported/returned to the country of origin, converted to animal food, or brought into compliance with FSIS requirements, if applicable (e.g., relabeled, remarked, or issued a replacement certificate).

The current Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and the archived Import Refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. The datasets contain each shipment with product that was refused entry. To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.

Upcoming Events

* June 21-22, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ET: 2023 NACMPI Public Meeting

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSISFederal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

* Until June 11:Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products with U.S.-Origin Claims

* Until June 12:Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Laboratory Assessment Requests

* Until June 13:Notice of Request To Revise an Approved Information Collection: State Meat and Poultry Inspection Programs

* Until June 13:Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information Collection: Public Health Information System

* Until June 23:Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection

* Until July 5:Availability of FSIS Ready-To-Eat Fermented, Salt-Cured, and Dried Products Guideline

* Until July 11: Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Consumer Labeling Research: Focus Groups

* Until July 27:Salmonellain Not-Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on theFSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Notice 23-23 - Processing and Payment of Training Using the Standard Form-182, Authorization, Agreement and Certification of Training

FSIS Notice 24-23 - Modifications to the Kidney Inhibition Swab (KISTM) Reason Code Selection Options in the Public Health Information System

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

* Vietnam

* Japan

* Canada

* Hong Kong

* Philippines

* French Polynesia (Tahiti)

* Turkey

* Guatemala

* Taiwan

* New Zealand

* Solomon Islands

* Kiribati

* Tunisia

* Mauritius

* North Macedonia

* Jordan

* Namibia

* Benin

* Colombia

* Egypt

* United Arab Emirates

* Western Samoa (Samoa)

* Qatar

* Chile

* Costa Rica

* Nicaragua

* El Salvador

* Myanmar

* Azerbaijan

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service

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