FSIS will no longer require the condemnation of poultry carcasses affected with one or more forms of the avian leukosis complex. After carefully considering public comments, FSIS is finalizing the 2022 proposed rule, with no additional changes, to treat avian leukosis as a trimmable condition.
FSIS routinely evaluates the effectiveness of its regulations to ensure they are meaningful to public health protection. The agency initiated rulemaking for leukosis in response to a 2019 National Chicken Council petition, which stated the leukosis regulations reflected an outdated understanding of this disease, imposed unnecessary costs on industry, and presented a potential barrier to young chicken establishments that may want to convert to the new poultry inspection system. After careful evaluation, FSIS determined that current scientific evidence supports treating avian leukosis as a trimmable condition consistent with regulatory provisions for other poultry diseases and conditions such as arthritis, bruises, and abscesses.
Avian leukosis presents no human health concern and, over the years, has become rarer and nearly eradicated among commercial broiler flocks as a result of widespread industry efforts that include vaccination and flock management practices, such as strict sanitation and selective breeding. The agency will continue to inspect for this condition. If present, tumors are localized and do not affect other parts of the carcass. Per federal regulations, any organ or part of a carcass affected by a localized tumor is adulterated and, therefore, must be trimmed by establishment employees before unaffected parts of carcasses can be inspected by FSIS. All carcasses and parts must pass FSIS inspection before moving through the production process.
Small and very small poultry establishments that choose to address leukosis by trimming affected areas are likely to benefit from cost savings associated with this rule. The final rule will publish next week in the Federal Register, containing more information and a summary of comments and FSIS responses.
FSIS Posts FY 2024 Public Health Regulations
Today, FSIS posted the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Public Health Regulations (PHR) report. This report covers how FSIS determines PHRs and their thresholds.
FSIS updates its PHRs annually, and uses decision criteria described inDirective 5100.4 to prioritize establishments for Public Health Risk Evaluations (PHREs), including PHR noncompliance. FSIS has analyzed current data and developed the FY 2024 list of PHRs, including the thresholds used to prioritize establishments for PHREs and to alert inspection personnel of elevated PHR noncompliance levels.
More detailed information about PHRs, as well as archived PHRs by fiscal year, are available on the FSIS website at FSIS Public Health Regulations.
FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals
On Aug. 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
* Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET: 2023 Public Meeting: National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
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 August 11:Salmonellain Not-Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products
* Until August 25:National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
* Until August 29: Notice of Request To Revise an Approved Information Collection: Accreditation of Laboratories, Transactions and Exemptions
* Until September 11:Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Qualitative Research on Food Safety Behaviors Among Parents and Caregivers Who Prepare Meals for Minors or Older Adults. In Depth Interview Research
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 38-23 - Time and Attendance Reporting Procedures for Pay Period 20
FSIS Notice 37-23 - Fiscal Year 2024 Pay Periods and Official Payday Dates
Export Requirements Update
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:
* Barbados
* Dominica
* Canada
* Colombia
* Australia
* United Arab Emirates
* Singapore
* Mexico
* European Union
* Korea
Complete information can be found at theFSIS Import & Export Library.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service