Category: Department of Agriculture
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DeLauro Challenges FSIS Inspection Protocols for Imported Meats, Poultry and Eggs
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) has responded to a January 25, 2013, Federal Register notice describing a “new” Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) method of conducting “ongoing equivalence verifications of the regulatory systems of countries that export meat, poultry, or processed egg products to the United States.” According to DeLauro’s letter to U.S. Department of…
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Standards for Oils Target of Upcoming Codex Meeting
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration have announced a February 5, 2013, public meeting in Washington, D.C., to provide information and receive public comments on draft U.S. positions for discussion during the 23rd Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils of the Codex…
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New Russian Regulation on U.S. Pork and Beef Imports
Russian health regulators have announced a new regulation that will require imported meat to undergo testing for and be certified free of ractopamine, a hormone that has reportedly been linked to health concerns. The additive allegedly promotes animal growth and leaner meat and is added to some animal feed in the United States. According to…
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APHIS Requests Three-Year Extension of Information Collection Activities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has requested an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the introduction of organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering. The regulations set forth “the permit application requirements and the notification procedures for the importation, interstate…
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FSIS Implements ‘Hold and Test’ Policy For Poultry and Beef
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that, as of February 8, 2013, it will require producers of non-intact raw beef and all ready-to-eat products containing meat and poultry to hold shipments until they pass agency testing for foodborne pathogens. FSIS announced its plan to implement this policy in…
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Organic Industry Condemns USDA Report
Organic growers and food safety advocates, including the National Organic Coalition (NOC), have condemned recommendations contained in the final report of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21), a group appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address transgenic contamination of organic and non-genetically engineered (GE) crops. GE crops make…
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HSUS Seeks Investigation of Pork Checkoff Expenditures
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Inspector General requesting an investigation into the use of pork checkoff funds. HSUS contends that “federal pork checkoff program monies are being used to fund the NPPC’s [National Pork Producers Council’s] Pork Alliance program, which is…
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FSIS Issues Notice on Written Recall Procedures
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued instructions for inspection program personnel (IPP) to follow “when verifying that large official establishments (with 500 or more employees) that produce meat and poultry products have prepared and are maintaining required written recall procedures.” According to FSIS, the notice complies with a…