FSIS Strengthens Policies On
Imported Food Products
FSIS is committed to protecting public health through food safety as well as food defense and is taking action to strengthen its efforts with regard to imported food products that contain small amounts of meat, poultry or processed egg product as an ingredient.
In addition, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates imports to ensure they do not pose a threat to U.S. animal health. Though some products containing small amounts of meat, poultry or processed egg product ingredients may not pose a threat to animal health and would be eligible for an APHIS-issued permit, they are ineligible for entry into the United States if the ingredients were not prepared under equivalent inspection systems and thus are not from an approved source.
While FSIS statutes provide authority to exempt certain foods containing relatively small amounts of meat, poultry or processed egg product ingredients, the statutes condition the exemption on the products not being adulterated; that is, that these ingredients need to have been prepared and passed under FSIS inspection or under a foreign inspection system deemed equivalent by the Agency.
The requirement that the meat or poultry ingredients be from an approved source is a condition that is stated on all permits issued by APHIS between March 19 and June 22. Importers must be able to provide documented evidence, upon request by FSIS, to support the origin of any meat or poultry ingredient used in the food product identified on the APHIS permit.
After June 22, any new permit application submitted to APHIS will be reviewed by FSIS to ensure that any meat or poultry ingredient comes from an eligible source. The importer must be able to demonstrate to FSIS that the ingredients are from an approved source. If this condition is not met, the imported food will be considered ineligible for importation into U.S. commerce. Ineligible product found in commerce is subject to seizure and destruction.
APHIS is providing a 90-day extension for any permit that expires before June 22. At the end of the 90-day extension, the importer may submit a new application that complies with the conditions outlined previously.
For a list of countries eligible to export to the U.S., please visit www.fsis.usda.gov/pdf/countries_products_eligible_for_export.pdf. Questions concerning these policies may be directed to FSIS at permits@fsis.usda.gov or at 888/287-7194.
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AIB’s Food Defense Plan Template Now Available
In recent years, food defense has been an increasingly hot topic. Today more and more regulatory agencies, customers and third party inspectors are asking for some type of Food Defense Plan to be developed and implemented in food facilities.
AIB’s Food Defense Plan Template will help you meet government- and customer-imposed requirements and develop a Food Defense Plan that incorporates the specific physical and procedural needs of your facility. This electronic template allows users to fill in the blanks and include additional information to create a detailed plan. A companion document is included with the template to answer any questions that may arise while assessing your needs and developing a Food Defense Plan. For more information or to order the template online, go to: https://secure.aibonline.org/php/ecomm-catalog.php?catalogNbr=56-4010. AIB
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Calendar
AIB is holding a variety of educational seminars throughout North America. To learn more about any of the seminars listed below, visit www.aibonline.org. All dates are subject to change without notice.
July 6-31
Management Development for Food Safety/Sanitation Professionals, Manhattan, Kan.
July 7-8
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, Minneapolis, Minn.
July 9-10
HACCP Workshop, Minneapolis, Minn.
July 27-28
Engineering for Food Safety, Manhattan, Kan.
Aug. 17-19
Safety & Health Management Systems, Manhattan, Kan.
Aug. 18-19
Food Industry Pest Management, Kansas City, Mo.
Aug. 25-27
Food Defense Coordinator, Worcester, Mass.
Sept. 15-16
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 17-18
HACCP Workshop, Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 22-24
An Integrated Quality System for the Food Industry, Chicago, Ill.
Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Organic Certification with a Foundation in Food Safety, Portland, Ore.
Sept. 29-30
Food Plant GMP/Sanitation Workshop, Rosemont (Chicago), Ill.
Oct. 1-2
HACCP Workshop, Rosemont (Chicago), Ill.
Oct. 6-8
Food Defense Coordinator,
San Jose, Calif.