News

FDA and CBP Announce Final Rule on Imported Food Shipments

The FDA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a final rule and draft compliance policy guide (CPG) for "Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments.”

The final rule is part of the requirements of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act). This rule is part of FDA's efforts to protect the nation's food supply against terrorism and other food-related emergencies. The draft CPG describes FDA and CBP's strategy for enforcing the requirements of the prior notice final rule while maintaining an uninterrupted flow of food imports.

CDC Study Finds 3 Million U.S. Children Have Food or Digestive Allergies

On Oct. 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a news release regarding a study of food and digestive allergies affecting children in the U.S. The number of young people who had a food or digestive allergy increased 18 percent between 1997 and 2007, according to a new report by the CDC. In 2007, approximately 3 million U.S. children and teenagers under age 18 were reported to have a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months, compared to just over 2.3 million in 1997. To read this entire news release, go to: www.cdc.gov.

2008 Residue ‘Blue Book’ Now Available

The 2008 FSIS National Residue Program Scheduled Sampling Plan Book, also known as the 2008 Blue Book, presents a comprehensive explanation of the process used to design the FSIS National Residue Program (NRP) sampling plans for 2008.

The 2008 NRP scheduled sampling plans were modified to increase the analytical testing of randomly selected animals. Some modifications include:

• Arsenic and sulfonamides testing for egg products
• Flunixin testing for bulls and dairy cows
• The inclusion of Zilpaterol in laboratory methodology for beta-agonist compounds for the entire calendar year

In addition to the annual NRP, this resource has traditionally included two useful tables. The first table provides a list of issues required for laboratory analysis. The second table lists all methods for residues of drugs, pesticides and environmental contaminants that the Agency has implemented and considers to be an official method. These two tables are updated annually and appear as appendices in this publication.

The 2008 Blue Book is available at www.fsis.usda.gov.