FSIS Proposes Electronic Certs for Meat, Poultry Exports, Parallel Regs for Eggs
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend the meat and poultry inspection regulations to (i) provide for an electronic export application and certification system; (ii) charge a fee for the use of the proposed electronic system; (iii) make meat and poultry export application, certification regulations parallel, where possible; and (iv) provide flexibility in the requirements for official export inspection marks, devices, and certificates. FSIS also proposes to amend the egg product export regulations to parallel, to the extent possible, the export requirements in the meat and poultry regulations that provide for application, certification, and marking of product destined for export.
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Comments are due by March 23, 2012.
Highlights of Proposed Amendments
Highlights of FSIS’ proposed amendments include:
Electronic export application, certification option. FSIS is proposing to amend the meat and poultry regulations to provide for electronic export applications and certificates via its Public Health Information System (PHIS), in addition to the current paper processes.
Fee for electronic option. FSIS is proposing to charge exporters that utilize the PHIS export component a fee for recovering its costs. For 2012, FSIS is proposing a PHIS Export Application Fee of $27.91.
Parallel meat, poultry products export application, certification regulations. FSIS is also proposing to amend the meat and poultry export regulations to organize and make parallel, to the extent possible, the regulatory requirement language for meat and poultry products. Differences would remain for (i) lard or similar edible products that do not apply to poultry and (ii) the number of copies of export certificates required to be filed and delivered.
Alternate methods of marking containers. FSIS is proposing to amend 9 CFR 312.8(a) and 381.104 to provide an alternative method of identifying and marking containers of product destined for export (other than the current method of having inspection personnel provide an export stamp with a serial number to establishments for marking purposes). This proposed flexibility would allow exporters to mark product containers with a unique identifier.
Parallel export application, certification requirements for egg products. FSIS is proposing to amend the egg products export regulations under 21 U.S.C. 1043 to add export application and certification requirements to 9 CFR 590.407 which would parallel, to the extent possible, the export requirements in the meat and poultry regulations that provide for the application, certification, and marking of product destined for export.
Other changes. FSIS is also proposing to amend the regulations to (i) delete the phrase “upon request” in 9 CFR 381.105(a) because it is obsolete, (ii) delete the export certificate requirements in 9 CFR 312.8(b) and 381.106 as they are not needed, (iii) amend 9 CFR 322.2 and 381.105 to replace references to “triplicate” and “duplicate” forms with references to “copies”, and (iv) delete the provisions in 9 CFR 322.2(d) for filing a copy of the export certificate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection within four (4) business days of the clearance of the vessel at the time of filing the complete manifest, as such requirements are already covered in CBP’s regulations.
FSIS contact -- Dr. Ron Jones (202) 720-3473