The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) held its 20th session, May 7-11, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with 177 delegates from 47 countries, one regional organization, and 10 observer organizations. A detailed Delegate’s Report is available here. Highlights include:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued directive 9900.8 to its import inspection personnel concerning the identification, control, documentation, and disposition of imported meat, poultry, egg products, and shell eggs packed for consumer use that are refused entry into the U.S. The directive, which replaces directive 9020.1, Rev. 1, dated 05/18/09, is effective 05/29/12.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued directive 9900.5 to its import inspection personnel for conducting label verification procedures on imported meat, poultry, and egg products. The instructions for Canadian shipment and nutritional labeling verification are revised for clarity, and the section on un-marked carcasses, primal parts, and other products identified for further processing (Intended Use) is also revised. The directive said it incorporates instructions related to the Public Health Information System (PHIS). FSIS’ directive, which replaces FSIS Directive 9500.3 dated 02/02/10, is not effective until May 29, 2012.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued directive 9900.2, which gives import inspection personnel instructions on how to conduct import reinspection on shipments of imported meat, poultry, and egg products. The directive includes instructions on prioritization of reinspections, sampling plans and defect tables for physical inspections, physical inspection of various products, condition of container examinations, incubation of hermetically sealed containers, net weight reinspection, etc. This directive is effective May 29, 2012.
On May 23, 2012, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service said the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) held its 40th Session on May 15-18, 2012, in Ottawa, Canada, with about 165 representatives from 61 countries. Highlights include:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a public meeting June 5 to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 35th Session of the of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which will be in Rome, Italy, July 2-7, 2012. FSIS is also requesting written comments for the meeting, which may be offered at the meeting or submitted to FSIS in advance.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a directive, effective May 29, 2012, that provides instructions to import inspection personnel (IIP) on how they are to verify that the requirements and associated procedures for the pre-stamping of imported meat and poultry products by official import inspection establishments are met. FSIS said this directive cancels FSIS Directive 9500.4 “Pre-stamping of Imported Product” dated 06/24/2009. The directive said, among other things, that the pre-stamping procedure needs to identify how the controlled stamping of product will be accomplished, and includes directions on updating the establishment profile in the Public Health Information System (PHIS), verification instructions, and consequences for noncompliance by official import inspection establishments.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a directive giving FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) instructions for verifying an establishment’s intended use of High Pressure Processing (HPP), an antimicrobial treatment for use on meat, poultry and processed egg products without prior-approval from FSIS.
On May 22, 2012, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports: