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FSIS Assists With Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Effort
FSIS, in conjunction with other USDA agencies, will be deploying personnel to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) COVID-19 vaccination effort. FSIS employees including veterinarians from across the Agency are among those selected to assist in this federal effort, since their training and experience make them well-equipped to serve in this capacity. Persons deploying for this mission will be placed at any number of FEMA-coordinated vaccination clinics that are operating throughout multiple states, including Nevada and Oklahoma. Currently, 16 FSIS employees from across the country are expected to deploy in the coming weeks. The first four will be onsite this Monday ready to be deployed where Oklahoma needs them most.
FSIS is committed to maintaining its food safety mission throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. FSIS may deploy additional personnel in the coming weeks. The FSIS support for FEMA’s mission is another vital way the Agency can serve the American people, protect human health, and help ensure consumers and members of the public who work in the food and agriculture sector can continue to provide safe and wholesome food to their families.
FSIS to Post Individual Category Status and Aggregate Results for Poultry Carcasses, Chicken Parts, and Comminuted Poultry Tested for Salmonella
On February 22, 2021, FSIS will update the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts and comminuted poultry products at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualization/microbiology/microbiological-testing-program-rte-meat-and-3.
Additionally, FSIS will post the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young chicken or turkey carcasses, raw chicken parts or not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/data-sets-visualization/microbiology/microbiological-testing-program-rte-meat-and-1.
askFSIS and Small Plant Help Desk are Moving to a New Platform
As we have announced in recent industry calls, on February 19, 2021 askFSIS and the Small Plant Help Desk will be transferred to a new data management platform. This change will result in some improvements. For example, in the new system, customers can simply submit their question directly from the web interface without the need to create an account or login. This change will also seamlessly connect askFSIS and the Small Plant Help Desk to Ask USDA and help further improve customer service. The deadline for existing customers to save submitted questions has been extended until March 31, 2021.
For askFSIS customers you can find instructions for saving your submitted questions at this link.
For Small Plant Help Desk customers you can find instructions for saving your submitted questions at this link.
If you have any questions about the transition, please contact askFSIS or the Small Plant Help Desk for assistance.
Policy Updates
FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-directives-notices. The following policy updates were recently issued:
FSIS Directive 9900.1 Revision 1 – Imported Product Shipment Presentation
FSIS Notice 07-21 – Changes to Using askFSIS
Export Requirements Update
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following country:
Complete information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/import-export/export-guidance.
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