Constituent Update - January 13, 2023

FSIS has released its fiscal year (FY) 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. The FSIS Strategic Plan is the foundation document for both the long range and day-to-day operations of the agency. The updated plan expands upon the great progress FSIS made over the past five years and continues to emphasize the importance of science and data to implement advanced and innovative approaches to food safety.

Three strategic goals have been identified in this plan. The first goal, “Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health,” focuses directly on FSIS’ public health mission and its activities. The second goal, “Transform Inspection Strategies, Policies, and Scientific Approaches to Improve Public Health,” ensures FSIS continues to improve how the agency conducts food safety activities. The third goal, “Achieve Operational Excellence,” recognizes that having a strong foundation through internal FSIS functions is necessary to provide the support the agency needs to meet goals 1 and 2.

View the agency’s website for more information on FSIS’ strategic planning.

NACMCF Reports Published in the Journal of Food Protection

Two reports adopted in April 2021 by the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) have been published in the Journal of Food Protection:

More details about these reports, including summaries and backgrounds, are available on the FSIS website.

NACMCF provides impartial scientific advice to federal food safety agencies, including FSIS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The committee’s reports often serve as foundations for regulations and programs aimed at reducing foodborne disease and enhancing public health.

FSIS Updated Datasets on Import Refusals and Import Volume

Today, FSIS updated the publicly posted datasets on import refusals and country-level import volume for products that the agency regulates. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry, and egg products to be reinspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce. FSIS reinspects each shipment to verify labeling, proper certification, general condition, and any signs of tampering and to identify product adulterated by transportation damage. FSIS also performs additional activities on a random and/or for-cause basis, such as physical product examination and laboratory sampling for pathogens and chemical residues.

Any product that does not meet FSIS requirements is refused entry, and the importer has up to 45 days (30 days for egg products) to have the product destroyed for use as human food, re-exported/returned to the country of origin, converted to animal food, or brought into compliance with FSIS requirements, if applicable (e.g., relabeled, remarked, or issued a replacement certificate).

The current import refusals dataset is updated around the 15th of each month and the archived dataset is updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter. Both the current and archived Import volume datasets are updated around the 15th of the first month of each quarter.

To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following: