Search Results for agency_names:"Food Safety and Inspection Service"

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the new rates for 2025 that will apply to various inspection and certification services related to meat, poultry, and egg products. These services include voluntary, overtime, and holiday inspections, along with laboratory services. FSIS also revised the fee for applying for export certificates electronically through its Public Health Information System. These updated rates will come into effect starting January 12, 2025.

The USDA is asking for nominations to join the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods for the 2025-2027 term. They need 30 members with expertise in areas like microbiology and food safety from different sectors such as academia and government. The nominated individuals will help provide advice to ensure food safety, and those selected will need to undergo background checks and adhere to ethical standards. Nominations are due by February 18, 2025, and selected members will serve a two-year term, potentially reappointed for another term.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a part of the United States Department of Agriculture, has enacted a final rule to remove regulations that allowed horse slaughter establishments to pay for ante-mortem inspections. This action follows a court decision that vacated the previous rule, finding it violated environmental and administrative procedures. As a result, FSIS is updating its rules to align with the court's directive. The rule change was not open to public comment due to an exception for straightforward legal compliance matters.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to update an information collection process concerning the importation of undenatured inedible products and samples for research and testing. This proposal aims to make the forms more user-friendly, thus reducing the time and burden on importers by 8,818 hours. Comments on these changes are welcomed until April 21, 2025, via multiple submission methods including online or mail. The main goal is to ensure the safe import of these products without them being mixed with goods intended for sale.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced a delay in starting the sampling of not-ready-to-eat breaded stuffed chicken products for Salmonella. Originally scheduled for May 1, 2025, this will now begin on November 3, 2025. This delay allows time to finalize instructions, ensure inspection readiness, and help the industry prepare. It also gives the new FSIS leadership a chance to review policies regarding this issue.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a notice about the updated dollar limits for retail stores selling meat and poultry products to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions without requiring federal inspection. For 2025, the limits have been raised to $103,600 for meat and meat products and $74,800 for poultry products. These adjustments are based on changes in consumer prices reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The limits ensure that such retail operations remain exempt from federal inspection while selling to non-household consumers.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is planning to renew their approved information collection related to the importation and transportation of meat, poultry, and egg products, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This renewal involves no changes to the current information collection process, which aims to ensure these products are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled. Comments on this matter must be submitted by April 21, 2025, and FSIS emphasizes the importance of public participation in these regulations to ensure their effectiveness and practicality. The collection includes foreign inspection certificates, documentation for pre-stamping procedures, and transport documentation under USDA seal.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are seeking public input regarding food date labeling. They aim to gather information on industry practices, consumer perceptions, and the impact of date labels on food waste. Both agencies are concerned that inconsistent labeling terms like "Sell By" and "Use By" may confuse consumers, leading to unnecessary food waste. They encourage the use of the phrase "Best if Used By" to reduce confusion and are asking for public comments to guide future policies by February 3, 2025.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), part of the USDA, has announced its plan to renew the information collection requirements for labeling mechanically tenderized beef products. These requirements mandate that labels must include the term "mechanically tenderized" to ensure that consumers are informed about the product. The FSIS is seeking public comments on these requirements before they expire on July 31, 2021. They have invited feedback on whether these information collection efforts are useful and whether the burden it places on respondents is reasonable.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released an updated guideline to help meat, poultry, and fish establishments calculate retained water in raw products after processing. The document provides corrections for previous arithmetic errors and includes examples of acceptable methods. Establishments must submit revised protocols by March 3, 2025, and make necessary label changes by January 1, 2026. The changes aim to improve accuracy in labeling and ensure consumers receive truthful information about the amount of water retained in products.