| August 27, 2021 FSIS Updates Retail Guidance Webpage FSIS has updated its Retail Guidance webpage to provide food safety resources to help retailers decrease the potential for foodborne illness. Retailers can also sign up to receive notifications when the page is updated in the future. This page now provides resources for retailers regarding: - Controlling Listeria monocytogenes at Retail
- Retail Beef Grinding Records
- Beef Intended Use
- Chicken Liver – Resources for Illness Prevention
- Shopper History Helps Solve Foodborne Outbreaks
- Working Together for Food Protection
- Food Recovery
FSIS to Expand PHIS Export Module As announced previously in the April 30, 2021 Constituent Update, FSIS rolled out several enhancements to the Public Health Information System (PHIS) and has begun implementing all export certificates in PHIS for specified countries, regions, and territories. On August 30, 2021, FSIS will implement export certificates in PHIS for additional countries, regions, and territories. The following will be added: Benin, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Macau, Myanmar, Panama, Qatar, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, and United Arab Emirates. As the Agency moves forward with these exporters, there will be ongoing assessments of which countries, regions, and territories should be included in the next PHIS export implementation phase. All exporters are encouraged to use the Industry Test Environment (ITE). Industry access to PHIS, both the test environment and the live production environment, requires eAuthentication Level 2, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To register online and find the steps to complete the eAuth process, please click here. These instructions also apply to those whose eAuth has expired after 60 days of inactivity. As with all enhancements to PHIS, user guides will be posted on the FSIS website, as well as made available to access through the PHIS – HELP button, located in the upper right corner of the browser window. For export policy questions, please submit to askFSIS. For PHIS technical questions, please contact PHISTechnicalQA@usda.gov. Reminder: USDA Solicits Public Comments on Investments and Opportunities for Meat and Poultry Processing Infrastructure On July 9, USDA announced it will commit $500 million of USDA's Build Back Better Initiative funds through the American Rescue Plan to support new competitive entrants in meat and poultry processing. USDA will provide grants, loans, and technical assistance to address concentration within the meat and poultry sectors and relieve supply chain bottlenecks by supporting new meat and poultry processing facilities. USDA has issued a Request for Information to solicit public input into its strategy to improve meat and poultry processing infrastructure, which is available on regulations.gov. Comments will be accepted through August 30, 2021. Comments can be submitted here. FSIS Reductions to the Cost of Overtime Fees As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021, FSIS received $100 million to reduce the cost of overtime and holiday inspection fees for small and very small plants. The fee reductions are retroactive to October 11, 2020 for establishments who apply and are approved by March 14, 2022. The reduced rates will be offered through fiscal year 2030, or until all funds are expended. On July 15, FSIS published Federal Register notice 2021-15011 that provides background information and details concerning how the agency will be reducing fees for small and very small plants. Eligible establishments can fill out the Overtime/Holiday Rate Reduction Form and send it to their appropriate district office. When establishments are approved to receive the rate reduction, credits will be issued on the following month's account statement for fees charged back to October 11, 2020. When credits are issued on the account statements, establishments can choose to have the credits applied to future billings or request a refund. If establishments choose to leave the credits on their accounts, no action is required. Accounts will automatically deduct the current charges shown on future account statements from the account balance reflected as the total amount due. If an establishment would like a refund, it should call 515-334-2000 and press option 1, or email FSIS.Billing@usda.gov to make an official request for refund. Establishments can also request receiving their account statements via email by using the phone number or email address above. These instructions are also included with the monthly account statements. Policy Update FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/directives-notices. The following policy update was recently issued: FSIS Notice 35-21 - Holidays in 2022 Export Requirements Update The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following: - Guyana
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Grenada
- Curacao
- Cayman Islands
- Honduras
- Myanmar
- Sri Lanka
- Panama
- Macao
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Brazil
- Australia
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