On September 20 and September 22, 2022, from 1-2 p.m. ET, FSIS will host webinars to discuss general labeling requirements. The webinars will focus on mandatory label features, frequently asked questions, accessing guidance documents on the FSIS website, and tips for using the label submission and approval system (LSAS).

The webinars will be held on Microsoft Teams. Pre-registration for the webinars is not required. To access the labeling webinars, please visit the event page on the FSIS website.

Recordings of both webinars, along with presentation slides, will be posted on the FSIS website for those unable to attend. For questions, contact Gianfranco Santaliz-Rogers at 301-504-0878 or gianfranco.santalizrogers@usda.gov.

Reminder: FSIS to Participate in NARMS Public Meeting

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is hosting the 2022 National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) public meeting September 21-22, 2022. The purpose of this meeting is to share NARMS progress since the adoption of the NARMS Strategic Plan: 2021-2025. Accomplishments since the last NARMS public meeting in 2020 and future plans will be highlighted. As a NARMS partner, FSIS will make presentations regarding agency findings.

The public meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, from noon-5 p.m. ET and Thursday, September 22, from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. In addition, there will be a demonstration of how to access NARMS data online on Tuesday, September 20, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET. Separate registration is required for each session.

To register for the NARMS technical workshop and/or for the public meeting, fill in the information requested on the following websites:

• September 20, 2022: NARMS Technical Workshop
• September 21, 2022: Public Meeting Day 1
• September 22, 2022: Public Meeting Day 2

If you wish to participate in the public comment session on Thursday, September 22 from 3:40-4:15 p.m., please email Claudine Kabera (claudine.kabera@fda.hhs.gov) by Wednesday, September 14, 2022, and include which topic(s) you wish to address.

A transcript of the meeting will be made available within 30 days after the meeting. For additional information, visit FDA’s public meeting webpage.

Reminder: FSIS to Host Encore Webinars on Revised Appendices A & B

On September 19 and September 21, 2022, FSIS will host two additional webinars to provide an overview of the revised 2021 Cooking Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix A) and 2021 Stabilization Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix B).

Pre-registration for the webinars is not required. Recordings of both webinars, along with presentation slides, will be posted on the FSIS website for those unable to attend.

• The September 19 webinar will be held from 1-3 p.m. ET. Information on how to access the September 19 webinar is available on the FSIS website.
• The September 21 webinar will be held from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET. Information on how to access the September 21 webinar is available on the FSIS website.

These webinars are intended for establishments that were unable to attend the webinars hosted earlier this year. The previous webinars are available on the FSIS website — May 23: Revised Appendix A & B Guidelines, and May 24: Revised Appendix A & B Guidelines (repeat/encore). The September webinars will cover the same content as the May webinars and will provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions.

FSIS to Expand Data Access for PHIS Industry Users

In October, FSIS will expand functions available to industry users in our Public Health Information System (PHIS). The expansion will allow industry users to review and suggest modifications to FSIS data associated with each establishment, such as product volumes and product groups. FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) will then be able to verify and approve or deny the modifications within PHIS.

FSIS will hold a webinar on October 4, 2022, to discuss the new functions in PHIS. The industry testing environment will be updated and available with these enhancements prior to deployment in early October. FSIS will announce more information in a future Constituent Update.

This expansion is consistent with FSIS’ goal of increasing industry access to establishment data in PHIS. In February 2012, FSIS first opened PHIS to allow industry users the ability to review reports. In June 2018, FSIS enhanced PHIS to begin generating digitally signed export certificates for specified countries, regions, and territories. FSIS has implemented this function for a total of 81 countries, and will continue to assess which countries, regions, and territories should be included in the next PHIS export implementation phase.

FSIS to Post Updated Datasets on Import Refusals

On September 15, 2022, FSIS will update the publicly posted dataset on import refusals 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. The datasets contain each shipment with product that was refused entry. To access these datasets or view more information about them, please visit the Import and Export Data page.

Upcoming Events

• September 19, 1-3 p.m. ET: Webinar on Revised Appendices A & B
• September 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET: NARMS Technical Workshop
• September 20 & 22, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET: Webinars on General Labeling Requirements
• September 21, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET: Webinar on Revised Appendices A & B
• September 21, 12-5 p.m. ET: NARMS Public Meeting Day 1
• September 22, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET: NARMS Public Meeting Day 2

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

• Chile
• St. Lucia
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• Uruguay
• Kazakhstan
• Canada
• Hong Kong
• Vietnam
• Myanmar
• Singapore
• Korea
• Japan
• Kiribati
• French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• India
• China
• Kyrgyzstan
• New Zealand
• United Arab Emirates
• Jordan
• Solomon Islands
• Western Samoa (Samoa)
• New Caledonia

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.