USDA FSIS Constituent Update

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Almanza to Retire
Acting Deputy Under Secretary and FSIS Administrator Al Almanza is retiring on July 31, capping a 39 year career with the Agency.  

USDA Names New Humane Handling Ombudsman
FSIS is announcing the appointment of Dr. Kurt Schulz as the new Humane Handling Ombudsman, effective immediately.

FSIS Schedules Industry Webinar for Roll-out of Egg Products Plant Food Safety Assessments
In the March 3, 2017 Constituent Update FSIS announced its plans to begin a phased roll-out of the Public Health Risk Evaluation (PHRE) and Food Safety Assessment (FSA) methodologies in egg products plants.

Food Safety Discovery Zone at California State Fair
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Discovery Zone (FSDZ) will continue its national food safety education tour with an exhibition at the California State Fair in Sacramento, Calif., from July 14-30, 2017.

FSIS Posts Updated Import Data
The updated dataset on import refusals for products regulated by FSIS is now available on the FSIS website. Federal law requires every commercial shipment of imported meat, poultry and egg products to be inspected prior to product entering U.S. commerce.

FSIS Posts Aggregate Poultry Data
On July 20, 2017, FSIS will update the publicly posted aggregate sampling results (not individual establishments) relative to Salmonella and Campylobacter process control categories for establishments producing young chicken or turkey carcasses, raw chicken parts and Not Ready-To-Eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products.

FSIS Expands Residue Testing Methods
A new Chemistry Laboratory Guidebook method, “Screening and Confirmation of Animal Drug Residues by UHPLC-HRMS-MS” (CLG-MRM2) has been approved for both beef and pork muscle and beef and pork kidney.

Reminder: Educational Meetings on the Implementation of Siluriformes Inspection
On June 16, 2017, FSIS announced two educational meetings—the first one occurred on June 27, 2017 in Richmond, Va. and the second is scheduled to take place on July 20, 2017 in Baltimore, Md.