Constituent Update - March 29, 2024

Constituent Update - March 29, 2024

FSIS Releases Updated Guidance for Retained Water in Meat and Poultry Products

FSIS has updated its guidance for calculating retained water in meat and poultry products. The "Revised Guideline for Controlling Retained Water in Raw Meat and Poultry" will publish in the Federal Register on April 1, 2024.

The guideline provides formulas and examples for calculating retained water in products and recommendations to ensure the retained water protocol provides accurate data for labeling determinations. FSIS encourages meat and poultry establishments to review the guidance and revise protocols accordingly, if necessary. Establishments will have until September 30, 2024, to submit their revised protocols to the Risk Management and Innovations Staff via askFSIS for review. Establishments will have until April 1, 2025, to make any necessary label changes.

Establishments may reach out via askFSIS (select New Technology as the Inquiry Type) if there are questions about the guidance or if they are unsure if a revised protocol is needed. FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this guideline on or before May 31, 2024. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on the web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions at that site for submitting comments.
• Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
• Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Instructions:

All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the agency name and docket number FSIS-2022-0014.

For more information, please view the Federal Register notice.

Reminder: Small and Very Small Establishment Outreach Survey

As announced in the February 16, 2024, Constituent Update, FSIS is soliciting feedback from small and very small establishment owners through a survey to understand how FSIS can better serve the needs of small establishments and improve outreach. The survey began on March 4 and will close on April 12, 2024. The survey is available in multiple languages.

FSIS asks that you please complete the survey. This survey is one of many ways FSIS is working to bring equity to small and very small establishments. By giving feedback through this survey, owners of small establishments can help FSIS determine what needs exist and how resources can be deployed most effectively. This voluntary survey will take approximately 5 minutes or less to complete and responses are confidential.

If you are a small or very small establishment owner, please check that your Establishment Profile in PHIS has an accurate email address. If you have still not received a survey by April 3, please reach out to [email protected].

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:

• Until April 8, 2024: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Mechanically Tenderized Beef Products
• Until May 31, 2024: Guideline for Controlling Retained Water in Raw Meat and Poultry

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Directive 3730.3- Recovery Of Employee Indebtedness And Waiver Of Claims

Export Requirements Update

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

• Japan
• Canada
• Chile
• Cuba
• French Polynesia (Tahiti)
• Jamaica
• St. Lucia
• Dominican Republic
• Kazakhstan
• European Union
• Hong Kong
• Philippines
• Egypt
• Azerbaijan
• North Macedonia
• Korea
• Singapore

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

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2024