In This Week’s Edition:
- USDA Directive on Report of Investigation
- CBP Reminder to Log in to Modernized Ace Portal by February 20
- Bilateral Trade in Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish to Resume Between the U.S. and the EU
- FDA Responds to Conference for Food Protection Recommendations
- American Agricultural Exports Shattered Records in 2021
- USDA Seeks Nominations for Members to Science and Research Advisory Board
- FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
- FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
- FDA Import Alerts
- FDA Warning Letters
USDA Directive on Report of Investigation
The directive provides the methodologies that Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit, Compliance and Investigations Division. Investigators are to apply when preparing a Report of Investigation. Investigators prepare a ROI to support findings of apparent violations, food safety incidents, or other allegations under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, the Egg Products Inspection Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and related laws and regulations.
CBP Reminder to Log in to Modernized Ace Portal by February 20
CBP successfully deployed the first phase of the ACE Portal Modernization. The first phase includes a new login screen, a new home page, and upgraded user account information display and edit features. ACE Portal users are strongly encouraged to log in to the modernized ACE Portal before February 20, 2022.
Bilateral Trade in Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish to Resume Between the U.S. and the EU
On February 4, 2022, the United States and EU concluded negotiations to allow for resumption of bilateral trade in bivalve molluscan shellfish. For the first time since 2011, U.S. producers, beginning in the states of Massachusetts and Washington, are eligible to export live, raw and processed bivalve molluscan shellfish to the EU, including oysters, clams, mussels, and whole or roe-on scallops.
FDA Responds to Conference for Food Protection Recommendations
The FDA has responded to the Conference for Food Protection’s (CFP) recommendations from the 2020 CFP Biennial Meeting, the agency’s current position on CFP’s most recent recommendations to amend the FDA Food Code, including its Annexes, the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards and the recommendations that otherwise recommend action on the part of the FDA. A copy of the FDA’s response letter can be downloaded here.
American Agricultural Exports Shattered Records in 2021
The American agricultural industry posted its highest annual export levels ever recorded in 2021, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced. The final 2021 trade data published by the Department of Commerce this morning shows that exports of U.S. farm and food products to the world totaled $177 billion, topping the 2020 total by 18 percent and eclipsing the previous record, set in 2014, by 14.6 percent.
USDA Seeks Nominations for Members to Science and Research Advisory Board
USDA is soliciting continuous nominations for membership to its National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board and its committees. The NAREEE Board is comprised of 15 members representing a specific category of U.S. agricultural stakeholders, and the Board’s three committees include the Specialty Crop Committee, Citrus Disease Subcommittee and National Genetic Resources Advisory Council.
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
This week’s updates are:
- There is a new active outbreak on the table, Listeria monocytogenes in a not yet identified food.
- Traceback has been initiated for the enteroinvasive E. coli outbreak (reference #1054).
- The investigation for the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce (reference #1050) has closed.
FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
FDA Import Alerts
The latest FDA import alerts include seafood with E. coli, unsafe food additives, ceramicware with lead and cadmium, and more.
FDA Warning Letters
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded
Compounding Pharmacy/Adulterated Drug Products
New Earth Healing Essentials, LLC d/b/a 5D Full Disclosure
Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded
Bakery Project Inc. dba Delano Bakery
CGMP/Food/Prepared, Packed or Held Under Insanitary Conditions/Adulterated