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In this Week’s Edition:
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FDA Publishes Materials from Traceability Meetings Including Supply Chain ExampleFollowing each of the public meetings the FDA posted a video recording and transcript on its public meeting webpage. The FDA is now publishing the remaining materials discussed at the meetings, the six slide presentations. One of those slide presentations, the supply chain example discussed by Andrew Kennedy from the FDA’s Office of Food Policy and Response, is being published together with a video of his presentation and a more detailed overview of the example that was presented. The materials are available here. The supply chain example discussed during the public meetings was of a salad kit prepared with cherry tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, and other foods, focused on the tomato grower, salad kit maker, distributor, and retail store. FDA Responds to Concerns About Toxins in Baby FoodFDA is responding to the report released on February 4 on U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy on levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury in baby food. The FDA response is available here. USDA Announces Monica Rainge as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Civil RightsDetails are available here. |
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FDA Provides Update on Listeria Outbreak Involving Fresh and Soft CheeseThe latest update on the Listeria outbreak, and others, is available here. FDA and USDA Consumer Tips on Food Safety Practices During Power OutagesWith the recent widespread power outages, USDA and FDA are reminding consumers on food safety practices during power outages. The tips are available here. |
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National Organic Standards Board Meeting to Be Held in AprilNOSB will meet virtually April 28 through April 30, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) each day. NOSB will hear oral public comments via webinars prior to the meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, and Thursday, April 22, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. ET. The deadline to submit written comments and/or sign up for oral comment is 11:59 p.m. ET, April 5, 2021. More information here. AMS Clarifies Requirements for Inspection of Canadian Field Tomatoes, Onions and PotatoesLoads of potatoes, onions, and open field/field grown tomatoes can be certified as meeting Section 8e import inspection requirements either prior to import into the United States or upon arrival at destination within the United States. Certification must be completed prior to the load entering the United States stream of commerce. Only the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), authorized Canadian – Partners in Quality (CPIQ) for potatoes only, and Federal or Federal/State United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops Inspection Division licensed inspectors can certify the loads as meeting the grade, size, quality, and maturity import requirements. More details here. FSIS Updates Directive on Import InspectionThe directive provides the instructions that inspection program personnel (IPP) are to follow when conducting reinspection of meat (which includes Siluriformes fish and fish products), poultry, or egg product shipments presented for import reinspection. FSIS is reissuing this directive to address procedural changes associated with the incorporation of instructions from FSIS notices and clarify when IPP are to verify the stamping of product with the official import mark of inspection. On February 22, 2021, askFSIS is moving to a new data management platform. FSIS Directive 5620.1 will be revised to reflect the transition to the new platform. AskFSIS System EnhancedThe notice provides new instructions to FSIS personnel who use askFSIS on where to search for and review posted askFSIS Q&As, now called “Knowledge tform, and how to submit questions using the new interface for askFSIS. FSIS Updates List of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to the U.S.
FDA Import AlertsThe latest FDA import alerts are available here and include dietary supplements, firms that have refused FDA inspections and more. FDA Warning LettersThe latest FDA warning letters are:
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