FSIS Materials on Meat Inspection Available

August 17, 2000

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is making available materials from its June 9 public meeting on in-distribution inspection activities and initiatives connected with its meat and poultry program. FSIS is requesting public comment on its current thinking about how to ensure that meat and poultry products do not become adulterated, and continue to qualify for USDA’s mark of inspection, during distribution.

The June 9 public meeting was held to discuss the agency’s strategy for addressing the safety of meat and poultry products during distribution and to provide an overview and update on the In-Distribution Project. Presentations made by the speakers and a transcript of the meeting may be viewed in the FSIS Docket Room, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700. An electronic version of the documents is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/Notices_99_00.htm. Persons are invited to review the materials and submit comments referencing Docket #00-027N to the above address by Sept. 13 .

Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, FSIS has the authority and responsibility to ensure the safety of meat and poultry products during in-plant production, as well as through transportation, storage, and other handling. The agency is looking at strategies for monitoring the safety of meat and poultry products after they leave an inspected plant, and one of these strategies is through the in-distribution project which explores the effects of redeployment of inspection personnel outside the plant.