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As
part of its efforts to expand risk-based inspection in specific
meat and poultry establishments, FSIS has released a form
for plants to fill out which will collect information about
what kinds of Ready-to-Eat products they produce, as well
as how much. The form is numbered 10,240-1, and is
entitled Production Information on Post-Lethality Exposed
Ready-to-Eat Products. FSIS also plans to issue a
second notice that will instruct meat and poultry inspectors
on how to verify that Form 10,240-1 has been completed and
submitted to the Agency by Ready-to-Eat product processing
establishments. When this notice is received, plant
inspectors are to set up a meeting with plant management
(it could be at the regular weekly inspector-plant meeting)
and tell management of the requirements to complete the
form. Form 10,240-1 must be submitted to FSIS in order
to meet regulatory requirements in 9 CFR 430.4(d), the Listeria
monocytogenes regulations for Ready-to-Eat products.
If
a plant fails to complete and submit the form to FSIS within
30 days, enforcement actions against the plant could be
taken. Under the Listeria regulation published June
6, 2003, FSIS requires official establishments that produce
certain RTE products to prevent adulteration by Lm.
In the rule, FSIS identified three alternative methods for
addressing post-lethality contamination of RTE products
by Lm, and required establishments to pick and use one of
these alternatives. FSIS is planning to use the information
about RTE products produced by establishments and indicated
on Form 10,240-1 to develop annual sampling frequencies
for plants and RTE products. The Agency will use this
information, along with FSIS verification testing history
of the plant, to design a risk-based testing program which
is referred to in Directive 10,240.4, Verification of Procedures
for the Listeria Monocytogenes Regualtion and Microbial
Sampling of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Products for the FSIS Verification
Testing Program.
Inspectors
are being told to document who is present at the (plant)
meeting, when the meeting occurred, what was discussed,
and any documents that were shared with management.
Inspectors are to keep a copy of this document in their
"government file," give a copy to plant management,
and ask the plant 30 days later if they've completed and
submitted the form to the Inspection Agency. The goal of
the FSIS is to concentrate more inspection time in plants
where it is needed.
To
comment on the FSIS form, write to Docket Clerk, USDA-FSIS,
102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20250.
There is no deadline, but comments must include the Agency
name (USDA-FSIS) and Docket Number 04-014N. Comments
will be posted on the FSIS website at: www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRDockets.htm.
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