Docket No. FSIS-2006-0017 - Technical Service Center Operations

FSIS is reviewing the organization, operations, and services provided by its Technical Service Center (TSC) in Omaha , Nebraska , with the intent of improving TSC programs. - Posted 7/31/06 b y JBW

USDA: Thirty-month Rule Withdrawal May Be Temporary

USDA withdrew its proposed rule that would allow cattle over 30 months of age into the U.S. market. - Posted 7/31/06 b y JBW

Public Meetings To Explain Japan 's Decision About U.S. Beef

Consumers in Japan were less than enthusiastic about the end of a ban on imports of U.S. beef. - Posted 7/31/06 b y JBW

USDA: Japan Has Accepted U.S. Beef System, Korea Still Has Concerns

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns recently told South Korea that it must accept all USDA-approved U.S. plants, or accept none, and the deal with Japan appears to violate that "all-or-none" rule. - Posted 7/28/06 by JBW

Japan Again Lifts Ban On U.S. Beef

Japan announced early Thursday that it would once again resume importing U.S. beef, ending a nearly 28-month standoff that effectively shut down one of the U.S. industry's largest export markets. - Posted 7/27/06 by JBW

South Korea Still Undecided On U.S. Beef

South Korea, complaining that Washington has been slow to respond to its concerns about U.S. beef slaughter procedures, says it remains undecided about when it will reopen its market to U.S. beef imports. - Posted 7/27/06 by AHB

BSE Surveillance Will Concentrate On Symptomatic Cattle

The agency will concentrate on cattle showing symptoms of the disease and those that can't stand or walk in the testing program, with only a handful of cattle found dead being tested. - Posted 7/24/06 by JBW

USDA Announces New BSE Surveillance Program

Secretary of Agriculture Johanns announced that the USDA will soon be transitioning to an ongoing BSE surveillance program that corresponds to the extremely low prevalence of the disease. - Posted 7/20/06 by AHB

USDA Seeks To Expand Allowable Substances In Organic Meat

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking comment on a proposed rule that would expand by eight the number of allowable substances used in treating livestock under the National Organic Program. - Posted 7/20/06 by JBW

FSIS Scheduling Criteria for Salmonella Sets in Raw Classes of Product

A new document outlining the FSIS's scheduling criteria for Salmonella testing in raw products was released. The agency began using the process in June 2006. - Posted 7/20/06 by JBW

USDA Laptop With Sensitive Data Stolen At Meat Plant

A laptop and data printouts were stolen from a USDA employee's car, which was parked at a meat plant in Wellington, Kan., USDA reported. - Posted 7/19/06 by JBW

LIVE FROM AAMP: FSIS's Raymond Pledges Better Communication With Smaller Processors

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Under Secretary Dr. Richard Raymond told attendees of the American Association of Meat Processors' annual conference that FSIS is taking several steps to better communicate and collaborate with "small and smaller" processors. - Posted 7/18/06 by JBW

Pre-Harvest Security Guidelines and Checklist 2006

Specific checklists are offered for general security, as well as specifically for dairy, crop, cattle and poultry. - Posted 7/18/06 by JBW

Experts Say U.S. Poultry Protected From AI

A re-launched Internet site highlights the safeguards designed to protect consumers from the deadly disease. - Posted 7/18/06 by JBW

Canada Confirms BSE Case In 50-month Old Animal; U.S. Worried

Canadian authorities have BSE in a 50-month old beef cow from Alberta, and the discovery has U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns worried. - Posted 7/18/06 by JBW

FSIS to Hold a Technical Meeting to Discuss the Updated Risk Assessment for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

FSIS announced a technical meeting to present and receive comments on an updated risk assessment for BSE in the United States. - Posted 7/18/06 by JBW

Docket No. FSIS 2006-0011 - Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Update

A revised version of the October 2003 Harvard Risk Assessment of BSE was released by FSIS. - Posted 7/18/06 by JBW

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert

Alert issued to follow cooking directions carefully for frozen, stuffed, raw chicken products. - Posted 7/7/06 by AHB

FSIS Requests Cross-Contamination Information

FSIS wants information about cross-contamination by bacterial foodborne pathogens of foods that are not likely to undergo cooking or additional cooking in food handling and preparation. - Posted 7/7/06 by JBW

Canadian BSE Case Involved Animal Born 'Well Before' Feed Ban

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed that a Manitoba cow infected with BSE was born "well before" 1997. - Posted 7/6/06 by JBW

USDA Releases Report On Bird Flu Efforts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its 180-day report on avian influenza efforts and the use of $91 million appropriated in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriation to Address Pandemic Influenza six months ago. - Posted 7/5/06 by JBW

Koizumi Won't Say When U.S. Beef Imports Will Resume

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reassured President Bush that Japan will indeed resume imports of U.S. beef, but no timeframe was given. - Posted 7/3/06 by JBW