🍗Delay in Verification Sampling of NRTE Chicken Products Announced
FSIS is announcing that it is delaying the date it will begin sampling not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products for Salmonella and delaying the date establishments need to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans for these products from May 1, 2025, to November 3, 2025. This additional time is necessary for FSIS to finalize its instructions to inspectors and prepare its inspection program personnel (IPP) and laboratories for the new sampling and testing. In addition, this additional time is necessary for FSIS to provide industry with guidance on holding and controlling products pending FSIS' sampling results.
Learn More🍗USDA Extends Comment Period on Poultry Standards Regulations
This document extends the comment period of the January 16, 2025, notice and request for comments on revisions to the United States Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry (the Poultry Standards). The last minor revision to the Poultry Standards occurred in 2018, but the last substantial revision prior to that occurred in 1998. Since then, poultry production and quality assessment methods have changed significantly, as have consumer preferences.
Learn More🦆USDA Reopens Comment Period on Indemnity Payments for Avian Influenza
We are reopening the comment period for our interim rule that would amend the regulations pertaining to conditions for payment of indemnity for highly pathogenic avian influenza. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Learn More🍗2025 Updates on Retail Exemptions for Meat and Poultry Sales
FSIS is announcing the dollar limitations on the amount of meat and meat products and poultry and poultry products that a retail store can sell to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions without disqualifying itself for exemption from Federal inspection requirements.
Learn More🍗New FSIS Guidelines for Retained Water in Meat and Poultry Products
FSIS is announcing updates to and responding to comments on its guideline to assist meat (including Siluriformes fish and fish products) and poultry establishments in meeting the regulatory requirements for calculating the correct retained water percentage in raw livestock, poultry, and Siluriformes fish carcasses and parts resulting from post-evisceration processing. FSIS is providing clarification based on arithmetic errors commonly encountered in protocol reviews.
Learn More🐄USDA Withdraws Proposed Livestock and Poultry Market Rules
The United States Department of Agriculture's ("USDA" or "the Department") Agricultural Marketing Service ("AMS" or "the Agency") is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking, the "Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets" proposed rule.
Learn More🐔New Regulations Impacting Poultry Grower Compensation and Practices
This final rule by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA or the Department) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) amends the Agency's regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (P&S Act or Act). The Act protects fair trade, financial integrity, and competitive markets for poultry. The final rule prohibits certain payment practices under poultry grower ranking systems (commonly known as tournaments) in contract poultry production for broiler chickens, requires live poultry dealers (LPDs) to adopt policies and procedures for operating a fair ranking system for broiler growers, and requires LPDs to provide certain information to broiler growers when the LPD requests or requires the grower to make additional capital investments. These regulations will increase transparency and address deception and unfairness in broiler grower payments, tournament operations, and capital improvement systems.
Learn More🍗USDA Seeks Comments on Poultry Standards Revisions by 2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking public comment on revisions to the United States Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry (the Poultry Standards). The last minor revision to the Poultry Standards occurred in 2018, but the last substantial revision prior to that occurred in 1998. Since then, poultry production and quality assessment methods have changed significantly, as have consumer preferences.
Learn More🦠Reopening Comment Period for Avian Influenza EIS - USDA Notice
We are reopening the comment period for our notice advising the public that a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to our response activities to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry operations located throughout the United States, including the U.S. territories. The draft EIS analyzes and compares the potential environmental effects of using three action alternatives during an HPAI outbreak. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
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