🦐FDA Issues 5-Year Debarment Order Against Quality Poultry & Seafood
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an order under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) debarring Quality Poultry and Seafood, Incorporated (QPS) for a period of 5 years from importing articles of food or offering such articles for importation into the United States. FDA bases this order on a finding that QPS was convicted of a felony count under Federal law for conduct relating to the importation into the United States of an article of food. QPS was given notice of the proposed debarment and an opportunity to request a hearing within the timeframe prescribed by regulation. As of March 15, 2025 (30 days after receipt of the notice), QPS has not responded. QPS' failure to respond and request a hearing constitutes a waiver of its right to a hearing concerning this matter.
Learn More🐔USDA Notice on Poultry 2025 National Health Monitoring System
The USDA's Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on a data collection requirement for the National Animal Health Monitoring System focused on poultry. This initiative aims to gather critical health and management information from poultry operations to enhance preparedness for disease outbreaks, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, ensuring the overall health of the U.S. poultry industry.
Learn More🐔USDA Announces Reestablishment of National Poultry Improvement Committee
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives notice of the Secretary of Agriculture's intent to reestablish the committee and its charter for the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (Committee) for a 2-year period. The Secretary has determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest.
Learn More🍗USDA Withdraws Salmonella Framework for Poultry Products
FSIS is withdrawing the proposed rule and proposed determination titled "Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products."
Learn More🦆Final Programmatic EIS for HPAI Outbreak Response by USDA
We are advising the public that a final 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 outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry operations located throughout the United States. The final EIS analyses and compares the potential environmental effects of using three action alternatives during an HPAI outbreak. We are making this final programmatic EIS available to the public for review.
Learn More🍗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