USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a notice this week that provides instructions for inspection program personnel (IPP) to follow when verifying that large official establishments (500 or more employees) that produce meat and poultry products have prepared and are maintaining required written recall procedures. The notice also instructs IPP to remind large establishments of the availability of food defense plan guidance because food defense plans also facilitate the removal of adulterated products from commerce. Requirements for written recall procedures do not become effective for small and very small establishments until May 8, 2013.
FSIS noted that on May 8, 2012, it published the final rule, “Requirements for Official Establishments to Notify FSIS of Adulterated or Misbranded Product, Prepare and Maintain Written Recall Procedures, and Document Certain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System Plan Reassessments.” The rule requires official establishments to prepare and maintain written procedures for the recall of meat and poultry products produced and shipped by the establishment. The regulations require that written procedures specify how the official establishment will decide whether to conduct a product recall and the procedures it will follow should it decide that one is necessary. Official establishments are not required to submit their recall procedures to FSIS. However, they are required to make the written recall procedures available to IPP for review and copying if necessary. FSIS’ notice 67-12 is available here.
