A new question was posted today on askFSIS regarding release of “Herd/Flock Owner” name and address to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) during carcass-based Salmonella or Campylobacter verification testing. This question and answer may help clarify what FSIS inspectors are to enter into PHIS.
Following is the question posed and the response from FSIS:
Question: The establishment I am assigned to has been scheduled for a carcass-based Salmonella and Campylobacter verification set. The Public Health Information System (PHIS) has required fields for collecting “Herd/Flock Owner” name and address information on the carcass sampled. What information should I enter into these data fields for PHIS “Sample Management – Sample Collection”?
Answer: At this time, when entering information into PHIS for carcass-based Salmonella or Campylobacter sample collection (for example, young chicken whole bird rinses or young turkey carcass swabs), FSIS inspectors are to enter “N/A” (for Not Applicable) into all “Sample Management-Sample Collection” required data entry fields related to the producer name and address. Clarification on Herd/Flock Owner information collection is currently being developed and further instructions will be issued at a later date.
NCC will continue to monitor activity on this issue.
