FSIS Institutes Additional Import Requirements for Meat and Poultry Products from Canada
On November 3, 2007, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued an announcement stating that they have instituted additional interim import requirements for meat and poultry products from Canada, pending the preliminary findings of an audit of the Canadian Food Safety System that will focus on Ranchers Beef, Ltd., a Canadian firm, and other similar Canadian establishments, that export beef to the U.S.
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(A joint investigation between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and FSIS has identified the likely source of a recent multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the Topps Meat Company as coming from beef trim from Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630. FSIS delisted Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630, as a result on October 20, 2007.)
Testing of Canadian Meat/Poultry Products to Increase, Shipments to be Held Pending Results
Effective this week, FSIS states it is increasing testing for Salmonella, Listeria Monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 in meat and poultry products from Canada, and will require that shipments be held until testing is complete and products are confirmed negative for these pathogens.
Re-Inspections of Canadian Meat/Poultry Products to Increase
In addition, Canadian meat and poultry products will receive increased levels of re-inspection by FSIS to confirm they are eligible to enter commerce when presented at the U.S. border.
FSIS announcement of additional import requirements (dated 11/03/07) available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_110307_01/index.asp
FSIS Update on Topps Meat Recall Investigation (dated 10/26/07) available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_102607_01/index.asp