FSIS to Allow Imports of China-Slaughtered Cooked Poultry
The Food Safety and Inspection Service finalized rules to allow imports of Chinese poultry products from birds slaughtered in China, it said in a notice. Slaughtered poultry processed in certified Chinese establishments will be eligible for export to the U.S., subject to all other applicable requirements and re-inspection at the U.S. port of entry, FSIS said. As proposed (see 1706160035), eligible products would be limited to cooked poultry, it said." This final rule is consistent with the provisions of the proposed rule," the agency said. The rules will take effect Dec. 9.
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Must be from list of certified establishments. China will have to certify to the U.S. the establishments that want to export slaughtered poultry products. FSIS will then verify whether the establishments certified by the Chinese government meet U.S. requirements through annual scheduled audits of the Chinese poultry inspection system, it said.
Only cooked poultry for now. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has classified China as a region affected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza subtype H5N1 and Exotic Newcastle Disease, FSIS said. As such, China is only allowed to export cooked poultry products, it said. China "would need to submit additional information for FSIS to review, and would likely need to undergo an additional audit before FSIS would allow the PRC to export other processed poultry products" to the U.S., the agency said.
Additional requirements. All Chinese slaughtered poultry exported from China to the U.S. will be subject to reinspection at the U.S. ports of entry “for, but not limited to, transportation damage, product and container defects, labeling, proper certification, general condition, and accurate count.,” FSIS said. FSIS will also conduct other types of re-inspection activities, "such as sampling and testing product to detect any drug or chemical residues or pathogens that may render the product unsafe or any species or product composition violations that would render the product economically adulterated. "Products that pass reinspection will be stamped with the official mark of inspection and allowed to enter U.S. commerce,” it said.
Products refused entry. Products that are found not to meet U.S. requirements will be refused entry and must be exported back to the country of origin within 45 days, destroyed, or converted to animal food, depending on the violation, FSIS said.
(Federal Register 11/08/19)