The Food Safety and Inspection Service said the Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) established two electronic Working Groups (eWGs) on the alignment of food additive provisions of commodity standards with the relevant provision of the General Standard on Food Additives, and to consider proposals for changes or additions to the International Numbering System. Details follow:
Food Safety Inspection Service inspection program personnel are to condemn an entire carcass if a sample collected and analyzed under the National Residue Program is positive, and there is no Food and Drug Administration or Environmental Protection Agency established tolerance for the identified residue in muscle, said FSIS in Notice 32-12 issued on May 22, 2012. Inspection program personnel are to condemn the carcass as well as the parts in such circumstances.
The Codex Committee on Europe (CCEURO) established an electronic Working Group (eWG) to develop a proposed draft regional standard for Ayran (a fermented yogurt-based beverage), said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The eWG is led by Turkey. CCEURO Member countries and Codex observer organizations interested in participating should contact the Codex Contact Point for Turkey (nilfer.altunbas@hotmail.com, berkan@panaromaturizm.net and kodeks@tarim.gov.tr).
The Food Safety and Inspection Service launched the Label Submission Approval System (LSAS), which will allow electronic submission of label applications, will flag application submission errors that could delay the approval process, and will allow users to track the progress of their submission. FSIS said the LSAS will will streamline the agency’s review process for meat, poultry, and egg product labels.
The Codex Committee on Import & Export Inspection & Certification Systems (CCFICS) invited Codex Members and Observers to participate in a meeting in Grange, Ireland, July 9-12, 2012, to consider Section 4 of the Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems, said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Australia and the European Union will co-chair the meeting. Parties interested in participating should contact Ann Backhouse, Australian Secretariat (codex.contact@daff.gov.au) and Bernadette Klink-Khachan, European Union Codex Contact Point (codex@ec.europa.eu) by May 22, 2012.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails May 18, 2012, announcing changes to some Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service is tracing 10-12 potential birth cohort cattle of the dairy cow that was confirmed positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) (commonly known as mad cow disease), it said in an update May 18. APHIS also said samples of the BSE-positive dairy cow were sent to The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratories in Canada and England. Both laboratories have confirmed that the index cow was positive for atypical (L-type) BSE, according to APHIS.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI), which provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on meat and poultry inspection programs. NACMPI has up to 20 members, and each selection is for a 2-year term. Nominations, including a cover letter to the Secretary, the nominee’s typed resume or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background Information form AD-755, must be received by June 20, 2012.