April 22, 2010

Following recommendations of the Food Safety Working Group (FSWG), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is seeking comment on proposed measures to enhance food safety.

According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the proposed rule would help prevent foodborne illness as well as expedite response when such illnesses occur.

The new proposed rule would require that regulated establishments:

• Promptly notify FSIS if any unsafe, unwholesome or misbranded meat or poultry product has entered commerce.
• Prepare and maintain current procedures for the recall of meat and poultry products produced and shipped by the establishment.
• Document each reassessment of the establishment's process control plans or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans.

Comments regarding the adopted regulations must be received on or before May 24, 2010.

Full article.