April 30, 2007

US food safety agency revises Custom Exempt Review process

Revisions have been made on policies and procedures for the review of custom livestock or poultry slaughtering and processing operations that are exempt from inspection requirements by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

FSIS Directive 5930.1, Revision 3, "Custom Exempt Review Process," also describes the actions the agency may take when custom exempt facilities and operators do not maintain compliance with the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, states an American Meat Institute news release. The directive updates methodologies for determining whether establishments are meeting performance standards for sanitation as set out in the Sanitation Performance Standards regulations; reflects organizational changes in FSIS; and reflects policies regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and specified risk materials (SRMs).