May 15, 2007

FSIS clarifies decision to allow poultry imports from Chile

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in the US has shed more light on why it has rated Chile's inspection system for poultry and poultry products equivalent to that of the United States.

By doing so, it has opened the way for the country's poultry exports to be allowed into the US.

Questions had been raised on how the FSIS had reached that conclusion given a deficiency found in the country's system.

FSIS has clarified that the evaluation consisted of two parts: A document review and an on-site review. The document review is an evaluation of the laws and regulations of the country to effect its inspection programme.

The FSIS review of Chile's poultry inspection system found that Chile's requirements are equivalent to the relevant provisions of the Poultry Products Inspection Act in the US.

The on-site review in August 2005 found, however, that the country was not conducting species verification testing as required. Chile promptly took action to rectify the problem and has documented the steps that it has taken to implement species verification testing. FSIS has evaluated the documentation provided by Chile and is satisfied that controls are in place to ensure that species verification testing is being performed.

In addition, FSIS has also audited Chile's beef slaughter inspection system in March-April 2006 and found that species verification testing is being performed for those facilities exporting to the US.

If approved, all poultry products from Chile would be subject to re-inspection at United States ports-of-entry by FSIS inspectors. The FSIS is currently seeking public input on the matter.