November 21, 2013

US announces final rule on generic meat, poultry labels

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently published a final rule that will generically approve labels of meat and poultry.

Usually, labels that are used on federally inspected meat and poultry products must be approved first by FSIS through a review of a "sketch label". But FSIS has explained there is an exception for labels whose mandatory label features meet applicable regulations. Such "generic" labels don't need to be submitted for sketch approval. 

The final rule expands the circumstances in which it will generically approve meat and poultry labels, further relieving companies of the requirement to submit their labels for evaluation, according to FSIS.

The agency has adopted the proposed rule with four changes, including making an exception to its sketch approval process for labels that bear a child-nutrition box.