- FSIS to Update MPI Directory and Establishment Demographic Data Files
January 05, 2024
By Highpoint Digest News Staff
Washington, DC – FSIS plans to enhance the Meat, Poultry, and Egg Product Inspection (MPI) Directory and the Establishment Demographic Data (MPI Supplement) files to increase transparency by providing additional data on establishment demographics, slaughter, and processing activities.
The planned enhancements include incorporating additional establishment demographic variables and important geolocation information that uniquely identify geographic areas, latitude, and longitude of an establishment.
In addition, FSIS will expand the number of slaughter subclasses reported. As an example, animals like buffalo, bison, and elk that were previously classified as “Other Meat” will be expanded so they can be viewed independently. Similarly, FSIS is adding ratite slaughter information and including each subclass as appropriate.
Information for harvesting and processing cell-cultured products will be added and distinguished by inspection type, like “Meat” or “Poultry,” and activity type, like “Harvest” or “Processing.”
FSIS will also begin identifying slaughter or processing exemptions and will be distinguished by class like “Meat” or “Poultry” and type like “Custom Slaughter,” “Custom Processing,” “Retail,” or “Religious.”
Finally, the MPI Supplement, which had previously specified if an establishment processed “Ready-To-Eat (RTE),” “Not Ready-To-Eat (NRTE),” “Raw Intact,” or “Raw Non-Intact” products will now specify the species processed by an establishment, for example, “Ready-To-Eat Chicken” products, “Not Ready-To-Eat Beef” products, or “Raw Intact Turkey.”
The updates also will allow users to easily filter establishments by more specific slaughter and processing activities on the MPI Directory Dashboard.
FSIS will continue to provide the MPI Directory file in a PDF format. The MPI Directory and MPI Supplement datasets will also be available in an open, non-proprietary, publicly accessible CSV format consistent with requirements set by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018. Additional information can be found on the FSIS Laboratory Sampling Data web page.
Prior to publishing the updated datasets, FSIS is seeking comments on sample datasets and data documentation until February 16, 2024. To comment, visit Regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments to Docket FSIS-2014-0032 for the sample datasets and documentation. Please note that Regulations.gov does not support CSV files, however, CSV versions are accessible on the FSIS website.
Today, FSIS will begin publicly posting quarterly updates to the following establishment-specific datasets:
Establishment-specific Datasets on Laboratory Sampling
- Egg Product Sampling Data
- Raw Beef Sampling Data
- Raw Pork Products Sampling Data
- Raw Poultry Sampling Data
- Intensified Verification Testing Data
- Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Meat and Poultry Sampling Data
- Risk-based Listeria monocytogenes Sampling Data
Establishment-specific Datasets on Inspection Tasks
- Livestock Humane Handling Inspection Tasks
- Poultry Good Commercial Practices Inspection Tasks
Tips for Faster Label Approval Process
Labels are currently taking about 2-4 business days to evaluate.
TIP: The “Label Submission Checklist” on the FSIS website is a useful resource to help establishments with their label applications.
FSIS is able to evaluate label applications more efficiently when establishments submit accurate and complete applications. By reviewing the “Label Submission Checklist,” establishments can verify that the label meets the applicable mandatory labeling requirements, making it less likely that the label will be returned or need to be modified. The checklist includes questions to consider for each mandatory label feature, as well as the specific meat and poultry regulatory citations for each feature. The checklist also includes questions to consider when completing the label application and identifies common mistakes, such as not sub-listing the ingredients of multi-component foods or ingredients (e.g., soy sauce, bread) in the ingredients statement on the label.
The checklist is also a useful resource for identifying mandatory label features on labels that may be generically approved under 9 CFR 412.2 and do not need to be submitted to FSIS. If after reviewing the checklist an establishment is still unclear if a specific label requirement applies to their product, or if the establishment has additional questions on a specific label feature, FSIS recommends establishments submit their question using askFSIS.
The FSIS Label Submission Checklist is available under the “Label Sketch” tab.
FSIS will continue to provide updates regarding label turnaround time, as well as suggestions to assist the industry in streamlining label submissions in its Constituent Update.
Available for Public Comment
FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:
- Until January 8, 2024: Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery
- Until February 13, 2024: Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Web-Based Surveys
Policy Update
FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:
FSIS Notice 01-24 – 2024 Mileage Reimbursement Rates
Export Requirements Update
The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:
- Azerbaijan
- Netherlands
- Mexico
- Canada
- Benin
- Chile
- French Polynesia (Tahiti)
- European Union
- Korea
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- Japan
- St. Lucia
- Dominican Republic
- Namibia
- Ukraine
- Turkey
- Tunisia
- South Africa
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- Kazakhstan
- Cuba
- Singapore
Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.
Source: USDA
