# Presentation: 461630

## FSIS’ Top Priorities

**Food Safety and Inspection Service**
**United States Department of Agriculture**

**FSIS’ Top Priorities**

## FSIS’

**VISION**

**To Evolve Into A World-Class Public Health Agency**

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

## What does it mean to become a world-class public health agency?

**What does it mean to become a world-class public health agency?**

**Public health is improving the health status of citizens.**

**Poultry Products**
**Inspection Act**

**Federal Meat**
**Inspection Act**

**Egg Products**
**Inspection Act**

**FSIS**
**has the following**
**legislative authorities to use to improve public health:**

## Taking the Expanded Viewof Public Health

**Taking the Expanded View****of Public Health**

**Industry needs to look at other internal and external factors, which could impact food safety, such as:**

** ****Fixing condensation that forms on pipes;**
** ****Gauging whether new construction may change the plant’s environment;**
** ****Developing a food security action plan;**
** ****Posting security guards on the premises;**
** ****Forming relationships with local law authorities.**

## Taking the Expanded Viewof Public Health

**Taking the Expanded View****of Public Health**

**FSIS needs to take a proactive role in improving public health through means such as:**

** ****Education -- sharing our knowledge with inspectors, plant officials and all food handlers and preparers;**
** ****Sharing expertise and guidance to prevent bioterrorism.**

## How a Model Public HealthAgency Operates

**How a Model Public Health****Agency Operates**

**FSIS implements three vital functions**
**to protect the American public.**

**Assessment**

**Policy**
**Development**

**Assurance**

## Implementing The Model PublicHealth Agency’s Three Functions

**Implementing The Model Public****Health Agency’s Three Functions**

**1) Assessment, 2) Policy****Development, and 3) Assurance**

***Listeria***

**FSIS’ Efforts**
**To Combat Listeriosis**

## Combating Listeriosis

**Combating Listeriosis**
**#1 Assessment**

****** ****Unprecedented joint**
**epidemiological**
**investigation of the**
**listeriosis outbreak in**
**the Northeastern**
**United States in 2002**

***Listeria monocytogenes***

****** ****Gathered data indicated that some establishments were not adequately addressing the potential for bacteria contamination in their HACCP plans, SSOPs, and other control measures**

## Combating Listeriosis

**Combating Listeriosis**
**#2 Policy Development**

****** ****Directive issued in December 2002 for establishments producing ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.**

****** ****Plants producing high and medium risk ready-to-eat products that do not have validated *****Listeria***** controls are subject to intensified FSIS testing.**
**	**

## Combating Listeriosis

**Combating Listeriosis**
**#3 Assurance**

****** ****FSIS’ intensified testing program consists of:**
** ****Increased product and food contact surface testing**
** ****Environmental testing**
** ****Increased reviews of plant records and data**

****** ****Plants that have *****Listeria***** control programs but do not share testing data with FSIS are targeted for intensified testing.**

## Developing A Final Listeria Rule

**Developing A Final *****Listeria***** Rule**

***Listeria***

****** ****A recently completed draft risk assessment on *****Listeria***** evaluates all factors that potentially contribute to the overall risk to public health.**
****** ****FSIS will consult the risk assessment while developing a final *****Listeria***** rule.**

## FSIS’

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

**FSIS’**
**VISION**

**Wrapping FSIS’ Top Priorities****To Achieve the Vision**

**Improving the inspection****and enforcement process.**

**Improving the training and education of****our workforce.**

**Implementing****measures to increase****homeland****security**

- 

- 

- 

## Priority #1: Improving the Inspection and Enforcement Process

**Priority #1: Improving the Inspection and Enforcement Process**

***Chapter 1*****: Getting the rule published**
***Chapter 2*****: Implementing HACCP in 6,400 plants**
***Chapter 3*****: Enforcement**

**“****Writing the book” on government-mandated HACCP for all meat and poultry producers in the United States.**

##  The Plot 

** ****The Plot ******
**“****In order to protect the public health we will **_***enforce***_** HACCP.”**

**The third chapter is still being written today.**

**Priority #1: Improving the Inspection and Enforcement Process**

## Priority #1: Improving the Inspection and Enforcement Process

**Priority #1: Improving the Inspection and Enforcement Process**

****** ****Consumer Safety Officers can help both government and industry operate effectively under HACCP.**
****** ****A visit by a CSO to a plant**
**provides free scientific**
**guidance that will:**

** ****Save a plant money and resources**
** ****Prevent outbreaks of               foodborne illnesses**

## Priority #2: Improving the Training and Education of our Workforce

****** ****President Bush’s FY 2004 Budget calls for $5.5 million to enhance workforce training**
****** ****Future plans to re-tool our existing training program:**

** ****All training programs will have a public health focus by integrating scientific and technical principles**
** ****Training offered at the national training center at Texas A&M will be augmented through facilitated computer-based interactive sessions**

**Priority #2: Improving the Training and Education of our Workforce**

## Priority #2: Improving the Training and Education of our Workforce

****** ****Possible joint industry and FSIS HACCP training.**
****** ****The ultimate goal is to have a model training and education program.**

**Priority #2: Improving the Training and Education of our Workforce**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**Since September 11th, 2001,**
**food security has been one**
**of our highest priorities.**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/topics/biosecurity.htm**

**On Monday, March 17, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security raised the national alert level from Yellow (Elevated) to Orange (High). **

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**Some concerns that FSIS’ Inspectors-in-Charge may share with plants:**

****** ****The security of establishments’ outer perimeters against unauthorized entry.**
****** ****Confirmation that all deliveries are verified against shipping documents.**
****** ****The use and storage of any hazardous materials on the establishment’s premises.**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**Some concerns that FSIS’ Inspectors-in-Charge may share with plants:**

****** ****Any possible attempts to introduce contaminants into the processing, fabrication, and packaging of products.**
****** ****The behavior and in-plant movement of establishment employees.**

**www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/topics/biosecurity.htm**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

****** *****FSIS Security Guidelines for***
***Food Processors *****offered in:**

**	******** ****English**
**	******** ****Spanish**
**	******** ****Mandarin Chinese**
**	******** ****Vietnamese**
**	******** ****Korean**

**www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/topics/biosecurity.htm**

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**FSIS now has an Office of Food Security and Emergency Preparedness whose responsibilities include:**

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

****** ****Developing and maintaining an extensive network of federal and state relationship**
**	**
****** ****Providing science-based support for an emergency response**
**	**
****** ****Preparing contingency plans for minimizing the risk to the safety and security of food sources, and first responders**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

****** ****20 new import surveillance liaison inspectors:**

**Inspecting Imported Products**

** ****Augment efforts of traditional FSIS import inspectors at 146 import houses**
** ****Conduct a broader range of surveillance activities**
** ****Improve coordination with the Department of Homeland Security**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

****** ****FSIS recently completed a vulnerability assessment to determine the most vulnerable products, likely agents, and potential sites for deliberate contamination.**

****** ****Based on this information, FSIS will develop policies and strategies to reduce or eliminate potential risks.**

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/topics/biosecurity.htm**

## What else for 2003?

**What else for 2003?**

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**Expansion of the vulnerability assessment to identify points in the production of imported products where biological, chemical, and radiological contaminants could be added to foods brought into the United States.**

**Expected in September 2003**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**What else for 2003?**

**Security guidelines targeting the transportation and distribution sectors of the food supply chain and guidelines for consumers.**

**Expected in 2003**

## “Crimson Spring”

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**What else for 2003?**

**Preparation for food safety emergencies using simulation exercises to familiarize FSIS’ managers and staff with the operating environment that would exist during an outbreak of foodborne disease -- whether intentional or unintentional.**

**Expected in April 2003**

**“****Crimson Spring”**

## Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security

**Priority #3: Implementing Measures to Increase Homeland Security**

**If you have any biosecurity questions or need to report suspicious activity,**
**please contact:**

**www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/topics/biosecurity.htm**

**Industry Hotline:  (800) 233-3935**
**Office of Food Security:  (202) 720-5643**
**Food Security Communications:  (202) 720-9113**

## www.fsis.usda.gov

**Food Safety and**
**Inspection Service**

**www.fsis.usda.gov**