Agricultural Quality Assessment Division GU0032AFA 

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 May 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 4 

Guidance Number: GU0032AFA 

Subject: Pork to the Russian Federation Guidance Document 

Distribution: QSVP Customers and auditors 

Instructions: Save this Operational Guidance document for further reference. A controlled copy is located 

on the QAD server.

1 Scope

This guidance is applicable to porcine. It is applicable to any U.S. companies that harvest, fabricate, 

and/or process pork and pork products for export to the Russian Federation and approved by USDA as 

a supplier to the QAD 1030V Procedure: USDA EV Program: Specified Product Requirements for 

Pork to the Russian Federation. This includes cold storages that package (re-box) pork products for 

export to the Russian Federation. It also includes any service provider who maintains an approved 

suppliers listing, in accordance with QAD 1030V Procedure, Section 4. These entities are referred to 

as "operations" for the remainder of this document. Approved operations must ensure that the 

requirements of this guidance are met, as applicable.

2 Responsibilities

2.1 The Quality Assessment Division (QAD) is responsible for the following: 

a) Conducting audits of approved operations in accordance with QAD 1000 Procedure and 

QAD 1030V Procedure. The audits verify conformance to the QAD 1030V Procedure. 

b) Verifying the operation's approved suppliers listing, product identification system, and 

associated procedures to ensure conformance to the QAD 1030V Procedure. 

c) Verifying the operation's testing protocols for the Tetracycline Group Testing Program 

and the Microbiological Testing Program to ensure conformance to the QAD 1030V 

Procedure.

2.2 Harvest facilities and service providers are responsible for the following: 

a) Developing and maintaining an approved suppliers listing. Documented procedures for 

approving suppliers must meet the requirements outlined in below in Section 2.2 b). 

Documented procedures for the removal of suppliers must meet the requirements 

outlined below in Section 2.2 c). 

Note 1: An affidavit system alone is not an acceptable method of approving suppliers. 

Note 2: As an alternative, harvest facilities may utilize a service provider's approved 

suppliers listing. If the harvest facility utilizes a service provider's approved suppliers 

listing, then it is exempt from this responsibility.
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division GU0032AFA 

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 May 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 2 of 4 

b) Conducting supplier evaluations and re-evaluations. The USDA Process Verified 

Program and USDA Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program require supplier 

evaluations and re-evaluations as outlined in QAD 1001 Procedure, Section 4.5.1 

Receiving Process and QAD 1002 Procedure, Section 4.2, respectively. Supplier 

evaluations and re-evaluations must meet the requirements as written. Additionally, 

these evaluations must meet the requirements of either Option 1 or Option 2 as outlined 

below. 

i) Option 1 (without on-going verification testing for tetracycline group residues for 

each producer):

a. Person-to-Person interaction (face-to-face or telephone communications);

b. Review of production records, as appropriate, to ensure conformance; 

c. Documented procedures, as appropriate, to ensure conformance; 

d. Communication of the program requirements to ensure conformance; and

e. A detailed questionnaire appropriate to the claim and activities that occur at the 

location to ensure conformance. 

ii) Option 2 (with on-going verification testing for tetracycline group residues for each 

producer): 

a. Person-to-Person interaction (face-to-face or telephone communications);

b. Communication of the program requirements to ensure conformance; and 

c. On-going verification testing for tetracycline group residues for each producer. 

Testing must occur at least semi-annually. 

Note 1: Supplier evaluations and re-evaluations may also be called initial audits and 

surveillance audits, respectively, within an approved program. 

Note 2: If the harvest facility utilizes a service provider's approved suppliers listing, 

then it is exempt from conducting supplier evaluations and re-evaluations.

c) Developing and maintaining documented procedures for the removal of suppliers if the 

testing protocol indicates the presence of tetracycline group residues. If the operation 

re-approves such suppliers, then it must also develop and maintain documented 

procedures for the re-approval, including verification by the operation of 

implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions by the supplier. 

Note: If the harvest facility utilizes a service provider's approved suppliers listing, then 

it is exempt from this responsibility.
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division GU0032AFA 

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 May 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 3 of 4 

d) Developing and maintaining an approved testing protocol for the Tetracycline Group 

Testing Program in accordance with the requirements of QAD 1030V Procedure, 

Section 5.1. 

e) Developing and maintaining a product identification system, in accordance with the 

requirements of QAD 1030V, Section 4.3.1.

2.3 Harvest facilities, further processing facilities, and cold storages are responsible for the 

following: 

a) Developing and maintaining a Microbiological Testing Program in accordance with the 

requirements of QAD 1030V Procedure, Section 5.2.

Note 1: If the harvest facility retains ownership of the product, then the cold storage 

does not need to implement a Microbiological Testing Program. However, the cold 

storage must have procedures in place to ensure identification, traceability, and 

segregation of conforming product in accordance with the procedures of the harvest

facility. The cold storage is audited under the harvest facility's program.

Note 2: If the cold storage takes ownership of the product, then the cold storage must 

implement a Microbiological Testing Program. The cold storage is audited under its 

own program. 

b) Developing and maintaining a product identification system, in accordance with the 

requirements of QAD 1030V, Section 4.3.1. Regardless of ownership, whoever’s

establishment number is on the box must maintain a product identification system, to 

ensure only conforming product is being used in the EV Program for Pork to the 

Russian Federation. 

2.4 Further processing facilities and cold storages are responsible for the following: 

a) Developing and maintaining an approved suppliers listing. Operations must ensure they 

are purchasing product from USDA-approved harvest facilities as listed on the Official 

Listing.

b) Ensuring conforming product is purchased and used within the approved program. 

Operations must have documented procedures addressing the purchase, verification, and 

identification of conforming product. 

c) Developing and maintaining a product identification system, in accordance with the 

requirements of QAD 1030V, Section 4.3.1. Regardless of ownership, whoever’s

establishment number is on the box must maintain a product identification system, to 

ensure only conforming product is being used in the EV Program for Pork to the 

Russian Federation. 
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division GU0032AFA 

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 May 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 4 of 4 

2.5 Producers are responsible for the following: 

a) Adhering to the procedures and requirements of the harvest facility's approved program 

to maintain conformance to the 14-day withdrawal period for tetracycline group 

antibiotics.

_______________________________ 

Jeffery Waite, Branch Chief

Quality Assessment Division

Livestock and Poultry Program 

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