USDA United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

1 
 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Generic Labeling Overview 

Labeling and Program Delivery Staff, FSIS 

September 25th 2019 

2 
 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Presentation Outline 

 Prior label approval and generic labeling 

 Label Submission and Approval System (LSAS) 

 Streamlining the label submission process 

 Resources 

 Contacting FSIS for guidance 

3 
Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Prior Label Approval and Generic 

Labeling Regulations 

4 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Prior Label Approval Authority – 

FMIA-21 U.S.C. 607(d), PPIA 21 USC 458(b) 

 Acts require food manufacturers to obtain prior approval for 

labels of meat and poultry products before products may be 

marketed 

 “No article subject to this [Act] shall be sold or offered for sale 

.... But established trade names and other marking and labeling 

and containers which are not false or misleading and which are 

approved by the Secretary are permitted.” 

 Prior label approval (coupled with continuous inspection) has 

broad ramifications in terms of public policy and regulatory 

enforcement 

5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Responsibility for USDA’s Label Approval Process -9 CFR 412.1 and 412.2 

 USDA has established requirements for the content and 

design of labels [9 CFR Part 317 (meat), 9 CFR 381 Subpart N 

and Y (poultry)] 

 Requirements are based on the statutory mandate to assure 

that labels are truthful, accurate, and not misleading, and that 

products are not misbranded 

 Required labeling features in regulations are linked to 

misbranding provisions of Acts 

 Policy Memos/Food Standards and Labeling Policy 

Book/Compliance Policy Guides = interpretations of the Acts 

and regulatory requirements 

6 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Responsibility for USDA’s Label Approval Process 

9 CFR 412.1, 412.2, and 590.411 

 The Labeling and Program Delivery Staff (LPDS) within the 

Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD) administers 

the FSIS prior approval process 

 Process of label evaluation provided in FSIS Notices/Policy 

Guidance/Website 

 Meat/poultry/egg product manufacturers must examine and 

learn the statutory, regulatory, policy, and procedural 

requirements for labeling to be able to ship product in 

commerce that bears USDA mark of inspection 

7 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Terms Defined: Generic Approval, Sketch Approval, Final Labeling, Temporary 

 Generic label approval - approval of labeling or modifications to 

labeling prior approved by the Agency without submitting such 

labeling to FSIS for sketch approval. To be generically approved all 

mandatory labeling features must be in conformance with FSIS 

regulations 

 Sketch approval - approval provided by LPDS when labels, other 

than those submitted for temporary, are submitted for approval 

 Final labels - labels applied to product prior to distribution in 

commerce 

 Temporary approval - approval granted for up to 6 months to use 

labels that are not in compliance with FSIS regulations. May not 

misrepresent the product, create a health or safety situation, or 

provide an economic advantage 

8 
 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Prior Label Approval 

 NOW, only four categories of meat and 

poultry product labels require LPDS review 

 ALL OTHER labels that do not fit into one of 

the four categories do not require sketch 

approval by LPDS 

9 
 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Prior Label Approval 

 Only certain types of labeling require submission for

evaluation by LPDS 

– labels for temporary approval (9 CFR 412.1(c)(4)) 

– labels for products produced under religious exemption (9

CFR 412.1(c)(1)) 

– labels for products for export with labeling deviations (9

CFR 412.1(c)(2)) 

– labels with special statements and claims (9 CFR

412.1(c)(3)) 

 FSIS will continue to require the submission of such

labels because they are more likely to present

significant policy issues that have health or economic

significance 

10 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Temporary Label Approval (9 CFR 412.1(c)(4)) 

 A temporary label approval may be granted for labels with a 

deficiency that does not pose any potential health, safety or 

dietary problems to the consumer or provide a company an 

economic advantage (9 CFR 412.1(f)(1)) 

 Temporary approvals typically do not to exceed 180 days, may 

be less and extensions can be granted on a case-by-case basis 

 Examples include: 

 Incorrect legend on label (e.g. poultry legend on a meat label) 

 Order of predominance of ingredients has changed 

 Nutrition values not rounded in accordance with FSIS regulations 

11 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Religious Exempt (9 CFR 412.1(c)(1)) 

Religious-exempt product (poultry) does not receive the mark of 

inspection and, therefore, deviates from the general labeling 

requirements for meat and poultry products 

Poultry processed in accordance with: 

 Buddhist religious beliefs (head and feet remain on eviscerated 

poultry) 

 Confucian religious beliefs (poultry is not eviscerated, head and 

feet intact) 

 Islamic (or Halal) religious beliefs (poultry is eviscerated, headon, with or without the feet intact, in ready-to-cook form) 

12 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Export Labels Bearing Labeling Deviations (9 CFR 412.1(c)(2)) 

 Exports of U.S. meat and poultry products occur under 

agreements between the U.S. government and foreign 

governments 

 Includes ensuring that any changes made to labels on meat and 

poultry products are allowed per the importing country’s laws (9 

CFR 317.7 and 381.128) 

 Most labels marked “for export only” bear labeling deviations 

that cannot be used domestically must be sketch approved by 

LPDS 

 412.1(c)(2) allows for export only labels with only changes to the 

net weight in metric units and required features entirely in a 

foreign language to be approved generically 

13 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Special Statements and Claims (9 CFR 412.1(e)) 

 Detailed list of special statements and claims requiring 

LPDS approval and examples of claims eligible for 

generic approval is available on FSIS website 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/bf170761-33e3-4a2d-8f86-

940c2698e2c5/Comp-Guide-Labeling-Evaluation-Approval.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 

 List will be periodically updated to reflect commonly 

asked questions regarding special statements and claims 

14 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Special Statements and Claim Examples 

 Natural claims, e.g. “All Natural”, “100% Natural” 

 Negative Claims, e.g., “no milk,” “no preservatives” 

 Statements that identify a product as “organic” 

 Front of Pack (FOP) nutrition statements, e.g., “0 grams trans 

fat per serving” 

 Claims of the use of non-genetically engineered ingredients 

 Health claims defined in 21 CFR Subpart E, e.g. dietary

saturated fat and cholesterol and risk of coronary heart 

disease (21 CFR 101.75) 

 Claims regarding meat and poultry production practices (e.g., 

claims regarding the raising of animals such as “no antibiotics 

administered” or “vegetarian fed”) 

NOTE: Additional information regarding special statements and claims is available in Appendix 1 in the

FSIS Compliance Guidance for Label Approval found at: 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/bf170761-33e3-4a2d-8f86-940c2698e2c5/Label- Approval-Guide.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 15 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Factual Statements and Claim Examples: Generic Approval Permitted 

 Some factual statements and claims do NOT require submitting for 

approval and are approved generically under 9 CFR 412.2(b) 

 Examples include: 

 Allergen or contains statements, e.g., “contains (name of ingredient)” 

 AMS Grading (USDA Prime, Choice, Select) 

 Flavor profiles (teriyaki flavored) 

 Foreign language on domestic products 

 Geographic claims (refer to 9 CFR 317.8(b)(1)) 

 “Hand crafted,” “handmade” claims 

 Kosher and Halal claims (excludes certified claims) 

 “New,” “Now,” and “Improved” claims 

NOTE: Additional information regarding factual statements and claims is available in Appendix 2 in the FSIS Compliance 

Guidance for Label Approval found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/bf170761-33e3-4a2d-8f86-

940c2698e2c5/Label-Approval-Guide.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 16 
Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Safe Handling Instructions This product was prepared from inspected and passed meat and/ 

ot pouttry.Sotne food products may con~ln bacteria thatcoukt 

cause illness if the product is mishandled Of cooked improperly. For your protection, follow dle:Se safe handling instructions. 

R Keeprefrigeratedo,frozen. LJ Thaw r1 refrigerator or nicrowave. 

a;....,.,. _ Keep raw meat and poultry sepam1e from Olher foods. 

~ ~~r-y;;~~=~~ttry. 

A'tt 

1{ A-tu rA-t * 

Special Statements and Claims: Sketch Approval Required 

A Good Win! Farms© 

est 2010 

Without Added Antibiotics 

Barn Roaming, Never Confined to a Lot 

Grass Fed 

Organic 

Special 

Statements 

and Claims 

Distributed By: 

20101Beltsville Rd 

Sunnyside, MD 12345 

Certified Organic by 

LPDD Organic 

Certifying 

*Minimally Processed, No 

Artificial Ingredients 

Keep Refrigerated 

Net Weight: 48 oz (3 lbs) 

17 
 

CERTIFIED HALAL BY THE HOUSTON HALAL ALLIANCE 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Special Statements and Claims: Sketch Approval Required 

All 

Natural* Chhhhhh Khhhhh

Serving suggestion 

Packed for: House of Kabob, Houston, TX 77252 

Grilled White Chicken Chunks 

on a wooden skewer 

Ingredients: chicken breast, 

salt, pepper 

Fully Cooked 

*Minimally Processed, no artificial ingredients 

Special 

Statements 

and Claims 

Keep Refrigerated Net Wt. 32 oz. (2 lbs.) 

18 
 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Statements and Claims: Generic Example 

NEW! 

Chhhhhh Khhhhh

Packed for: House of Kabob, Houston, TX 77252 

Grilled White Chicken Chunks 

on a wooden skewer 

Ingredients: chicken breast, 

salt, pepper 

Fully Cooked Factual 

statements 

and claims 

Serving suggestion 

Keep Refrigerated Net Wt. 32 oz. (2 lbs.) 

19 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Types of Label Approval 

Sketch 

 Label review process by LPDS 

 Printer’s proof or equivalent that is

sufficiently legible to clearly show all 

labeling features, size, and location 

 May be hand drawn, computer generated 

or other reasonable facsimile 

 Must clearly reflect and project the final

version of the label 

 Specific categories of labels require sketch

approval 

 Sketch approved labels reviewed by LPDS

are either “approved” or “approved as 

modified” 

 A “Sketch” label is the concept of a label 

while “Final” label is the label that is 

applied to product before distribution in 

commerce 

NOTE: Establishments are responsible for ensuring final

labels applied to product are in compliance with FSIS

regulations, including making modifications noted by

LPDS during sketch review 

Generic 

 The approval of labeling or 

modifications to labeling prior 

approved by the Agency without 

submitting such labeling to FSIS for 

sketch approval 

 Requires that all mandatory labeling 

features are in conformance with FSIS 

regulations 

 Although not submitted to FSIS for 

approval, generically approved labels 

are approved by being in compliance 

with applicable regulations 

NOTE: FSIS Inspectors do not generically approve labels. 

Establishments do not generically approve labels. FSIS 

approves labels through generic labeling regulations. 

20 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Labeling Records 

 Establishments are required to keep records of all labeling 

 Labeling record must include: 

– Final label applied to product 

– Product formulation 

– Processing procedures 

– Supporting documentation, including prior sketch approval from LPDS (if applicable) 

 Required records prescribed by 9 CFR 320.1(b)(10), 381.175(b)(6), and 412.1 

 The final rule added the requirement establishments maintain as part of the 

labeling record, supporting documentation needed to show that the label is 

consistent with the Federal meat and poultry regulations and policies on 

labeling as described in 9 CFR 412.1 

 Labeling record for any label generically approved must include a complete 

copy of the original LPDS approval (if the original required LPDS approval) 

21 
 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Points of Clarification 

 FSIS Inspectors do not generically approve labels 

 FSIS in-plant inspection personnel will continue to 

conduct in-plant label verification activities 

 Labels will be generically approved if they meet the 

criteria listed in 9 CFR 412.2(b) 

 Establishments do not generically approve labels. 

Generically approved labels are approved by FSIS and 

display all applicable mandatory features in compliance 

with federal regulations 

22 
 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Points of Clarification 

 Generic approval regulations do not apply to egg products 

 Proposed rule published expanding the generic labeling criteria

for processed egg products 

 Generic approval regulations also do not apply to exotic

species under voluntary inspection 

 All labels for exotic species products must be approved by LPDS,

including any changes to sketch approved labels (e.g. buffalo

jerky) 

 Amenable products with exotic species used as an ingredient

may be generically approved if they do not fall into any of the

four categories of labels requiring LPDS approval (e.g. bison 

jerky, beef added) 

23 
Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Label Submission and Approval 

System (LSAS) 

24 
 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Label Submission and Approval System 

 LSAS is the electronic submission system for label 

applications 

 To get an LSAS account, requires a USDA 

eAuthentication account with a verified identity 

 Integrates and implements a secure electronic label 

application process for establishments to submit label 

applications and appeals 

 Enrollment and use instructions at 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatorycompliance/labeling/labeling-procedures/label-submission-andapproval-system/lsas 

25 
 

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Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Paper Label Applications 

 Still accepted by LPDS 

 Longer wait time because of additional processing steps 

 Use FSIS Form 7234-1 

 Instructions and tips for paper label submission found at: 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/90be18ef-db69-4b51-81cf1f1ec7e1014e/LSAS-Integration-Paper-LabelApplications.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 

26 
 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Labeling Procedure 

 All labels are evaluated within LSAS 

 Entered 2 ways 

 Entered electronically by company or designee 

 Paper copies scanned by LPDS (slower) 

 Labels returned due to errors or missing 

information are resubmitted for follow up 

evaluation 

 “Resubmittals” are automatically assigned to the 

top of the review queue in LSAS 

27 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

First and Second Priority Labels 

First Priority 

 Labels which require LPDS 

evaluation as per 9 CFR 

412.1: 

– Temporary labels 

– Religious-Exempt product 

– Labels for Export bearing 

labeling deviations 

– Labels bearing special 

statements or claims 

 Reviewed in the order in 

which they are received 

Second Priority (Voluntary Evaluation) 

 Labels which do not require 

LPDS evaluation as per 9 CFR 

412.2 

 Establishments may request 

voluntary evaluation by LPDS 

of generically approved 

labels 

 Applications for voluntary 

evaluation will be placed in a 

second priority queue and 

will take longer to be 

reviewed 

28 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Generic Label Advisor (GLA) 

 LSAS tool to assist submitters in determining whether a label is 

eligible for generic approval 

 Generic labeling regulations (9 CFR 412.2) incorporated into the 

GLA 

 Submitter responds to a series of questions 

 Based on the responses, GLA determines if the label can be 

generically approved 

 LSAS will generate a certificate that can be included in the 

submitter’s labeling records 

 May be included as supporting documentation in the 

labeling record 

 Is not required for labels to be generically approved 

 Accuracy of the information generated by the GLA is 

based upon the answers provided by the submitter 

29 
 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Extraordinary Circumstances continued 

 FSIS will conduct expedited label evaluations under the 

following extraordinary circumstances: 

 when misbranded product has been retained (“tagged”) by inspection 

program personnel in an official establishment or 

 when a temporary label approval is needed to remove an 

unforeseeable impediment to movement of meat, poultry or egg 

products 

 Applications must be identified as an extraordinary 

circumstance and must explain why an expedited evaluation is 

needed 

30 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Extraordinary Circumstances 

 Special note on final product labels “Tagged” for labeling noncompliance 

 Final label must be brought in to compliance by correcting the noncompliance 

 Requests for the temporary use of final labels not in compliance with FSIS 

regulations and policies must be submitted to LPDS for review. (Emergency 

reviews may be requested in this instance.) 

 Labels that may be generically approved and are voluntarily 

submitted for review do not qualify as an extraordinary 

circumstance 

 Any label that may be generically approved does not require LPDS 

approval to enter commerce, therefore emergency review will not 

be granted 

31 
Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Streamlining Label Submission 

Process 

32 
 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

FSIS Response to Increase in Volume of Labels 

LPDS has allocated more resources towards label 

approval 

several staff in training 

 dedicated hours every day for label review 

LPDS will plan another update to the label approval 

guideline to include more examples of the types of

changes that can be made by generic approval 

“Tips for Faster Label Approval Process” published 

biweekly in the FSIS Constituent Update 

33 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Industry Strategies for Streamlined Submissions 

 Submit complete information, legible labels, and label images

that are large enough to be reviewed. 

Orient pages in the same direction to minimize the need for LPDS

to reorient pages in the application 

 Include only information required to support information on the

label 

 Missing documentation will likely result in a returned application 

 Including excessive documentation results in unnecessary delays for

LPDS reviewers 

Submit applications via LSAS instead of paper applications 

Use askFSIS to introduce new and novel claims and obtain 

LPDS feedback 

34 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

“Blanket” Approval 

 Blanket approval allows certain information to be added to other products 

without having to submit each individual label bearing the same type of 

information for approval 

 Refers to an approval that covers multiple labels or product lines 

– e.g. Front of Pack nutrition statements, Certified State programs 

 Application for a blanket approval includes: 

– completed application form 7234-1 

– copy of at least one of the product labels 

– attachment that indicates a list of products or line of products to 

which the same information will be applied, e.g. FOP nutrition 

35 
 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

“Blanket” Approval Examples 

 An establishment produces 50 types of frozen meals. The establishment intends to add 

a Front of Pack (FOP) statement for all of the products that will identify the number of

calories and grams of protein. Instead of submitting 50 label applications, the

establishment can submit a complete label and label application for one of the products

and indicate in an attachment that the FOP format/statement will be added to all 

products produced at the establishment. 

 A label is submitted for an organic chicken breast with no antibiotics added. Attached 

to the label application is a list of additional cuts i.e. chicken thigh and/ or chicken 

wings. This is a blanket approval, since all of the cuts of the chicken will be approved

through one label approval. 

 Labels for an entire line of beef products were approved with a “no MSG” claim. The 

establishment wants to add a “grass fed” claim to all the beef product labels in the line.

Instead of submitting separate applications for each of the individual products, the

establishment should submit a request for blanket approval for one of the products and 

indicate that the grass fed claim will be applied to all beef products. 

36 
 

360mg SAT FAT SODIUM 

~ .. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Blanket Approval: Example 

In this example, if the establishment references in the application that the FOP 

statements will be applied to other products: 

 Calories, saturated fat and sodium values may be removed or updated 

generically on other products to match the nutrition values for each individual 

product 

 Any new FOP statements (e.g. protein, sugar) must be submitted to LPDS for 

approval 

Per 1/5 pizza 

Pepperoni Pizza 

Keep Refrigerated Chloe’s House of Pizza, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 37 
 

COOKED 

Excellent Source 

of Protein 

Chicken Nuggets 

BREADED STAR SHAPED CHICKEN BREAST 

WITH RIB MEAT 

KEEP FROZEN 

NET WT. 5 LBS (2.26kg) 

Nutrition Facts 

About 25 servings per container 

Serving size 5 pieces (88g) 

Amount por s ervi ng 

Calories 230 

%Daily Value• 

Total Fat 13g 20% 

Sallxated Fat 3g 15% 

Trans Fat Og 

Cholesterol 40mg 13% 

Sodium 480mg 20% 

Total Carbohydrate 14g 5 % 

Dietary Fiber 3g 16% 

Total Sugars 0g 

Includes 0g Added Sugars 0 % 

Protein 12g 24% 

Vitamin D Omcg 0% 

CalaumOmg 0% 

lronO 5mg 4% 

Potassium 0mg 0% 

• Tht "- OailJ' Value (OV) tells you how much a nutrient in 

a at"'9ng or rood contributH to a daltydi1t 2,ooo 

calories a day ls used fot general nutrition advice. 

Tolreck Inc. 

2123 Orange Drive, 

Almond Ave., GA 00612 

INGREDIENTS: Chicken 

breast with rib meat, 

water, whole wheat 

flour, contains 2% or 

less of the following: 

dried garlic, corn flour, 

salt, spices, natural 

flavoring. 

Breading set in 

vegetable oil. 

CONTAINS: Wheat. 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Blanket Approval: Example 

38 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Modifications to Sketch Approved Labels with Special Statements 

and Claims 

 Once a label is approved with a special statement or claim, changes can be

made generically that are unrelated to the special claim, e.g.,: 

 brand name, net weight, updating nutrition facts values, serving sizes (must be

based on RACCs or longstanding appetizer RACC) and in some cases formulation

changes 

 Changes are generically approved when they do not impact the special

claim: 

 removing ingredients, changes in the order of predominance of ingredients; 

 changes to the form of the product (e.g. link and pattie form); and 

 changes to brand names, vignettes, logos, and design are examples of changes

that are generically approved 

 With LPDS sketch approval can add to other labeling at Est. 

 Front of Pack nutrition statements if same format as on the approval 

 May transfer label approval to another Est. Excludes organic products 

39 
Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Resources 

40 
 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book 

 Available online at: 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/larc/Policies/Labeling_Policy_Book_082005.pdf 

 Provides additional guidance regarding FSIS standards 

outside of the regulations 

 Used in conjunction with the Meat and Poultry 

Inspection Regulations and FSIS Directives and Notices 

 Composite of policy and day-to-day labeling decisions 

 Claims found in the Policy Book may be approved 

generically except: natural claims, negative claims 

41 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Special Statements and Claims vs. Factual Statements and Claims 

 Compliance Guidance for Label Approval was updated in 

August 2017 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/bf170761 

-33e3-4a2d-8f86-940c2698e2c5/Label-ApprovalGuide.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 

 Provides detailed list of “special” statements and claims 

requiring LPDS approval = 1st Priority 

 Provides examples of common factual statements and 

claims eligible for generic approval = 2nd Priority 

 List will be updated periodically to reflect commonly 

asked questions regarding special statements and claims 

42 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Contacting FSIS for Guidance 

 2007-FSIS launched askFSIS, designed to help answer technical and 

policy-related questions from IPP, industry, consumers, other 

stakeholders, and the public 

 Interactive application provides in-depth answers to technical 

questions 

 Contains a knowledge base of searchable questions and answers 

 Allows visitors to seek answers to questions about topics such as: 

exporting, importing, labeling, sampling, and other inspectionrelated policies, programs, and procedures 

 LPDS highly recommends industry use askFSIS to inquire about 

new and novel claims instead of LSAS 

43 
 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

FSIS Guidelines for: 

• Documentation Needed to Substantiate Animal Raising Claims, September 2016: 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/6fe3cd56-6809-4239-b7a2-bccb82a30588/RaisingClaims.pdf?MOD=AJPERES will 

be revised soon based on comments 

• Label Approval, August 2017 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/bf170761-33e3-4a2d-8f86-940c2698e2c5/Label-Approval-Guide.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 

• Label Submission Checklist: 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/labeling/labeling-procedures/label-submission-checklist 

• LSAS User Guide: 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/45a29f18-52cc-4012-8790-ab7ea9f980c9/LSAS-Industry-User-Guide- 063015.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 

• FSIS Constituent Update Archives: 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/meetings/newsletters/constituent-updates 

• Information Required for Requesting a Temporary Approval: 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/labeling/labeling-procedures/requesting-temporary- approval/requesting-temporary-approval 

• Ten Most Commonly Asked Labeling Questions: 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/labeling/labeling-procedures/ten-most-commonly-asked- labeling-questions 

• See the 10 Most Common Mistakes at the FSIS web site 

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/labeling/labeling-procedures/ten-most-common- 44

mistakes-made-on-a-label 
Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

 

 

 

Food Safety and Inspection Service: 

Questions? Contact LPDS 

Submit a Question 

to askFSIS 

• http://askfsis.custhelp.com 

• Questions are sent to a main portal, triaged, and 

assigned to the correct expert based on subject matter. 

Call: 

• Main: 301.504.0878 

• Distribution Unit: 301.504.0883 

Labeling 

Procedures 

• Labeling_Procedures/index.asp 

• http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies