Annual Plan

Fiscal Year 2024

Food Safety and Inspection Service
Message From the Administrator ....................................................................................................2

Acronyms............................................................................................................................................3

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................4

Performance Management and Governance .................................................................................5

Enterprise Risk Management...........................................................................................................5

Goal 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health....................................................6

Goal 1 Strategic Plan (SP) and Annual Plan (AP) Performance Measures, Targets, and 

Expected Accomplishments for FY 2024.....................................................................................6

Goal 2: Transform Inspection Systems, Policies, and the Use of Scientific Approaches To 

Improve Public Health ......................................................................................................................8

Goal 2 SP and AP Performance Measures, Targets, and Expected Accomplishments for 

FY 2024.........................................................................................................................................8

Goal 3: Achieve Operational Excellence........................................................................................10

Goal 3 SP and AP Performance Measures, Targets, and Expected Accomplishments for 

FY 2024........................................................................................................................................10

FSIS Partnerships and Collaborations ...........................................................................................12

Goal 1 Partnerships and Collaborations ...................................................................................12

Goal 2 Partnerships and Collaborations ...................................................................................12

Reference Links.................................................................................................................................14

Contents
2

I am honored to present the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Annual Plan of the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection 

Service (FSIS). This is the second annual plan released under the FSIS 

2023–2026 Strategic Plan and highlights the activities we intend to 

conduct in FY 2024. Our mission to protect public health by preventing 

illness from meat, poultry, and egg products can only be achieved when 

we have a clear path forward. This plan acts as a guide for that path and 

provides a detailed framework for our Agency to follow as we strive to 

fulfill our three strategic goals: prevent foodborne illness and protect 

public health; transform inspection systems, policies, and scientific 

approaches; and achieve operational excellence.

Employee performance has been aligned closely with this plan to 

create accountability and to help ensure we achieve our strategic 

goals. FSIS closely tracks and monitors progress towards achieving 

these goals through our Enterprise Governance process. One of our 

top priorities, reducing foodborne illnesses attributable to Salmonella

in poultry products, will continue to be a focus for FY 2024, as we work on the Salmonella framework rulemaking and the final 

plan for breaded stuffed raw chicken. We will also prioritize strengthening compliance with food safety statutes and regulations, 

raising public awareness around foodborne illness outbreaks, and expanding consumer education efforts. Collaboration with 

stakeholders and public health partners to innovate and enhance our food safety inspection systems and procedures will remain 

a mainstay of our work to achieve our public health goals.

The most current science, data, and technology will be used to inform our decision making, innovate our laboratory methods, 

and evaluate the effectiveness of our approaches to verifying that regulated industry meets food safety requirements. At the 

same time, we will ensure accessibility to our data to further promote transparency. By enhancing our business infrastructure 

and technology capabilities, we will provide the most advanced platforms for our Agency’s work.

We will continue our focus on the more than 5,500 small and very small establishments we regulate by hosting forums for 

communication, providing outreach, and publishing additional guidelines designed to assist these establishments in meeting 

regulatory requirements.

The goals set in this plan can only be achieved through the hard work and dedication of our FSIS employees. They are the 

backbone of our Agency and the driving force behind any accomplishments we achieve. Our priority will be to fill missioncritical positions through recruitment aimed at building a talented and diverse workforce, and leverage the use of retention 

incentives, awards, and workplace flexibilities to retain employees. We will continue to provide the tools and training employees 

need to advance their professional careers, as well as our food safety mission, and create a culture of inclusivity. Through open 

communication between leadership and employees and translation of employee feedback into measurable improvements in the 

workplace environment, we will make FSIS the best place to work in the Federal Government.

As we move through FY 2024, this Annual Plan will direct our daily work and help us to realize our vision that everyone’s food

is safe.

Sincerely,

Paul Kiecker

Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Message From

the Administrator
ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution

ANPR Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

AP Annual Plan

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

eCert Electronic Certification

EG Enterprise Governance

EPIA Egg Products Inspection Act

ERM Enterprise Risk Management

FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration

FMIA Federal Meat Inspection Act

FOIA Freedom of Information Act

FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service

FY Fiscal Year

HMSA Humane Methods of Slaughter Act

IAFP International Association for Food Protection

IFORC Interagency Foodborne Outbreak Response Collaboration

NACMCF National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

NACMPI National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection

NRTE Not-Ready-To-Eat

PHIS Public Health Information System

PHV Public Health Veterinarian

PPIA Poultry Products Inspection Act

SP Strategic Plan

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

WGS Whole Genome Sequencing

Acronyms

3
Introduction

4

FSIS is the public health regulatory agency within USDA responsible for ensuring that domestic and imported meat, poultry, and 

egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. FSIS ensures food safety through the authorities of the Federal Meat 

Inspection Act (FMIA),1 the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA),2 and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA),3 as well as humane 

animal handling through the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA).4

FSIS employs approximately 9,000 employees who collectively conduct a broad range of food safety activities to achieve FSIS’ 

overall vision—that everyone’s food is safe. The Agency’s employees comprise a frontline workforce at federally regulated 

establishments, FSIS laboratories, and in-commerce facilities nationwide, as well as nonfrontline technical, administrative, and 

support staff.

The strategic goals, outcomes, and objectives set forth in this plan provide an integrated framework for understanding how FSIS is 

fulfilling the Agency’s mission and addressing emerging public health challenges.

FSIS Vision

Everyone’s food is safe.

FSIS Mission

Protect public health by preventing illness from meat, poultry, and egg products.

The FSIS Vision and Mission—underpinned by FSIS’ Core Values: Accountable, Collaborative, Empowered, and Solutions-Oriented—

were designed to move the Agency closer to accomplishing its goals and the associated outcomes and objectives presented in the 

table below.

1

Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA, P.L. 90-492).

2

Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA, P.L. 90-492).

3

Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA, P.L. 91-597).

4

Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA, P.L. 85-765).
5

Performance Management and Governance

FSIS’ FY 2024 Annual Plan (AP) highlights activities the Agency intends to conduct in FY 2024. FSIS aligned its annual executive 

and employee performance plans to the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan and the FY 2024 Annual Plan. By tying accountability to 

performance, the Agency has positioned itself to achieve its FY 2024 objectives and targets. 

FSIS will implement this FY 2024 AP by using its performance management framework, which includes monitoring and reporting 

processes underpinned by the Agency’s Enterprise Governance (EG) process. Executives and senior staff regularly lead, track, 

and monitor progress to ensure the Agency meets intended targets and makes timely and necessary adjustments to key 

activities or approaches. FSIS uses its EG process to present public health, inspection, and other mission-related initiatives to 

executive leadership—particularly those that involve multiple Agency programs and have Agency-wide implications—to optimize 

collaborative decision making and successful implementation. All new mission critical investments, major projects, proposed 

policy initiatives, and significant changes to existing policies complete the Agency’s EG process.

Within that process, three governance boards, and their associated work groups and committees, provide analyses, evaluations, 

and recommendations regarding program enhancements and prioritization. Through this process, the Agency continues to 

comply with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policy-making Act of 2018. Ensuring that strategic initiatives, metrics, and 

desired outcomes are coordinated, science-based, and data-driven will foster stronger and more results-driven performance. 

Enterprise Risk Management

Consideration of the Agency’s risk is an important part of the strategic planning process. It drives development and refinement 

of goals, outcomes, and objectives. Enterprise risk management (ERM) informs the development of annual and strategic plans by 

ensuring the Agency incorporates activities that reduce risk and promote mission achievement. Risk data are also considered during 

performance monitoring, as new and emerging risks may require FSIS to modify strategic activities to mitigate risks in a timely 

manner. In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Circular A-123, Management’s Responsibility for Enterprise Risk 

Management and Internal Control, FSIS developed an ERM Risk Profile and aligned those risks to the Agency’s strategic objectives 

and supporting line-of-business objectives. In addition to tracking risks, FSIS staff and senior leadership implement and monitor 

risk-mitigative actions on a quarterly basis as part of the Agency’s performance monitoring process. This risk governance structure 

promotes strategic alignment and consistent oversight of risk management activities across the organization.
6

Strategic Plan 

Objective

SP/AP Performance 

Measure FY 2024 Target Expected Accomplishments

1.1.1 Strengthen 

Compliance With Food 

Safety Statutes and 

Regulations

(AP) 1-1 Implement new/

update existing sampling and 

verification projects

5 projects

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS will implement new/update existing 

sampling and verification projects to strengthen 

compliance with food safety statutes and 

regulations. The Agency expects to implement 

five new or updated projects in FY 2024.

1.1.2 Achieve 

Pathogen Reduction

(SP) 1.1.2.1 Reduction in the 

proportion of poultry samples 

with Salmonella serotypes 

commonly associated with 

human illness

6% reduction from baseline

(Desired Trend: Down)

FSIS intends to publish the final plan for breaded 

stuffed raw chicken products and continue work 

on the Salmonella framework rulemaking to 

limit Salmonella in poultry products. FSIS will 

also continue to monitor Salmonella serotypes 

commonly associated with illness (Enteriditis, 

Infantis, and Typhimurium) and provide outreach 

to establishments to limit these serotypes in 

poultry products.

*Note: This measure is a key performance indicator 

for the Agency.

Goal 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and 

Protect Public Health

To support FSIS’ first strategic goal, the Agency is focused on reducing illnesses from all regulated products. In FY 2023, FSIS 

released a proposed framework for a new strategy to control Salmonella contamination in poultry products and reduce 

foodborne illnesses attributed to these products. The framework under consideration consists of three proposed components 

focused on reducing the Salmonella load entering an establishment, enhancing establishment process control monitoring 

and FSIS verification, and implementing enforceable final product standards. The Agency held a public meeting in early FY 

2023 to solicit stakeholder input on the framework and intends to publish a proposal in FY 2024. In addition to its focus on the 

Salmonella framework, FSIS published a proposed determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant at levels of 1 colony 

forming unit/gram in the chicken components of a specific product—not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products. 

The proposed determination is a significant first step in the Agency’s broader effort to control Salmonella contamination 

in all poultry products. After considering all comments received in response to the proposal, FSIS intends to publish a final 

determination related to these particular raw chicken products in FY 2024.

FSIS will focus on utilizing a “One Health” approach to enhance and promote food safety. A One Health approach recognizes the 

interconnection between the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment and is a collaborative effort between the 

human health, veterinary health, and environmental health communities to achieve optimal health outcomes for both animals 

and people. FSIS will incorporate One Health thinking into new and existing processes and will coordinate with its public health 

partners to strive for healthy animals, a healthy environment, and safe food.

In addition to its responsibility to ensure safe products, the Agency has the authority to ensure that product labels are truthful 

and not misleading to consumers. FSIS’ new work on labeling will include updates to the nutrition labeling regulations, new 

regulations on “Product of USA” and similar origin claims, and updated animal-raising claims guidance. These new regulations 

and revised guidance will better ensure that consumers are getting what they pay for when they purchase FSIS-regulated products.

FSIS will also continue to increase public awareness of recalls, foodborne illness, policies, and safe food-handling practices 

through a broad range of communication channels to empower consumers to make safe decisions about handling, preparing, 

and storing their food.

Goal 1 Strategic Plan (SP) and Annual Plan (AP) Performance Measures, Targets, and Expected 

Accomplishments for FY 2024
7

Strategic Plan 

Objective

SP/AP Performance 

Measure FY 2024 Target Expected Accomplishments

1.1.3 Assure Labeling 

Is Truthful and Not 

Misleading

(SP) 1.1.3.1 Implement new 

policies to clarify labeling 

claims and other labeling 

information for consumers

1 policy

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS is expecting to publish updated animal 

raising claims guidance in FY 2024.

1.2.2 Enhance 

Collaborative 

Response to 

Foodborne Illness 

Outbreaks and Public 

Health Incidents

(AP) 1-2 Implement new 

processes to support a One 

Health approach

1 new process

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS will incorporate and implement a One Health 

approach regarding foodborne illness outbreak 

investigations and other public health hazards or 

incidents impacting FSIS. 

(AP) 1-3 Increase collaboration 

with One Health partners

1 new partner

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS will work with the Department of Homeland 

Security’s Health, Food, and Ag Resilience 

Directorate to develop a standard operating 

procedure for responding to public health 

incidents impacting FSIS operations.

1.2.3 Raise Consumer 

Awareness of Food 

Safety

(AP) 1-4 Demonstrate impact 

of food safety messaging on 

consumers

Milestone measure5

See the Expected 

Accomplishments section for 

milestone targets.

FSIS is expanding our food safety messaging to 

more Americans through a national campaign 

that includes media outlets, social media, and/or 

public service announcement placements.

5

Milestone measure: a specific task within a project used to measure the progress toward the end goal.
8

Strategic Plan 

Objective

SP/AP Performance 

Measure FY 2024 Target Expected Accomplishments

2.1.1 Advance and 

Adopt Innovative 

Regulatory Policies 

and Inspection 

Verification 

Procedures 

(SP) 2.1.1.1 Increase in estimated 

health benefits from reduced 

illnesses based on FSIS policies

$2 million in benefits

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS will track the estimated health benefits from 

averted illnesses based on FSIS policies, including 

published final rules, performance standards, or 

policy statements. The Agency set a target to reach 

$2M in public health benefits by the end of FY 2024.

(AP) 2-1 Number of new or 

updated guidance materials that 

provide industry the most current 

information on Agency policies or 

science

6 guidance materials

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS will continue to publish guidance documents 

to help industry, especially small and very small 

establishments, meet regulatory requirements. 

Guidance documents may include guidelines, 

infographics, models (e.g., Hazard Analysis and 

Critical Control Point models), hazard guides, or 

other documents that are intended to help industry 

comply with FSIS regulations.

(AP) 2-2 Number of updates to PHIS 

to improve task management

4 updates to PHIS task 

management

(Desired Trend: Up)

PHIS updates implemented in FY 2024 will lead 

to improved optimization of task assignments for 

inspection program personnel and allow for greater 

flexibility to manage and change task assignments, 

based on current priorities.

2.1.2 Foster 

the Adoption of 

Advanced Scientific 

Techniques

(AP) 2-3 Improve microbiological 

and chemical residue laboratory 

methods

2 methods

(Desired Trend: Up)

By the end of FY 2024, FSIS will aim to have two new 

methods ready to implement. Once implemented, 

these methods can improve FSIS’ ability to quantify 

Salmonella, receive serotyping results more 

rapidly, extend FSIS’ capability to detect additional 

environmental hazards, or improve laboratory 

efficiency and reduce resources required to analyze 

samples.

Goal 2: Transform Inspection Systems, 

Policies, and the Use of Scientific 

Approaches To Improve Public Health

In FY 2024, FSIS will continue to update Agency policies and procedures to ensure that the best available science and data inform 

Agency decisions, particularly those aimed at improving public health. As a part of updating policies and procedures, FSIS has 

contracted with a team of worker safety experts to study the impact of increased line speeds on worker safety at poultry and swine 

establishments. FSIS intends to use the worker safety study to inform next steps, including possible future rulemaking. FSIS will 

continue to publish guidelines to assist small and very small establishments in meeting regulatory requirements based on the 

latest science and data.

The Agency will also continue to investigate advanced scientific techniques and new laboratory methods in FY 2024. To continue 

improving sampling programs, Agency analysts are incorporating inspection task data from FSIS’ Public Health Information 

System (PHIS) into routine commodity analyses to better inform regulatory verification procedures. Additionally, FSIS will 

continue to develop new sampling strategies that allocate sampling tasks to establishments based on risk to public health.

Goal 2 SP and AP Performance Measures, Targets, and Expected Accomplishments for FY 2024
9

Strategic Plan 

Objective

SP/AP Performance 

Measure FY 2024 Target Expected Accomplishments

2.2.1 Improve 

the Integrity, 

Accessibility, and 

Utility of Data

(AP) 2-4 Reduction in the FSIS 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

backlog

50% reduction in 

backlogged FOIAs

(Desired trend: Down)

FSIS will continue to reduce the FOIA backlog. The 

Agency is working to make more information and 

data publicly available on the FSIS external website. 

In addition, the Agency continues to proactively 

engage with requesters to educate them on the 

types of records that FSIS has, to help them make 

more informed FOIA requests.

2.2.2 Strengthen 

Data Analyses and 

Evaluations

(AP) 2-5 Improve public data assets 5 data assets

(Desired trend: Up)

FSIS will continue releasing high quality data assets 

of interest to the public by enhancing existing data 

assets and generating new data assets. To enhance 

data assets, FSIS plans to move away from manually 

intensive dataset creation processes by utilizing an 

automated data pipeline with built in data quality 

checks. The Agency plans to include analysis white 

papers to ensure that stakeholders are empowered 

data consumers, capable of understanding the 

origin and meaning of the various data elements, 

in addition to the proper means of examining the 

data.

By improving existing data assets, and posting new 

data assets, particularly those related to inspection 

activities other than laboratory sampling results, 

FSIS will provide data of interest to the public, and 

continue to support the Agency’s commitment to 

transparency. The public release of this data will 

also significantly reduce the FOIA workload.

2.2.3 Optimize the 

design of sampling 

programs for 

decision making

(AP) 2-6 Optimize the design of 

establishment sampling strategies

Milestone measure

See the Expected 

Accomplishments section 

for milestone targets.

FSIS will determine which establishment-specific 

data, in addition to sampling positivity rates, 

are most beneficial in allocating FSIS samples to 

establishments. Using this information, FSIS will 

produce a data simulation that incorporates a 

risk-based sampling approach to produce betterinformed sample allocations. Results of the data 

simulation and recommendations for the proposed 

model structure and feature selection will be 

documented for internal review.
10

Strategic Plan 

Objective

SP/AP Performance 

Measure FY 2024 Target Expected Accomplishments

3.1.1 Expand 

Recruitment and 

Increase Retention 

for Mission-Critical 

Positions.

(SP) 3.1.1.1 Percentage of 

mission-critical frontline 

inspection positions that 

are fille

95.5% of mission-critical 

positions filled 

(Desired Trend: Up)

Redesign of the public health veterinarian (PHV) position 

should make better use of veterinary expertise within the 

Agency and reduce veterinarian vacancies to help achieve 

the FY 2024 target of 95.5%. Separately, FSIS is working on 

a formalized accelerated promotion for Food Inspectors 

that was previously limited to Consumer Safety Inspectors. 

Relocation incentives are being added for work restructuring 

to reinvest talent where operationally feasible. 

3.1.2 Enhance 

Employee Training 

and Professional 

Development

(SP) 3.1.2.1 Percent 

knowledge gain in key 

occupations

85% knowledge gain

(Desired Trend: Up)

Knowledge gain is defined as the level of knowledge an 

employee gains through training. It is measured by the 

employee’s post-training test score and their supervisor’s 

evaluation of their knowledge gained 6 months post-training. 

Training includes the Food Inspector (livestock), Food 

Inspector (poultry), Inspection Methods, and PHV courses. In 

FY 2024, the goal will be to expand upon the growth of prior 

years and further develop employees through training and 

professional development.

Goal 3: Achieve Operational Excellence

FSIS is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a high performing, diverse workforce prepared to advance the Agency’s 

food safety mission. The Agency cultivates an inclusive work environment that prioritizes trust, empowerment, innovation, 

transparency, and accountability. Upholding these commitments involves filling mission-critical positions expeditiously, 

strengthening job readiness by investing in the development of employees and leaders, and creating a welcoming environment 

where employees are motivated to perform at their best. To attract and retain top talent, FSIS will take a data-driven, informed 

approach to understand the root causes of attrition and leverage the use of recruitment, retention, and relocation incentives, as 

well as referral awards, achievement awards, and workplace flexibilities.

The Agency strives to foster a culture of lifelong learning through which employees have opportunities to strengthen their 

leadership, functional, and technical skills and pursue courses for professional enrichment through the tuition reimbursement 

program and continuous development initiative. FSIS will proactively identify and address barriers to underrepresentation and 

strive to maintain a workforce that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The Agency will broaden applicant 

pools using talent acquisition, recruitment, and outreach tools and build partnerships with educational institutions, affinity 

groups, and military organizations. FSIS will ensure hiring managers are educated on hiring best practices and how to recruit 

diverse candidates.

To optimize how the Agency fulfills its core regulatory functions, FSIS will enhance its business infrastructure and technology 

capabilities by deploying secure, customer-centric digital platforms. These enhancements will increase data accessibility, reduce 

barriers to information sharing, and improve the user experience for external and internal stakeholders. In FY 2024, FSIS will 

focus on four priorities: expanding government-to-government exchange of import and export certification data via electronic 

certification (e-Cert), increasing the number of countries that accept digital signatures for PHIS export certificates, developing 

a web-based employee achievement awards system, and automating and centralizing storage and analysis of FSIS employee 

workplace safety and injury data to strengthen the Agency’s occupational health and safety program.

The Agency will continue to conduct acquisition planning and market research for all acquisitions to promote fair and open 

competition and maximize the use of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s set-aside procurement to level the playing field for 

underrepresented small businesses. FSIS will continue to review its business processes and implement actions to manage risk, 

strengthen internal controls, and keep its data secure. By optimizing delivery of mission support services, the Agency will be well 

positioned to fulfill its food safety regulatory oversight and inspection responsibilities more effectively and efficiently.

Goal 3 SP and AP Performance Measures, Targets, and Expected Accomplishments for FY 2024
11

Strategic Plan 

Objective

SP/AP Performance 

Measure FY 2024 Target Expected Accomplishments

3.1.3 Ensuring 

Equal 

Opportunity, Civil 

Rights, Diversity, 

Equity, Inclusion, 

and Accessibility 

in the Work 

Environment 

(SP) 3.1.3.1 Percentage 

of Alternative Dispute 

Resolution (ADR) 

acceptance rate 

for informal Equal 

Employment Opportunity 

complaints

62% ADR acceptance rate

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS will market the benefits and availability of the ADR 

program through training, webinars, newsletter articles, 

ADR brochures, and discussions with aggrieved parties as 

a means of resolving disputes at the earliest stage possible. 

The Agency will assess the workforce’s awareness of the 

ADR program through annual reviews. During the reviews, 

employees will be asked about their familiarity with the 

Agency’s ADR program; responses will be assessed to 

determine if increased marketing of the program is needed 

throughout the Agency. 

(SP) 3.1.3.2 Percentage of 

supervisors and managers 

who complete Diversity 

and Inclusion training

95% of supervisors and 

managers who complete 

training

(Desired Trend: Up)

The Agency will continue to educate FSIS supervisors and 

managers on equal employment opportunity, civil rights, 

and diversity and inclusion through mandatory training. To 

ensure completion, the Agency will calculate and report the 

percentage of supervisors and managers who complete the 

mandatory training.

3.2.1 Enhance 

Effectiveness 

and Efficiency 

of Key Business 

Processes

(SP) 3.2.1.1 Number of 

calendar days in process 

time (average days) from 

tentative job offer to the 

date a selectee enters on 

duty

45 days

(Desired Trend: Down)

FSIS continues to seek ways to streamline pre-employment 

processes. The Agency expects the recent EmpowHR/

USA Staffing integration to decrease the time-to-hire by 

automating a portion of the onboarding process, thus 

decreasing how many steps it takes to process a hiring 

action.

3.2.2 Improve 

Customer Service

(SP) 3.2.2.1 Percentage of 

FSIS employee satisfaction 

with the training services 

FSIS offers throughout the 

Agency

83% employee satisfaction

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS will focus on employees’ satisfaction with all training 

services offered through the Center for Learning, AgLearn, 

and the FSIS “Help Resources”, as well as the continuing 

education and tuition reimbursement programs. In FY 2024, 

the goal will be to expand upon the growth of prior years and 

further enhance internal training services.

3.2.3 Transform 

Business 

Infrastructure 

and Information 

Technology

(SP) 3.2.3.1 Number of 

additional countries 

for which exports are 

processed through the 

PHIS Export module

3 countries

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS expects to add three countries to the PHIS export 

component. Countries not yet added to PHIS are generally 

higher volume and have higher certification complexity, 

requiring greater engagement with countries and internal 

coordination in FSIS.

(SP) 3.2.3.2 Number 

of countries for which 

imports and the number of 

countries for which exports 

are processed through 

eCert

1 country

(Desired Trend: Up)

FSIS expects to add one country to FSIS’ import e-Cert 

exchange, or one country to FSIS’ export e-Cert capability.
12

FSIS Partnerships and Collaborations

Goal 1 Partnerships and Collaborations

FSIS will focus on several partnerships and collaborations related to Goal 1 throughout FY 2024, four of which are highlighted in 

this AP. Additional details for all FSIS partnerships and collaborations are provided in the FSIS FY 2023–2026 Strategic Plan.

FSIS-FDA Joint Oversight of Human Food Produced Using Animal Cell Culture Technology

FSIS and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) entered into a formal agreement on March 7, 2019, to establish a framework 

for how Federal regulatory agencies will ensure the safety and proper labeling of food produced using animal cell-culture 

technology (i.e., “cell-cultured” products), as well as the inspection of establishments involved in the production of these products. 

In FY 2024, FSIS and FDA will publish updates to the interagency agreement that reflect lessons learned since 2019. Further, in FY 

2024, FSIS plans to publish a proposed rule to establish specific labeling requirements for cell-cultured meat and poultry.

PulseNet

PulseNet is a national laboratory network, consisting of 83 laboratories in 7 U.S. regions and headquartered at the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that connects foodborne illness cases to detect outbreaks. PulseNet uses whole genome 

sequencing (WGS) to detect outbreaks early and thereby improve public health. This network helps investigators determine the 

source of an outbreak, alert the public sooner, and identify gaps in food safety that would not otherwise be recognized. FSIS is a 

strong collaborator and participant within the network and contributes WGS data and metadata that assist in identifying illnesses 

associated with FSIS-regulated commodities. Beginning in early FY 2024, the FSIS Eastern Laboratory will volunteer to be a testing 

laboratory for the migration of CDC PulseNet to PulseNet2.0, which is the newest bioinformatics initiative led by CDC and is 

anticipated to go live in the latter part of FY 2024.

Pre-Harvest Engagements

One partnership that demonstrates FSIS’ efforts to incorporate a One Health approach to food safety is the Farm to Fork Food 

Safety Working Group, whose goals are to reduce pathogen transmission between animals and humans; enhance information 

exchange; improve understanding of cross-industry perspectives; and increase routine communications among Federal agencies 

and industry representatives. Participants represent USDA (FSIS and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [APHIS]), 

CDC, State departments of public health and agriculture, and livestock and poultry industries. Working with APHIS, FSIS will 

coordinate a face-to-face meeting with the working group in FY 2024 and reinitiate routine discussions between Federal agencies 

and food industry representatives regarding food safety issues.

Interagency Foodborne Outbreak Response Collaboration

The Interagency Foodborne Outbreak Response Collaboration (IFORC), chartered in 2013, represents an important effort to 

improve coordination of Federal foodborne-outbreak responsibilities of FSIS, CDC, and FDA. Through IFORC, the agencies work to 

improve coordination of epidemiological activities concerning multistate foodborne outbreak detection, hypothesis generation, 

hypothesis testing, food vehicle identification, control measures to prevent illnesses and deaths, root cause analyses, and the 

dissemination of information on identified food safety systems gaps, to inform efforts to prevent future outbreaks. In FY 2024, FSIS 

will chair the IFORC steering committee and plans to hold a face-to-face meeting.

Goal 2 Partnerships and Collaborations

FSIS will focus on several partnerships and collaborations related to Goal 2 throughout FY 2024, four of which are highlighted in 

this AP. Additional details for all FSIS partnerships and collaborations are provided in the FSIS FY 2023–2026 Strategic Plan.

National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection

The primary role of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) is to advise the Secretary of 

Agriculture concerning State and Federal programs with respect to meat and poultry inspection, food safety, and other matters 

that fall within the scope of the FMIA and the PPIA. Committee members include representatives from academia, State and 

local government officials, public health organizations, industry, consumers, and consumer organizations. In FY 2023, NACMPI 
13

Committee members met to develop recommendations to advise FSIS on ways to enhance outreach efforts for both new 

and existing small and very small establishments. In FY 2024, FSIS plans to determine which outreach recommendations can 

be implemented to best promote equity and bring economic opportunity to underserved communities and individuals and 

determine potential methods for implementation.

National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) provides impartial, scientific advice, and/or 

peer reviews to Federal food safety agencies for use in the development of an integrated national food safety system approach 

that assures the safety of domestic, imported, and exported foods. In FY 2024, the Committee will address the Cronobacter spp. 

in powdered infant formula charge from FDA, and FSIS anticipates presenting a new charge related to the benefits of genomic 

characterization of pathogens. In addition, FSIS will announce both new and reappointed members by the Secretary of Agriculture 

in the first quarter of FY 2024 (October–December 2023) and renew the NACMCF Charter in the second quarter of FY 2024 

(January–March 2024).

FSIS Research Priorities and Research Collaborations

The FSIS research priorities review panel annually determines and communicates FSIS research priorities and shares these 

through the FSIS Research Priorities webpage, meetings with food safety research organizations, and updates in FSIS’ weekly 

newsletter. It also shares its priorities directly with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service; the USDA, Economic Research Service; 

and the USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. In FY 2024, FSIS will continue to prioritize work on Salmonella detection 

and enumeration methods that will inform the Salmonella framework, as well as address data gaps identified in guidelines to 

further assist small and very small establishments, including the FSIS cooking guideline for meat and poultry products and the 

FSIS stabilization guideline for meat and poultry products. FSIS will continue to identify research needs in FY 2024 and share them 

with appropriate researchers within the academic community, as noted above. This will encourage researchers to apply their 

expertise to address FSIS priorities, as well as encourage research funding agencies to consider FSIS priorities when developing 

research opportunities.

International Association for Food Protection

FSIS collaborates with the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) to share data and information concerning meat, 

poultry, and egg products. In FY 2024, FSIS will continue to participate in IAFP to, among other things, serve on professional 

development groups and program committees, and share knowledge and expertise in specified forums. In addition, FSIS will 

submit abstracts for IAFP symposia and technical talks, as appropriate, and participate in the IAFP Annual Meeting.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its 

Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited 

from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual 

orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political 

beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases 

apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative 

means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should 

contact the responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination 

Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, from any USDA office, by calling 

(866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone 

number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for 

Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be 

submitted to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of (2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

 the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov

 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C.

 20250-9410; or

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. September 2023

FSIS Core Values

Accountable

FSIS holds itself accountable in fulfilling its regulatory mission and in 

serving the public interest.

Collaborative

FSIS actively promotes and encourages collaboration within our Agency 

and with our partners to prevent illness and protect public health.

Empowered

FSIS employees are empowered with the necessary training, tools, and 

approaches they need to make and carry out informed decisions that 

protect public health and promote food safety.

Solutions-Oriented

FSIS is committed to deploying effective, evidence-based solutions to 

ensure that the Nation’s food supply is safe.