Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act of 2015

To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act to provide that meat, poultry, and egg products containing certain pathogens or contaminants are adulterated, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act of 2015 2. Products containing certain pathogens or contaminants adulterated (a) Meat and meat food products Section 1(m) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. 601(m) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting or a microbial pathogen that is associated with serious illness or death which may render it injurious to health (B) by inserting or such a microbial pathogen added substance (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: (B) if it bears or contains a strain of a microbial pathogen, such as Campylobacter or Salmonella, that is resistant to not fewer than two critically important antibiotics for human medicine (as specified in the World Health Organization’s list of Critically Important Antimicrobials); ; and (C) in subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by subparagraph (A)) by striking clause (B), (C), or (D) this subparagraph or subparagraph (C) or (D) (b) Poultry and poultry products Section 4(g) of the Poultry Products Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. 453(g) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting or a microbial pathogen that is associated with serious illness or death which may render it injurious to health (B) by inserting or such a microbial pathogen added substance (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: (B) if it bears or contains a strain of a microbial pathogen, such as Campylobacter or Salmonella, that is resistant to not fewer than two critically important antibiotics for human medicine (as specified in the World Health Organization’s list of Critically Important Antimicrobials); ; and (C) in subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by subparagraph (A)) by striking clause (B), (C), or (D) this subparagraph or subparagraph (C) or (D) (c) Eggs and egg products Section 4(a) of the Egg Products Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. 1033(a) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting or a microbial pathogen that is associated with serious illness or death which may render it injurious to health (B) by inserting or such a microbial pathogen added substance (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: (B) if it bears or contains a strain of a microbial pathogen, such as Campylobacter or Salmonella, that is resistant to not fewer than two critically important antibiotics for human medicine (as specified in the World Health Organization’s list of Critically Important Antimicrobials); ; and (C) in subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by subparagraph (A)) by striking clause (B), (C), or (D) this subparagraph or subparagraph (C) or (D) 3. Testing for certain pathogens or contaminants required (a) Meat and meat food products The Federal Meat Inspection Act is amended by inserting after section 9 ( 21 U.S.C. 609 9A. Testing for certain pathogens or contaminants required Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall, for purposes of examinations or inspections conducted under this Act, establish sampling protocols and testing procedures using the methods and technologies the Secretary determines are most appropriate— (1) to determine if meat and meat food products are adulterated within the meaning of paragraph (1) or (2)(B) of section 1(m); and (2) to prevent the use in commerce of any product that is determined to be so adulterated. . (b) Poultry and poultry products The Poultry Products Inspection Act is amended by inserting after section 8 ( 21 U.S.C. 457 8A. Testing for certain pathogens or contaminants required Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall, for purposes of examinations or inspections conducted under this Act, establish sampling protocols and testing procedures using the methods and technologies the Secretary determines are most appropriate— (1) to determine if poultry and poultry products are adulterated within the meaning of paragraph (1) or (2)(B) of section 4(g); and (2) to prevent the entry into or flow or movement in commerce of, or the burdening of commerce by, any such product that is determined to be so adulterated. . (c) Egg and egg products The Egg Products Inspection Act is amended by inserting after section 7 ( 21 U.S.C. 1036 7A. Testing for certain pathogens or contaminants required Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall, for purposes of examinations or inspections conducted under this Act, establish sampling protocols and testing procedures using the methods and technologies the Secretary determines are most appropriate— (1) to determine if eggs and egg products are adulterated within the meaning of paragraph (1) or (2)(B) of section 4(a); and (2) to prevent the entry into or flow or movement in commerce of, or the burdening of commerce by, any such product that is determined to be so adulterated. . 4. Regulations; effective date (a) Regulations Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regulations to carry out the amendments made by this Act. (b) Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to meat and meat food products, poultry and poultry products, and eggs and egg products entering into interstate or foreign commerce on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act of 2015 This bill amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act to revise the definition of "adulterated" to make explicit the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) authority to issue a recall of meat, poultry, and egg products that contain microbial pathogens associated with serious illness or death or are resistant to two or more antibiotics critically important for human medicine. The bill requires USDA to establish sampling protocols and testing procedures necessary to determine if meat, poultry, and egg products are adulterated under this bill and to prevent the entry, flow, or movement of those products into commerce.