For example, the results from residue samples taken from meat and poultry carcasses previously took five to seven days to reach the inspector. Today, results are communicated overnight by e-mail and are accessed by inspectors and plant management the next day. FAIM has not only benefited federal inspectors, but state inspectors as well. In the past 20 months, seventy-three percent of state meat and poultry inspectors have begun participating in the FAIM program. Approximately 1,000 FAIM computers have been delivered to state inspection programs and 1,000 state inspectors have received training.
Inspectors can also request assistance through e-mail or fax.
Over the last two years, FAIM has received the highest ratings during information technology reviews within the Department of Agriculture.