The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced changes to its beef manufacturing trimmings verification testing programs for E. coli, and is asking for comments on a planned redesign of its E. coli verification testing for beef manufacturing trimmings by Nov. 19. Both actions are in response to a report by the Office of the Inspector General (here). According to FSIS, the changes to the sampling program will increase both the collection rate and the likelihood that it will find positive samples. The proposed redesign of the FSIS E. coli program would make the program more risk-based and enable FSIS to calculate statistical prevalence estimates for E. coli in raw beef manufacturing trimmings.

On Sept. 17 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails Sept. 17 announcing changes to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

The Agricultural Marketing Service issued a final rule amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances to revise, effective Oct. 2, the entry allowing use of methionine in organic production. The final rule revises the entry to reduce the maximum levels of synthetic methionine allowed in organic poultry production. The changes permit the use of synthetic methionine at the following maximum levels per ton of feed after Oct. 1, 2012: laying and broiler chickens -- 2 pounds; turkeys and all other poultry -- 3 pounds. AMS also corrected the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers for the allowable forms of synthetic methionine.

On Sept. 14 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails Sept. 14 announcing changes to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for Sept. 7-13.

On Sept. 13 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods is inviting member countries and observer organizations to participate in a working group to prepare a discussion paper and project document for new work on guidelines for the establishment of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) or other residue limits of veterinary medicines in honey. The goal of the working group is to have several rounds of comments, with the final document to be circulated by the Codex Secretariat by the end of April 2013. Member countries and observer organizations interested in participating in the working group should provide the name(s), official title, and email address of their representative(s) to Dr. Jack Kay (j.kay@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk) by Oct. 15.

A working group of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables on food additives associated with desiccated coconut, table olives, and certain processed fruits and vegetables is requesting any further comments on the Food Additive Provisions for Processed Fruits and Vegetables: Additional Provisions, said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The provisions will be included in selected adopted standards and standards under development, prior to the upcoming session next month. Member countries and observer organizations interested in submitting comments should send them to the U.S. Secretariat for CCPFV (ccpfv@fsis.usda.gov) and USCodex@fsis.usda.gov), with a copy to the Codex Secretariat (codex@fao.org) by Sept. 30.