UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

WASHINGTON, DC

FSIS NOTICE

13-11

3/28/11

LEVEL OF IN-PLANT TARGETED TESTING FOR CHEMICAL RESIDUES

I.

PURPOSE

To instruct inspection program personnel (IPP) on level of targeted testing of chemical residues to provide an incentive for establishments to provide producer information and have effective residue control programs in establishments slaughtering cull dairy cows and bob veal calves.
II.

BACKGROUND

A. On November 28, 2000, the Agency published a Federal Register Notice entitled Residue Control in a HACCP Environment (70 FR 70809) http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OP PDE/rdad/FRPubs/00-043N.htm). This Federal Register Notice informed establishments that the Agency will not treat violative residue findings as noncompliances provided an establishment meets the following criteria: 1. The establishments HACCP plan includes residue controls that constitute the best available preventive practices for slaughter establishments. 2. The establishment implements those controls effectively. 3. The establishment supplies FSIS with information about residue violators. 4. The establishment follows the finding of a violative residue with appropriate corrective actions. B. FSIS has recently observed that certain establishments have multiple residue violations because they repeatedly purchase livestock from the same sources and have not effectively used the historical information about the residue violations from these sources to reassess the adequacy of their hazard analysis. In addition, some establishments do not provide producer information to FSIS when presenting livestock for slaughter. Therefore, FSIS is providing clarity as to which verification procedures it will perform, depending upon the design of the residue control program. FSIS is increasing its verification focus on those establishments that do not have residue control programs designed to provide sufficient producer information at the time of slaughter.
DISTRIBUTION: Electronic NOTICE EXPIRES: 4/1/12 OPI: OPPD

III.

IN-PLANT INSPECTION PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES

A. IPP are to perform in-plant screening tests using either Fast Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST) or Kidney Inhibition Swab (KIS) test as instructed in FSIS Directive 10,220.3, Using the Fast Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST) to Detect Antimicrobial Drug Residues in Cattle and Swine. IPP are to perform in-plant screening tests at increased frequencies of all animals presented for slaughter in establishments that do not provide all proper identification of producer, including but not limited to, the name and physical address to IPP at the time of slaughter and maintain all identification information identifiable with the carcass until completion of post-mortem inspection. The establishment may provide the producer information to IPP any time up to post mortem inspection, although providing this information is not a regulatory requirement. If the establishment does not provide the producer information to IPP by post mortem inspection, IPP are to begin the increased rate of testing as described below. To determine the increased rate of testing IPP will: 1. Test a minimum of two animals each time the establishment receives animals from any unknown source and 2. Use professional judgment to determine whether additional sampling is necessary including up to 100% testing of the lot from unknown source based on the effectiveness of the establishments residue control program at reducing or eliminating the occurrence of further FSIS violative findings. 3. Continue increased testing rate as determined in III, A. 1 and 2 on all dairy cows and bob veal from unknown sources. 4. Conduct these increased rates for dairy cows and bob veal from any unknown source on normal appearing animals in addition to testing of animals with pathologies. For bob veal, this increased testing is in addition to the rate described in 9 CFR 310.21 . B. As an incentive to establishments providing producer information, as described in III, A, FSIS will sample for residues at the routine rate consistent with FSIS Directive 10,220.3, Section VI. Submit any questions about these new procedures to askFSIS at: http://askfsis.custhelp.com/

Assistant Administrator Office of Policy and Program Development