SEMA_________________________________

SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 620777; Oviedo, FL 32762 Phone: 407-365-5661

FSIS Reaffirms Equivalence of China’s Poultry Processing System

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) re-affirmed the equivalence of the food safety inspection system for processed poultry in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which was originally established in 2006. This will enable the PRC to certify plants to export processed poultry product to the United States.

While the PRC received approval to export processed poultry products to the United States, the raw poultry used for these products must originate in the United States or Canada. As of this writing, no companies in the PRC are certified to export processed poultry to the United States. FSIS is currently auditing the PRC’s slaughter inspection system. At this writing, no chickens raised or slaughtered in the PRC can be shipped to the United States.

Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule to define the term “gluten-free” for voluntary use in the labeling of foods. The FDA set the limit at 20 parts per million of gluten. This ruling also applies to products claiming "no gluten," "free of gluten" and "without gluten." Food makers will have a year after the rule was published (Aug. 5) to bring their labels into compliance.

STEC and Salmonella Conference

The Southeastern Meat Association (SEMA) is partnering with the North American Meat Association (NAMA) and 11 other industry groups to present the Control of Shiga-Toxin Producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella in Beef Processing Conference in Chicago, IL.

The conference will be held on September 18-19 at the Four Points by Sheraton O’Hare Airport, and is packed with information to help attendees to improve their establishments’ food safety programs. Topics include Salmonella Research, New Technologies and Resources in Pathogen Control, Updates from FSIS, Choosing Effective Beef Pathogen Interventions, Understanding Event Days and Disposition, Addressing STECs and Salmonella in HACCP Plans, and more…

The speakers at this conference include top experts from industry, government, and academia. For the complete conference program and registration, go to www.meatassociation.com.

OSHA Random Inspection Webinar

Southeastern Meat Association (SEMA) is partnering with the North American Meat Association (NAMA) to host an “OSHA Update: Preparing for Random Inspections” webinar on Thursday September 12 at 1 pm EDT / 10 am PDT. This webinar will cover the steps and best practices that can help prepare plants for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) random inspections and avoid costly penalties.

OSHA has recently increased random inspections at work sites likely to use highly hazardous chemicals, especially anhydrous ammonia. If your plant is not prepared for these random inspections, the likelihood of OSHA finding a safety violation increases, potentially leading to costly penalties. Speakers include Alaniz, Schraeder, Linker, Farris, & Mayes, LLP Associate Attorney James Cespedes, International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration Director of Government Lowell Randel, and International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration Technical Director Eric Smith.

Presentations will include:

• A discussion of OSHA’s focus on random inspections for companies using anhydrous ammonia in refrigeration, including an overview of OSHA regulations, the inspection process, and practical advice to dispute initial determinations and fines.
• A discussion on recent trends in OSHA inspections and enforcement, including findings from the Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program.
• A discussion of the standards and technical resources maintained by the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), as well as OSHA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements and code requirements.

This webinar is co-hosted by American Association of Meat Processors, American Meat Institute Foundation, Chicago Midwest Meat Association, Eastern Meat Packers Association, Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network, Southeastern Meat Association, and Southwest Meat Association. NAMA is offering this session at $49 per login for members of NAMA, AAMP, CMMA, EMPA, MICA, SEMA, and SMA, $99 for non-members, and $25 for students with a valid student ID. More information can be viewed under the Events section of the NAMA website at www.meatassociation.com.

Things to Ponder . . . . . . . . Speak kind words and you hear kind echoes.

Mechanically Tenderized Beef

FSIS is extending the comment period for the Federal Register proposed rule, “Descriptive Designation for Needle- or blade-tenderized (Mechanically Tenderized) Beef Products” until October 8, 2013. This is being done in response to two requests made by trade associations. The regulation can be viewed at http://goo.gl/AC1IBx

FSIS Directive 2500.3 8/29/13  Alternative LINCPASS (AltLinc) Card Program For Temporary Employees and Contractors

FSIS Notice 58-13 8/26/13  Collection and Shipment of Livestock Identification Devices to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

FSIS Notice 57-13 8/23/13  Responsibilities for Implementation of the Invoice Processing Platform

FSIS Directive 9000.8 8/15/13  Audits of the U.S. Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection System by Officials of Foreign Countries
FSIS Directive 7120.1 8/13/13  Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat, Poultry and Egg Products

FSIS Notice 53-13 8/12/13  Submission of Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Renewal Orders (ROs)

FSIS Notice 52-13 8/12/13  Level of In-Plant Targeted Testing For Chemical Residues in Cull Dairy Cows and Bob Veal Calves

FSIS Notice 51-13 8/12/13  2013 Yearend Closing

Docket No. FSIS-2008-0017 | PDF 8/9/13  Descriptive Designation for Needle- or blade-tenderized (Mechanically Tenderized) Beef Products; Extension of comment period.

Water Supply

Q.  All city water has to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Primary Drinking Water regulations. If an establishment uses a municipal water supply, is a city water bill acceptable documentation that the water meets the EPA requirements?

A.  No. A water report attesting to or certifying the potability of the municipal water supply, issued by the responsible State or local agency, is required because such documentation directly addresses the regulatory requirement. Water supply requirements are covered in the sanitation regulations in 9 CFR 416.2 (g)(1). These requirements are also addressed in FSIS Directive 5000.1, Revision 2, Amendment 1. It is the responsibility of the establishment to ensure that plumbing systems provide an adequate supply of potable water for processing and other purposes without adulterating product or creating insanitary conditions.

Association News

VC999 Packaging Systems was Honored with AAMP's F.W. Witt Supplier of the Year Award for Packaging Machine Quality & Service at the annual AAMP (American Association of Meat Processors) convention in Charleston, SC.  VC999, manufacturer of Innovative Packaging Machine Systems and Materials, has been given the prestigious honor of being the supplier of the year.  The award was accepted by VP of Sales, Jim Wright at the ceremony of peers and partners.

"VC999 has set the standard for Packaging Machine Quality and Service, and we are very proud of this honor. The fact is, we love our customers and their success is our success. They are why we are here every day."

"I am very happy and needless to say extremely proud of what Jim and the Sales team has accomplished over all these years in the marketplace." - Silvio Weder, President

VC999 is a global leader in the Design & Manufacture of Innovative Thermoforming, Tray Sealer, Flow Wrapper, and Chamber Machine Systems. Our highly experienced team of packaging consultants will be eager to design the right machine systems and the perfect product packaging materials for your operations.

NAMA opens new DC headquarters, North American Meat Association has moved from the Reston office to Washington, DC, and will officially take occupancy Tuesday, September 3.  
The new mailing address is:
North American Meat Association
1707 L Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

CALENDAR OF EVENTS