FSIS Eliminates 'Minimal' And 'Limited' Inspections

April 6, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is immediately suspending all 'limited' and 'minimal' inspection programs and will now inspect all processing establishments at least once per shift.

FSIS Notice 22-07, "Elimination of 'Minimal' and 'Limited' Inspections," instructs all district managers to "implement this clarified policy in an expeditious manner." The notice also officially cancels Part 6 of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Manual.

FSIS implemented 'limited' and 'minimal' inspection programs in the 1970s due to staffing shortages. The programs were implemented at qualified processing plants, with inspections performed on a less than per-shift basis. FSIS acknowledges the programs didn't serve its obligation to visit each establishment at least once per shift.
Reprinted from meatingplace.com

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