Source: USDA, 7/8/11

The agency announced today that it will expand and move ahead on the Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP) to help reduce Salmonella in raw meat and poultry products.

The voluntary, incentive-based program will allow participating establishments to operate under certain regulatory waivers in order to try new procedures, equipment or processing techniques to better control Salmonella. In return, SIP establishments collect product samples on each line during each shift of every day of production; establishments then use these samples to test for common foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and generic E. coli, and share this internal food safety data with FSIS.

"Prevention is the best way to protect consumers," said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. "This program will encourage innovation by the industry to make food safer while providing us with data and information we can use to protect public health."

The notice, posted today on the FSIS website and soon to publish in the Federal Register, announces several developments and changes regarding SIP, including allowing a limited number of establishments to operate with modified line speed as long as they participate in a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The notice also sets new deadlines for establishments currently operating with regulatory waivers to apply for the program, addresses comments previously received from stakeholders and invites further comments on SIP for 60 additional days.
 

Comments must be received on or before 60 days from publication in the Federal Register and may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be sent to the USDA FSIS Docket Clerk, Room 2-2127, George Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Mailstop 5474, Beltsville, MD 20705-5474. All comments must identify FSIS and docket number FSIS-2006-0034.