TRADE ALERT
New Requirements for Impo=
rts of
Food Products Containing Small Amounts of Meat or Poultry
(April 24, 2009)
On March 31, 2009, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal =
Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Veterinary Services (VS) clarified t=
he
import permit process for USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) exempt=
ed
food products that contain less than two percent of meat and/or poultry
ingredients.
Importers of FSIS-exempted products originating from countries with
animal health restrictions must apply for and obtain a VS-permit from APHIS=
. Beginning June 22, 2009, a USDA im=
port
permit (VS Form 16-6A) will be reviewed by FSIS to ensure the meat and/or
poultry ingredient originates from an eligible source. (i.e., prepared under FSIS inspecti=
on or
in a foreign establishment certified by a foreign inspection system approve=
d by
FSIS). Importers will be requ=
ired
to provide documents directly to FSIS to support the origin of the meat and=
/or
poultry ingredient used in the food products listed on the permit
application. If the documented
evidence is not submitted the food product will not be eligible for importa=
tion
and a permit will not be issued.
FSIS can be contacted via e-=
mail
at: permits@fsis.usda.gov or by telephone at
At a minimum, FSIS will need=
supporting
documents that (1) evidence the proportion of meat, poultry, or processed e=
gg
product ingredients in the product formulation, (2) identify the country of
origin of these ingredients, (3) identify the establishment where these
ingredients were processed, (4) provide assurance that no other meat, poult=
ry,
or processed egg product ingredient is incorporated into the finished produ=
ct,
(5) evidence that the product labeling does not represent the finished prod=
uct
as a meat food product, poultry food product, or egg product, (6) identity =
of
the facility where the finished product, as represented by the labeling, was
manufactured, and (7) for products labeled as flavored, provide assurance t=
hat
such products do not actually contain a meat, poultry, or processed egg
ingredient. In addition, the valid APHIS Permit Number (or Application
Reference Number) needs to be referenced on all supporting documentation.
APHIS has announced a 90-day=
extension
for any permit that expires on or before June 22, 2009. At the end of the extension, the
importer will be required to submit a new application, which will comply wi=
th
the new conditions.
Please contact your Deringer representative for further assistance.
A.N. Deringer, Inc. is a = leading provider of international logistics services including Freight Forwarding, Warehousing & Distribution, Customs Brokerage, Logistics Consulting, Ca= rgo Insurance, and Meat Inspection. Deringer combines over 30 US offices with a global agency network to facilitate the movement of cargo throughout the wo= rld.