VT Directive 5740.2 COOPERATIVE INTERSTATE SHIPMENT (CIS) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT APPLICATION PROCESS
This directive describes the application procedures for Vermont Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) program’s inspected establishments to apply for the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (program).
The CIS program allows selected establishments inspected by the MPI program to sell inspected meat and poultry products in commerce between any State, Territory or the District of Columbia.
The CIS program allows selected establishments inspected by the MPI program to sell inspected meat and poultry products in commerce between any State, Territory or the District of Columbia.
VT Directive 5420.1 Rev 10 FOOD DEFENSE TASKS AND THREAT NOTIFICATION RESPONSE PROCEDURES FOR THE OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS
This directive provides instructions to conduct food defense activities assigned to inspection program personnel (IPP) at meat and poultry establishments. Food defense activities include performing food defense tasks and observing and reporting food defense vulnerabilities.
IPP will no longer perform four food defense tasks per month, but instead will perform one comprehensive food defense task per quarter. These changes will improve efficiency for IPP and will enhance data quality by providing more specific data on food defense practices being implemented by establishments.
IPP will no longer perform four food defense tasks per month, but instead will perform one comprehensive food defense task per quarter. These changes will improve efficiency for IPP and will enhance data quality by providing more specific data on food defense practices being implemented by establishments.
VT Directive 5220.3 Rev 1 ISSUANCE OF A TEN-DAY LETTER FOR INACTIVE OPERATIONS
This Directive sets out the actions that a State Director or designee may take with an establishment that is not operating or has not responded to the Meat Inspection Service (MIS) inspection personnel inquiries as to the establishment’s operations status and intentions. This procedure is provided as a tool that State Directors or designees may use to ensure that MIS resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible. This directive also provides instructions to update the instructions concerning the Public Health Information System (PHIS).
VT Directive 5100.5 PUBLIC HEALTH REGULATIONS AND FSIS RESPONSE TO ELEVATED PUBLIC HEALTH REGULATION NONCOMPLIANCE RATES
This directive summarizes how FSIS determines the annual updated list of Public Health Regulations (PHRs). Based on FSIS data analysis, PHRs are associated with positive pathogen results or enforcement actions. PHR noncompliance rate data are used to inform as to when additional evaluation is necessary to assess an establishment’s operational and compliance history. This directive also instructs in-plant inspection program personnel (IPP) and the Meat Inspection Chief on how to respond to the Public Health Information System (PHIS) Early Warning Alerts. Finally, this directive provides information on when the Office is to schedule a Public Health Risk Evaluation (PHRE) to determine if a Food Safety Assessment (FSA) is necessary.
KEY POINTS:
• Each year, FSIS updates a list of PHRs, based on data analysis, to allow FSIS to focus on specific public health related regulations that may best inform FSA prioritization
• FSIS uses the PHR noncompliance rate data to determine cut points for a PHR Early Warning Alert and PHRE
• When IPP receive a PHR Early Warning Alert through PHIS, they are to review and evaluate the establishment’s noncompliance history, identify noncompliance trends, and work with their supervisors to determine what actions are necessary
• When the Office is informed by FSIS that an establishment met or exceeded the cut point for PHRE scheduling, the Office is to assign an Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officer (EIAO) to perform a PHRE to aid in determining whether a FSA is necessary
KEY POINTS:
• Each year, FSIS updates a list of PHRs, based on data analysis, to allow FSIS to focus on specific public health related regulations that may best inform FSA prioritization
• FSIS uses the PHR noncompliance rate data to determine cut points for a PHR Early Warning Alert and PHRE
• When IPP receive a PHR Early Warning Alert through PHIS, they are to review and evaluate the establishment’s noncompliance history, identify noncompliance trends, and work with their supervisors to determine what actions are necessary
• When the Office is informed by FSIS that an establishment met or exceeded the cut point for PHRE scheduling, the Office is to assign an Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officer (EIAO) to perform a PHRE to aid in determining whether a FSA is necessary
VT Directive 5100.3 Rev 4 ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTION DECISION-MAKING AND METHODOLOGY
The VT Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets (VAAFM) has statues and policies in place to ensure that all actions are supportable and properly documented. VAAFM has differing roles and responsibilities versus the defined roles in USDA FSIS.
The purpose of this directive is to explain the system and procedures used in the Meat Inspection Office for documenting and maintaining case files supporting administrative enforcement and other actions taken under the authority of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and VT State Statutes and regulations. The VT Meat inspection program maintains electronic case files on the VAAFM server. VAAFM does not Inspect egg products. In this directive, the term Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officer (EIAO) also means EIAO trained Public Health Veterinarians (PHV). The term District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) also includes DVMS-trained PHVs.
The purpose of this directive is to explain the system and procedures used in the Meat Inspection Office for documenting and maintaining case files supporting administrative enforcement and other actions taken under the authority of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and VT State Statutes and regulations. The VT Meat inspection program maintains electronic case files on the VAAFM server. VAAFM does not Inspect egg products. In this directive, the term Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officer (EIAO) also means EIAO trained Public Health Veterinarians (PHV). The term District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) also includes DVMS-trained PHVs.
VT Directive 5060.1 HYGIENE AND BIOSECURITY PRACTICES
This directive instructs inspection program personnel (IPP) to comply fully with the sanitary and hygiene procedures and biosecurity measures put in place by an official meat or poultry establishment that these facilities also require of all of their employees. These instructions are in VT Notice 17-15, Program Personnel Hygiene and Biosecurity Practices.
VT Directive 5020.1 Rev 1 VERIFICATION ACTIVITIES FOR THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY IN MEAT AND POULTRY ESTABLISHMENTS
This directive provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) on how they are to verify that a meat or poultry establishment is following the procedures outlined in its protocol(s) for new technology or the procedures agreed to as a condition of a waiver of regulatory requirements. This directive has been revised to provide verification instructions for IPP at establishments with waivers, including those participating in Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP) and at establishments following protocols for new technology. It also includes new instructions for documenting tasks performed in the Public Health Information System (PHIS).
KEY POINTS:
Defines new technologies and protocols
State-inspected establishments are eligible to use new technologies
Explains waivers of regulatory requirements and procedures for IPP verification of such waivers
KEY POINTS:
Defines new technologies and protocols
State-inspected establishments are eligible to use new technologies
Explains waivers of regulatory requirements and procedures for IPP verification of such waivers
VT Directive 5010.1 Rev 1 FOOD SAFETY RELATED TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION DURING WEEKLY MEETINGS
Inspection program personnel (IPP) should discuss topics at the weekly meeting with establishment management that are pertinent to an establishment’s food safety system and that could affect public health. Accordingly, this directive stresses the importance of the weekly meetings and the need for those meetings to address any pertinent topics related to food safety. To assist IPP, this directive provides a general list of food safety related topics that they should consider discussing with the establishment during weekly meetings.
This directive is being reissued to include information related to conducting weekly meetings in establishments operating under the Public Health Inspection System (PHIS), to include as possible topics for discussion during the weekly meeting: 1) establishment pathogen test results and 2) issues of concern to establishments also under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jurisdiction; to update information links and modify Section VII regarding the preparation of the Memorandum of Interview (MOI); and to add a section addressing Supervisory responsibilities.
This directive is being reissued to include information related to conducting weekly meetings in establishments operating under the Public Health Inspection System (PHIS), to include as possible topics for discussion during the weekly meeting: 1) establishment pathogen test results and 2) issues of concern to establishments also under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jurisdiction; to update information links and modify Section VII regarding the preparation of the Memorandum of Interview (MOI); and to add a section addressing Supervisory responsibilities.