http://www.meatami.com American Meat Institute Tue, 6 Jan 2009 23:22:04 CST en-us http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45129 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45129 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:39:45 CST The Senate Agriculture Committee has set its confirmation hearing for former Gov. Tom Vilsack for... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45111 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45111 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:24:54 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released Notice 105-08, a reissuance of Notice 86-07, which details the sampling code procedures for its enhanced E. coli O157:H7 testing program for raw ground beef ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45004 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45004 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:26:52 CST The report of the U.S. Delegate, Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection Certification Systems, 17th Session, is now available ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45003 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/45003 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:24:55 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted presentations from the December 18 Enforcement Investigations and Analysis Officers meeting discussing walk-throughs ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44997 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44997 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:55:39 CST The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today signed the protocol ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44994 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44994 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:41:32 CST Mexico will resume imports from 20 of the 30 plants it suspended last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials told reporters yesterday ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44892 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44892 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:07:03 CST The American Meat Institute (AMI) today filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed this week in California that seeks to block enforcement of state law http://www.balancedfoodandfuel.org/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/44966 http://www.balancedfoodandfuel.org/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/44966 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:47:06 CST Wall Street Journal And we thought we'd seen everything. Along with Russia, Venezuela, Iran and the Dubai property market, add another name to the list of bubble economies hurt by the falling price of oil: the ethanol industry. And naturally, the ethanol lobby is looking for a bailout on top of its regular taxpayer subsidies. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44869 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44869 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:18:42 CST The United States Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is reviewing how it calculates ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44772 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44772 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:22:05 CST Despite predictions that international trade numbers will shrink in 2009 for the first time in 25 years, U.S. beef and pork exports continued to post strong growth in the 2008 ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44758 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44758 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:10:49 CST The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently submitted to the Federal Register an interim final rule making changes... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44598 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44598 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:48:58 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 97-08: Melamine Testing of Retail Meat and Poultry Products ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44582 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44582 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:21:42 CST The deadline to reserve rooms at a special rate for the AMIF Advanced Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop, to be held February 3-4, 2009 in Chicago, is fast approaching ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44560 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44560 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:25:33 CST Following an investigation into undercover footage obtained at the Hallmark plant in Chino, California, and released in early 2008, USDA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) concluded ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44512 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44512 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:20:44 CST U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has rejected a request from the Bush Administration to expedite a hearing to consider the proposed No-Match Rule ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44451 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44451 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:39:35 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued the following notices ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44364 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44364 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:37:25 CST New data show that U.S. beef exports to the European Union (EU) continue to grow, heralded as encouraging news in light of the problems in global financial markets ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44349 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44349 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:25:54 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 88-08, which provides updated information to FSIS ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44348 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44348 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:22:32 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has cancelled Directive 8000.2, "Activity Report of Compliance Program Field Offices ..." http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44338 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44338 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:09:04 CST The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44332 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44332 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:36:24 CST AMI and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) yesterday hosted an educational briefing and luncheon about ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44319 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44319 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:03:23 CST The Canadian government announced that it is seeking formal consultations with the United States regarding mandatory country... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44255 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44255 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:55:56 CST The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) semi-annual regulatory agenda is now available. This agenda provides ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44239 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44239 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:08:42 CST South Korea's three major discount retailers announced today in a joint press release that they will resume ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44237 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44237 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:15:50 CST The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) draft compliance guide for industry on the agency's regulations ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44201 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44201 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:02:44 CST The average cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is expected to be 6 percent higher this year ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44146 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44146 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:18:35 CST In an effort to measure and enhance the purchase experience at the 2009 Worldwide Food Expo, AMI is retaining analysis firm ethnoMetrics Inc. (EI). ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44056 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44056 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:19:59 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 5000.4, which instructs inspection personnel on how to perform ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44034 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44034 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:23:13 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 5500.2, Revision 3, which outlines the procedures ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44031 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44031 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:46:26 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released a revised directive (5420.4, Revision 5), which details the procedures that the Import Inspection Division of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) and FSIS field personnel are to follow ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44006 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/44006 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:16:22 CST On the 30th anniversary of the U.S. government’s ethanol subsidies, AMI and dozens of organizations representing the livestock sector, government watchdog groups, environmental advocates, hunger organizations, tax groups and retailers called on the next Administration ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43961 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43961 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:36:18 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 8080.1, Revision 5, which provides updated information ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43959 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43959 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:33:18 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 8080.3, which instructs personnel from FSIS, Office of Public Health Science on the procedures ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43877 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43877 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:17:36 CST The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently modified its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) Program's Web site ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43839 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43839 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:28:51 CST The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has added six new videos to its "Ask the Meat Science Guy" consumer education video series. AMIF unveiled the videos ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43838 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43838 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:25:49 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published Directive 12700.1 ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43710 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43710 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:37:38 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 80-08, which informs program personnel that they are to begin ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43709 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43709 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:03:43 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued new instructions (Notice 79-08) for multiple follow-up samples ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43707 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43707 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:36:20 CST The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued notice 78-08, which clarifies when District Office (DO) personnel are to schedule ... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43651 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43651 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:19:56 CST A proposal that would ban modern housing systems for egg-laying hens, veal calves and gestating sows by 2015 was approved Tuesday by California voters. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43495 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43495 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:41:35 CDT In response to questions that have arisen concerning FSIS Notices 17-07 and 18-07, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is providing new guidance to inspection program personnel on collecting samples of beef manufacturing trimmings and other raw ground beef and patty components for Escherichia coli (E. coli ) O157:H7 testing. In addition, this notice (77-08) provides new instructions for submitting samples to the laboratory for E. coli O157:H7 testing. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43494 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43494 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:37:39 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued Notice 76-08, which explains the conditions under which custom exempt products can be transported between custom exempt facilities. The notice also reiterates policies related to specified risk materials (SRMs) as defined in 9 CFR 310.22(a). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43392 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43392 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:03:04 CDT The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today published in the Federal Register a supplemental final rule, Safe Harbor Procedures for Employers who receive a No-Match Letter. 73 Fed. Reg. 63843). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43382 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43382 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:53:02 CDT USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service will move an important checklist on E. coli O157:H7 control in beef operations currently contained in Notice 65-07 into Directive 10,010.01, Microbiological Testing Program for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef Products and Raw Ground Beef Components and Beef Patty Components. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43379 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43379 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:12:29 CDT Meat industry injury and illness incidence rates now stand at the lowest level ever recorded, according to data recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) covering 2007 annual safety results. Overall, the meat industry's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable rates have improved by 72 percent since the industry adopted ergonomics guidelines in 1990 and made worker safety a non-competitive issue. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43354 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43354 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:47:12 CDT Though consumers are spending less on dining out, foodservice consultants at Technomic say that many are willing to spend more on "higher quality" menu items if they include premium ingredients. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43310 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43310 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:37:20 CDT The American Meat Institute, joined by seven other livestock and poultry organizations, this week wrote Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer objecting to comments he made that USDA would extend rural development loans to ethanol plants that bought corn at the higher prices that prevailed earlier this year. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43279 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43279 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:12:28 CDT The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has published a final rule that adds "swine contractors" to the list of regulated entities subject to specific regulations issued under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P & S Act) [7 USC § 181-229]. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43159 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43159 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:29:21 CDT The American Meat Institute today elected officers for the coming year during its annual business meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43109 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43109 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:31:03 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a draft guidance to the industry on the use of labels bearing an FSIS-approved N-60 E. coli O157:H7 testing claim. Such special label claims are voluntary. An establishment may use such claims when it demonstrates such E. coli O157:H7 testing claims are truthful and not misleading. FSIS needs to approve such claims before the establishment can use them on labeling. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43045 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/43045 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:56:06 CDT AMI this week released a new, consumer-oriented brochure to explain new country-of-origin information on meat packages and in retail meat cases. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42970 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42970 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:45:25 CDT An editorial by leading cancer researchers in the October 2008 Annals of Oncology challenged the 2007 World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) report conclusions and argued that media information generated by the group should have been more cautious and less definitive. The editorial was written by scientists with the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42897 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42897 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:13:19 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated Directive 7120.1, which provides inspection personnel with updated lists of substances that have been accepted since January 2000 as safe and suitable for use in the production of meat and poultry. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42839 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42839 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:03:48 CDT More than half of surveyed consumers think retailer prepared foods have greatly improved over the past three years, with more than 80 percent reporting buying at least one prepared meal from a retailer in the past month, according to a new report from foodservice consultants Technomic. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42799 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42799 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:26:27 CDT USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) will hold three Town Hall meetings on implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill during which members of the public can provide comments and recommendations related to the swine and poultry industries. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42685 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42685 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:30:36 CDT The American Meat Institute (AMI) in partnership with the National Renderers Association (NRA) will host a special web seminar November 13, 2008 at 2PM EST, to educate the meat industry about the final Feed Rule scheduled to take effect in April 27, 2009. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42605 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42605 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:30:20 CDT AMI joined more than 50 other trade associations in signing a joint letter to Congress urging the House and Senate to pass the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and bring stability to the credit markets. "The evaporation of credit is affecting businesses of all sizes and consumers and we run the risk of further declines in housing values," the letter states. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42519 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42519 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:53:41 CDT The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) is partnering with the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) to offer AMI members "Center of the Plate Training," November 12-13, 2008, at Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42508 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42508 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:37:03 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued two notices related to beef trim testing and Salmonella verification testing of raw products. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42418 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42418 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:49:01 CDT The Senate today rejected a motion to proceed to the Economic Stimulus package (S. 3604), which includes language that would ban non-ambulatory disabled cattle from entering the food supply. The measure was rejected by a vote of 52 to 42. The language also included additional civil money penalties. Sixty votes were required for the Senate to proceed to debate and consideration of the bill. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42404 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42404 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:16:17 CDT U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ed Schafer welcomed the President's intention to designate Elizabeth (Beth) Johnson as Acting Under Secretary of Food Safety. Johnson will be replacing current Under Secretary Dr. Richard A. Raymond, who is retiring on October 1 after overseeing the policies and programs of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) since July 2005. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42388 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42388 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:45:00 CDT The House of Representatives has passed a large spending bill that includes $100 million funding for E-Verify through the end of FY09. The E-Verify program is used widely by the meat industry and many other industries to ensure employee eligibility to work in the U.S http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42377 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42377 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:23:22 CDT USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a public meeting on October 14 to review its policies on the use of animal raising claims in the labeling of meat and poultry products. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42280 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42280 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:48:23 CDT Health Canada has announced it will recommend the Canadian food and drug regulations be amended to permit the use of sodium diacetate and sodium acetate as preservatives in standardized and unstandardized preparations of meat, meat by-products, poultry meat, poultry meat by-products, prepared and preserved fish products, at a maximum level of use of 0.25 percent of final product weight. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42268 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42268 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:42:00 CDT AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Janet Riley, who also serves as president of the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, will be featured on the Martha Stewart Show Tuesday, September 23. The hour-long show will be entirely devoted to hot dogs. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42214 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42214 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:09:10 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is collecting comments on its revised laboratory methodology for detecting and identifying E. coli O157:H7 in regulatory verification samples. This new method, implemented January 28, 2008, can be found in the Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (MLG), Chapter 5.04. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42212 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42212 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:50:04 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued IKE Scenario 03-08: Conducting Weekly Meetings to Verify Changes in Plant Processes which May Affect the Hazard Analysis or Alter the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plan. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42009 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/42009 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:40:19 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its E.coli O157: H7 reports. The updated information, which contains all test results through August 31, 2008, can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/2008_Ecoli_Positive_Results/index.asp. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41992 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41992 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:17:13 CDT U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer criticized U.S. ethanol producers this week for depending too heavily on government subsidies and said reductions in government support were needed. "The ethanol industry has incorporated the fact there are subsidies into their operational, financial models. I think that is a mistake," Schafer said. "They are going to have to see a gradual ... step-down reduction in subsidies." http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41931 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41931 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:24:33 CDT A new Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) final rule, "Determining Net Weight Compliance for Meat and Poultry Products," does not include the "wet tare" method. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41917 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41917 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:22:50 CDT The American Meat Institute (AMI) sent a letter to Senators yesterday calling for legislative reauthorization and improvement of the online employment verification program "E-Verify." The program, used widely by the meat industry and many other industries to ensure employee eligibility to work in the U.S., is set to expire November 30th. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41876 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41876 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:04:06 CDT The American Meat Institute today unveiled a new educational video series, "Ask the Meat Science Guy," which will feature well-known meat expert Randy Huffman, Ph.D., president of the American Meat Institute Foundation. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41875 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41875 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:00:50 CDT The economic effects of new or amended policies and regulations resulting from animal and poultry disease outbreaks can often be much greater and much longer lasting than the immediate effect of the outbreak itself, according to a recent report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41862 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41862 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:34:22 CDT The Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 58-08, which provides instructions that inspection personnel are to follow when conducting food defense verification procedures in identification warehouses. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41686 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41686 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:50:04 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 56-08, which addresses Food Safety Assessments (FSAs) conducted to analyze an establishment's control of Salmonella. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41627 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41627 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:31:45 CDT The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued an interim final rule (IFR) allowing for generic approval of changes to meat and poultry product labeling necessitated by mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL). To be consistent with the COOL statute and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) IFR published on August 1, 2008, the FSIS IFR also will become effective on September 30, 2008, and its provisions do not apply to covered commodities... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41608 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41608 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:18:48 CDT USDA announced a proposed rule to completely ban the use of non-ambulatory cattle in the food supply. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41563 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41563 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:58:04 CDT The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings of the full committee and subcommittees on September 22-26, 2008. Topics to be discussed will include: parameters for inoculated-pack challenge study protocols and determination of the most appropriate technologies for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to adopt in performing routine and baseline microbiological analyses. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41509 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41509 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:40:03 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) Scenario 04-08: Cattle in Chute and Drive Alleys http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41450 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41450 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:36:23 CDT The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has scheduled a public meeting on what action should be taken with respect to a petition from the American Meat Institute which requests that FSIS recognize the use of low penetration and low dose electron beam irradiation on the surface of chilled beef carcasses as a processing aid. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41422 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41422 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:44:18 CDT The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of ionizing radiation for control of food-borne pathogens, and extension of shelf-life, in fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach at a dose up to 4.0 kiloGray (kGy). This action is in partial response to a petition filed by The National Food Processors Association on behalf of The Food Irradiation Coalition. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41394 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41394 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:18:58 CDT The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) will hold a public meeting Aug. 27-28, 2008, to review and discuss international equivalence and approaches to assessing foreign food regulatory systems as a means of ensuring the safety of imported food products. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41324 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41324 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:57:30 CDT Hunger and stress may be major roadblocks to healthy eating, according to a new report from USDA's Economic Research Service. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41323 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41323 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:54:56 CDT A new USDA Economic Research Service report shows that while the majority of consumers say they use nutrition labels, overall use has declined. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41108 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41108 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:25:49 CDT ImmigrationWorks USA, a national organization aimed at advancing immigration reform that works for all Americans - employers, workers and citizens - will host a Southeastern Summit September 11, 2008, at the Marriott Atlanta Airport. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41099 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41099 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:09:34 CDT AMI has submitted comments to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Secretariat in opposition to a proposed rule that would require federal subcontractors of any tier to use the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system to check employees' work authorization. The proposed rule anticipates an effective date sometime in fiscal year 2009. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41066 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41066 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:24:15 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 50-08: New Performance-Based Inspection System (PBIS) Procedure Code and Result Codes. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41010 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/41010 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:05:22 CDT The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today its decision to deny a request submitted by the State of Texas to reduce the nationwide Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40993 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40993 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:40:14 CDT A panel of government, university and industry experts speaking at a leading food safety conference yesterday cast serious doubt on widely reported claims of a meat and cancer connection. The timely symposium was held at the International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40974 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40974 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:11:18 CDT AMI Executive Vice President James Hodges delivered remarks today underscoring the safety of processed meats and condemning recent efforts of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a pseudo-medical, animal rights group, to eliminate processed meats from the school nutrition programs. The remarks were delivered during a USDA listening session on the 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, held in Baltimore, Md. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40872 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40872 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:54:18 CDT Registration is still open for three August webinars, the last in a series hosted by The American Meat Institute (AMI), the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) and the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP). The goal of this summer series is to bring together industry experts on key topics affecting small and medium businesses in the meat industry. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40848 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40848 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:53:33 CDT A rise in lunches carried from home is contributing to the softening of the mid-day meal business at commercial restaurants, according to a new study by NPD, a leading market research company. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40746 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40746 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:03:25 CDT The House of Representatives has passed an E-Verify bill (H.R. 6633) which would reauthorize the E-Verify program for five years, provide for two GAO studies and ensure that the Social Security Administration received appropriate compensation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for their involvement in the E-Verify program. A copy of the legislation may be found at the following link: http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/40671. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40720 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40720 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:41:59 CDT AMIF's Process Lethality Determination Spreadsheet has been updated. The process lethality instructions and spreadsheet on the AMIF Web site (http://www.amif.org) has a new look, is easier to understand and provides some examples of lethality data from the literature for certain products. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40709 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40709 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:39:52 CDT Nominations for AMI's four annual awards - the Edward C. Jones Community Service Award, the Supplier of the Year Award, the Industry Advancement Award and the Scientific Achievement Award - are being accepted until Friday, August 15, 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40700 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40700 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:28:26 CDT The American Meat Institute unveiled an updated country-of-origin labeling (COOL) Web site, www.countryoforiginlabel.org, that reflects changes included in the recently passed 2008 Farm Bill. Mandatory COOL takes effect September 30, 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40685 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40685 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:10:26 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) is seeking comment on draft IKE Scenario 02D-08 - Direct Observation of Corrective Actions. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40681 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40681 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:02:16 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 48-08, announcing a third food defense plan survey. The survey will be conducted August 1-30, 2008, and will gather data about the industry's voluntary adoption of functional food defense plans. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40665 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40665 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:57:33 CDT The American Meat Institute, joined by a number of dairy, livestock and poultry groups, sent a letter today in support of the Imported Ethanol Parity Act (S 3080), introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The legislation, if passed, would reduce a trade barrier on clean and climate-friendly ethanol imports that could save American consumers money on a product that is mandated and at a time of record high gas prices. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40639 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40639 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:31:28 CDT USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) yesterday put on public display an interim final rule regarding mandatory country-of-origin (COOL) labeling of meat products. The new requirements take effect September 30, 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40638 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40638 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:19:34 CDT Trade officials reported today that World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Round talks, now in their ninth day, have collapsed because of India's unwillingness to compromise. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40584 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40584 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:48:08 CDT A photo gallery from the 2008 annual American Meat Institute Hot Dog Lunch, held July 23 on Capitol Hill, is now viewable online. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40437 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40437 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:05:59 CDT The American Meat Institute, in partnership with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the United Fresh Produce Association, will present a series of workshops in August to explain how to comply with new country-of-origin (COOL) labeling laws, set to go into effect Sept. 30, 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40381 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40381 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:39:03 CDT Threatening rains in our nation's capital today only served to whet the appetites of more than 1,000 attendees of the annual Hot Dog Lunch, sponsored by AMI. The event, which drew more than 50 members of Congress and United States Secretary of Agriculture Edward Schafer, also attracted Hill staffers, industry officials and 30 members of the media. It remains one of the most popular events of the summer on Capitol Hill. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40352 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40352 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:27:26 CDT Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen L. Johnson released a statement today announcing that given the amount of work that remains to sufficiently answer the Texas request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), a final decision on the request will not be completed by July 24. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40220 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40220 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:00:20 CDT The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a question and answer document about the agency's amendments to regulations that prohibit the use of certain cattle origin materials in the food or feed of animals. This document is in response to the numerous questions the agency has received about implementation of the rule, which goes into effect April 27, 2009. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40212 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40212 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:52:20 CDT The American Meat Institute Foundation, in partnership with other industry organizations, will present two upcoming opportunities for plants to learn more about how to develop control strategies that not only satisfy regulatory agencies, but more importantly, can have a meaningful impact on the safety of their products. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40020 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/40020 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:58:17 CDT USDA will list retail stores receiving meat and poultry products involved in Class I recalls, beginning next month, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced today. The rule will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which will occur next week. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39996 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39996 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:05:25 CDT Congress has introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify employment verification program. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39978 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39978 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:59:38 CDT The American Meat Institute Foundation is partnering with the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) to offer AMI members “Center of the Plate Training," Aug. 5 - 7 at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39957 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39957 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:29:39 CDT The South Korean beef market will officially open to U.S. exports from cattle 30 months of age or less at 5 a.m. (EDT) tomorrow, it was reported today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39937 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39937 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:15:07 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued FSIS Directive 5100.1, Revision 1, to provide instructions to Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officers (EIAOs) regarding the methodology they are to use when conducting comprehensive food safety assessments and how they are to document their findings. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39775 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39775 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:43:08 CDT A video about hot dog etiquette released by the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council at the start of July’s Hot Dog Month was the top featured video on YouTube July 4 and garnered more than 250,000 views during the holiday weekend. The video now ranks as one of the top 100 viewed YouTube videos of the week http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39668 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39668 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:51:53 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published Directive 5000.2 Revision 1: Review of Establishment Testing Data by Inspection Program Personnel. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39583 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39583 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:23:16 CDT The American Meat Institute, joined by more than 30 other organizations concerned about skyrocketing corn prices, sent a letter today urging President Bush to exercise his emergency authority and immediately suspend the duties and quotas on imported ethanol used as a motor fuel additive. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39518 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39518 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:21:51 CDT 51 House Republicans sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking for a reduction in the required ethanol production this year, saying renewable fuel standards enacted by Congress will boost already record high corn prices in the wake of Midwest floods. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39392 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39392 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:21:38 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) has issued HIKE Scenario 03-08:Egregious Electrical Stunning. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39390 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39390 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:05:12 CDT A number of new questions have been posted to askFSIS, the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s web-based feature designed to help answer technical and policy questions regarding inspection and public health regulations 24 hours a day http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39192 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39192 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:54:16 CDT The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY09 Homeland Security spending bill yesterday, which would provide the Homeland Security Department $39.9 billion in discretionary spending, including $800 million for the bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39170 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39170 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:07:17 CDT The American Meat Institute and more than 100 other members of the Alliance for Agricultural Growth and Competitiveness is calling on USDA Secretary Ed Schafer to immediately allow a penalty-free, early release of non-environmentally sensitive cropland from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), citing U.S. Department of Agriculture reports this month which are further confirming that this year’s basic crops are confronting enormous, unprecedented challenges, and an early-out CRP option is... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39077 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/39077 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:49:03 CDT Two studies released recently show that federal ethanol mandates have placed significant pressure on food prices, while any effect on gasoline prices has been “almost too small to measure.” http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38991 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38991 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:43:09 CDT The American Meat Institute (AMI) has submitted comments in support of a petition for a waiver of a portion of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that the State of Texas filed with the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) on April 25, 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38843 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38843 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:22:48 CDT The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture unanimously approved the FY 2009 funding measure for the Department of Agriculture, The Food and Drug Administration, and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38839 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38839 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:47:25 CDT On June 20, 2008, the Korea Import Beef Association released a statement declaring that while the importers believe that U.S. beef from cattle of 30 months of age and over is safe, as a transitional measure in response to current market conditions, they will only import U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months. In the statement they also requested that U.S. beef exporters ask the U.S. government to verify that U.S. beef exported to Korea meets this request by the importers. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38743 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38743 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:44:32 CDT The House and Senate voted Wednesday to override President Bush's veto of the $290 billion farm bill. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38700 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38700 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:22:56 CDT A delegation of 58 members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encouraging the agency to pursue advancing the development of cellulosic biofuels and other fuels that do not contribute to rising food prices and environmental concerns as it evaluates the impact of renewable fuel standards. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38362 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38362 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:04:08 CDT The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered the United States Department of Agriculture to transmit a notice to the Federal Register suspending the effective date of June 9, 2008, for the proposed new Privacy Act system of records entitled National Animal Identification System (NAIS) pending further court order. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38299 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38299 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:06:19 CDT The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require federal contractors and subcontractors to use the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) E-Verify system, according to a notice published today in the Federal Register. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38216 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/38216 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:36 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 40-08: Nationwide Young Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program-Update. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/37487 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/37487 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:45:05 CDT Senators Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, introduced legislation this week (S. 3080) to lower the tariff to on imported ethanol to bring it in line with U.S. ethanol blending subsidies, which a recently enacted farm bill lowered to 45 cents per gallon from 51 cents per gallon. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/37478 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/37478 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:47:38 CDT Today, AMI, together with more than 20 environmental, retail, hunger, Hispanic and food industry groups – announced the launch of the Food Before Fuel Campaign, a coalition effort urging Congress to revisit the nation’s food-to-fuel policies, a key factor in the growing global food crisis. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/37437 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/37437 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:29:57 CDT President Bush has signed an executive order that will require federal contractors to use an electronic system to verify that their workers are eligible to work in the United States. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13422 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13422 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:48:05 CDT DHS has announced its new IMAGE Associates program which has similar requirements to the IMAGE program but provides an enrolling company a two-year transition period for completing an I-9 audit retroactively. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13238 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13238 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:18:24 CDT On June 4, the Senate passed the FY2009 budget resolution conference report by a vote of 48 to 45. Approved last month by the House-Senate conference committee, the measure surpasses $1 trillion in discretionary spending for the first time in history. The bill provides $1.013 trillion in discretionary spending for FY2009, which is $21 billion above the $991.6 billion proposed by President Bush. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13185 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13185 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:45:04 CDT "At a minimum" the United States should lift its tariff on Brazilian ethanol, which otherwise would be cheaper than U.S.-produced ethanol, Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, suggested today at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization conference on climate change, bioenergy and food. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13096 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13096 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:22:03 CDT AMI will host two webinars, June 10 and June 12, about implementation of mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL), which is scheduled to go into effect on September 30, 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13088 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13088 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:53:48 CDT The American Meat Institute (AMI) today told USDA that it would support an agency policy that would require companies to control product tested by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) until the test results are known. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13032 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/13032 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:47:25 CDT U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer has announced an updated quarterly forecast for U.S. agricultural exports - expected to reach a record $108.5 billion for fiscal year 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12936 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12936 Thu, 29 May 2008 15:57:30 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its Technology Table, which is the latest summary describing some of the new technologies received and reviewed by FSIS and approved for use in establishments. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12906 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12906 Thu, 29 May 2008 11:17:45 CDT Food prices will remain high in the coming decade, with beef and pork prices forecasted to go up an average of 20 percent, according to the latest latest Agriculture Outlook from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12872 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12872 Wed, 28 May 2008 13:22:06 CDT The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has released its 2008-2009 Request for Pre-Proposals. The topics covered in the request are based on AMIF’s research priorities as defined by the AMIF Research Advisory Committees. These committees are comprised of industry, academic and government officials. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12797 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12797 Tue, 27 May 2008 16:20:15 CDT Secretary Ed Schafer today announced that USDA has authorized certain acreage enrolled under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to be available for hay and forage after the primary nesting season ends for grass-nesting birds. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12796 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12796 Tue, 27 May 2008 16:17:38 CDT The Department of Homeland Security has neither conducted nor commissioned any study to determine whether work on food-and-mouth disease (FMD) can be done safely on the U.S. mainland, instead relying on a 2002 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study that addressed a different question, according to a report released by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12779 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12779 Tue, 27 May 2008 14:12:18 CDT The deadline for companies to become charter members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Partnering with MyPyramid: Corporate Challenge, is June 2. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12659 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12659 Fri, 23 May 2008 14:24:31 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued two notices as part of the agency’s effort to enhance the development and maintenance of an integrated and robust data collection and analysis system to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency’s program. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12480 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12480 Wed, 21 May 2008 13:50:56 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted the second edition of the Compliance Guideline for Controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12419 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12419 Tue, 20 May 2008 16:02:08 CDT The recent surge in world food prices is already creating havoc in poor countries and the worse is yet to come unless the U.S. ends its misguided corn-to-ethanol subsidies, according to a new article in the June 2008 issue of Scientific American. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12323 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12323 Mon, 19 May 2008 09:17:16 CDT Half of U.S. consumers say they consider at least one sustainability factor when selecting brands to buy or stores to shop, according to a recent Information Resources Inc., (IRI) survey. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12266 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12266 Fri, 16 May 2008 16:28:14 CDT Congress completed its work on 2007 Farm Bill this week and has sent it to the President for his signature, capping off two years of hearings and discussions on the bill. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12264 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12264 Fri, 16 May 2008 16:15:34 CDT The Agricultural Marketing Service today published a final rule, “Livestock Mandatory Reporting: Reestablishment and Revision of the Reporting Regulation for Swine, Cattle, Lamb, and Boxed Beef” in the Federal Register. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12230 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12230 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:48:45 CDT In the next 24 hours, MeatAMI.com will convert to a new service provider. This change will offer news subscribers a more user friendly news format and an easier-to-navigate site. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12215 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12215 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:45:54 CDT House and Senate negotiators reached a final agreement on a new farm bill yesterday, President Bush will veto the measure, according to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12214 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12214 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:44:12 CDT The deadline to reserve hotel rooms at discounted rates has been extended to May 16 for the 2008 AMI Environmental Conference, to be held June 5-6 at the Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Missouri. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12213 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12213 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:43:27 CDT The South Carolina Senate has introduced a new employment verification system, SC-Verify. It is a paper-based system subject to random audits and supported by South Carolina business groups. If the bill passes, new verification requirements would begin in July 2009 for employers with 100 or more workers and extend to smaller employers in 2010. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12212 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12212 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:42:41 CDT The deadline to reserve hotel rooms at discounted rates is May 13 for the 2008 AMI Environmental Conference, to be held June 5-6 at the Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Missouri. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12211 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12211 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:41:53 CDT Just in time for the start of hot dog season, the American Meat Institute added to its Meat News Network today a new video depicting how hot dogs are made. The video may be viewed at http://www.YouTube.com/MeatNewsNetwork. “The hot dog making process has been the subject of speculation, rumor and even humor. Our latest video addition shows the facts about hot dog making and the steps that are taken to produce safe, nutritious and delicious foods,” said Janet M. Riley, AMI's senior vice... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12210 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12210 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:40:55 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 35-08, “Verification of Carcasses That An Establishment Further Processes Without An Official Inspection Legend.” http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12209 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12209 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:39:06 CDT The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will co-sponsor a two-day summit that will include a public meeting on May 15, 2008, and an invitation-only simulation exercise on May 16, 2008. The purpose of the summit is to discuss with stakeholders ways to improve information sharing and coordination during... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12208 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12208 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:37:54 CDT AMI, joined by an unprecedented cross-section of America's most important environmental and hunger groups, food industry organizations, tax and budget groups and Hispanic community advocates, today issued an open letter calling on Congress to revisit the food-to-fuel mandates that are contributing to the growing global food crisis. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12207 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12207 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:37:09 CDT Applications for AMI’s 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) are due today. Award winners will be honored on June 5-6, 2008, as part of AMIF's Environmental Conference in Kansas City, Mo. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12206 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12206 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:35:47 CDT The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)is amending the agency’s regulations to prohibit the use of certain cattle origin materials in the food or feed of animals, according to a notice published in the Federal Register today. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12205 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12205 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:34:37 CDT AMI submitted comments today to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s release of their Supplemental Proposed Rule that attempts to clarify the Final Rule issued on August 15, 2007 regarding Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12204 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12204 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:33:39 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Directive 10,900.1: Inviting Non-FSIS Scientists For Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) Scientific Seminar Series Presentations. This directive provides information to Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) personnel on how to communicate with non-FSIS scientists from research, public, or private institutions and other government agencies to schedule presenters for the OPHS Scientific Seminar Series (SSS) Presentations. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12203 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12203 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:32:55 CDT The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has provided additional information affecting Class I and Class II recalls of meat and poultry products based on statutory requirements that became effective July 1, 2007. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12202 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/12202 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:31:18 CDT The American Meat Institute, along with the National Meat Association and the National Milk Producers Federation, has filed a Citizen Petition with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service requesting that the agency amend the rules so that nonambulatory, disabled cattle are not permitted into the meat supply in any circumstance. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11298 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11298 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:09:38 CDT The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has reopened the comment period regarding its proposal to amend four existing scales and weighing regulations, according to a notice published in today’s Federal Register. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11297 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11297 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:09:10 CDT A new Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) scenario designed to improve in-plant humane handling and slaughter procedures is now available online from the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) Technical Services Center (TSC). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11296 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11296 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:08:41 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is making available two reports that examine the scientific support for a proposed Risk-Based Inspection System for processing and slaughter establishments. One report discusses the proposed system for all processing and slaughter establishments and the other report details the system specifically for young chicken slaughter establishments. FSIS has revised these reports based upon comments from NACMPI, stakeholders, and peer reviewers. The... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11295 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11295 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:08:13 CDT The United States and Korea have reached a formal agreement to resume beef trade. The announcement came amid South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's first formal visit to Washington since taking office two months ago. “Resumption of trade is a long overdue but very welcome development,” said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. “The facts clearly demonstrate U.S. beef safety. We are gratified that now consumers in Korea will soon have access to our products.” U.S. Trade Representative Susan... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11294 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11294 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:07:42 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 26-08: Contacting the Policy Development Division (Formerly the Technical Service Center). This notice provides an update on recent changes that have occurred in the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD). In particular, the notice informs customers on how they can contact the Policy Development Division (PDD). FSIS anticipates that the changes discussed in this notice will improve and expedite the customer’s... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11293 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11293 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:07:03 CDT The American Meat Institute has launched the YouTube channel, “Meat News Network,” that will convey consumer-focused information about the meat industry in an accurate, visual way. Boyle made the announcement today before members of the House Oversight Committee’s Domestic Policy Subcommittee. “We are launching this YouTube Channel with a three-part video that features Dr. Temple Grandin and other members of our Animal Welfare Committee,” Boyle told Congress. “We will soon add new videos... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11292 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11292 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:06:31 CDT Chile’s Livestock and Agricultural Service has approved the U.S. inspection, control and certification systems for poultry, allowing these products to enter the Chilean market effective immediately. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11291 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/11291 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:05:48 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will joinly sponsor Better Communications, Better Public Health Outcomes: Strategies for Improved Coordination During Foodborne Outbreaks, May 15 and 16 in St. Louis, MO. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10695 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10695 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:55:15 CDT Corn-ethanol production is contributing to a world food crisis and the United States and other developed countries have an obligation “step up to the plate” and help solve this increasing problem, according to an editorial published today in the New York Times. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10694 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10694 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:54:20 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated Directive 5500.2:Non-Routine Incident Response. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10693 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10693 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:53:43 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a letter to identification (ID) warehouses alerting them that FSIS will not provide identification services under 9 CFR 350.3 for warehouses to divide bulk units into smaller units if the product is beef and bears a disclaimer statement or instructional statement concerning E. coli O157:H7. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10692 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10692 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:51:01 CDT President Bush this week made use of his authority to “fast track” legislation through Congress, signing a letter that will trigger a procedure whereby the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) must be considered within 90 legislative days. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10691 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10691 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:49:14 CDT A California Assembly Committee passed a bill last week that would allow authorities to prosecute the operators of meatpacking plants that slaughter weak or diseased cows for food, the Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif., reported. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10690 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10690 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:47:36 CDT The Panel on Biological Hazards of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that there is no evidence to suggest that antimicrobial agents chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate and peroxyacides, used to decontaminate poultry carcasses, will lead to increased bacterial tolerance to these substances or to increased resistance to therapeutic antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10689 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10689 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:46:06 CDT On April 2, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it is amending the regulations for importing animal products. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10686 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10686 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:44:35 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a guidance on requesting a waiver of food safety and FSIS regulatory requirements for the use of new technology. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10685 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10685 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:43:29 CDT Effective protocols for the trade of breeding cattle born after Jan. 1, 1999, consistent with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards, were agreed to by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Mexico's Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (SAGARPA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on March 29. The harmonization of North American standards reaffirms the U.S. position that cattle can be traded safely when... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10683 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10683 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:42:28 CDT U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced this week that a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel has found that the 2003 amended ban by the European Union (EU) on beef from certain hormone-treated cattle continues to be scientifically unjustified. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10682 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10682 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:41:49 CDT At the request of the House Judiciary Committee, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is expected to provide informal cost estimates this week for an immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10681 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10681 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:40:50 CDT AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle today wrote Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer expressing concern about a recent Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announcement regarding a public meeting on E. coli policy scheduled for April 9-10, 2008. Boyle expressed particular concern about a statement that “FSIS will discuss growing evidence that may support a determination that raw beef products such as primal cuts and boxed beef contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 are adulterated.” “That... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10672 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10672 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:07:08 CDT The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a public meeting to discuss challenges and proposed solutions concerning recalls and illnesses related to E. coli O157:H7. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday, April 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Georgetown, 2101 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The meeting will feature various presentations and panel discussions by FSIS... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10652 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10652 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:48:22 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Directive 9600.1: Illegally Imported or Smuggled Products and Reporting in the Import Alert Tracking System. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10651 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10651 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:45:18 CDT The Chicago Midwest Meat Association (CMMA) will co-sponsor the AMI Foundation’s upcoming Best Hiring Practices Workshop April 7 in Des Plaines, Ill., on the DePaul University-O’Hare Campus. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10650 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10650 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:44:27 CDT The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking for the No-Match Rule previously issued on August 15, 2007. This rulemaking addresses three issues cited in a decision of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California enjoining the August 2007 No-Match Rule. It provides provides a more detailed analysis of how DHS developed the No-Match policy and will help responsible employers ensure that they are not employing unauthorized workers. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10649 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10649 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:43:47 CDT The deadline for room reservations for the 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference, April 13-15, 2008, at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center, has been extended to March 26. After this date, rooms will be available on a space and rate available basis only. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10648 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10648 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:43:03 CDT Last week, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced legislation that would shut down slaughter facilities that repeatedly process downed animals of all species and proposes fines and other penalties for first and second time violators. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10645 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10645 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:32:26 CDT Room reservations for the 2008 Best Hiring Practices Workshop to be held on April 8 in Kansas City, Missouri, must be made by noon on March 24 in order to receive the special AMI rate of $129 for single or double occupancy. Reservations for the Best Hiring Practices Workshop to be held on April 10 in Orange County, California, must be made by March 26 in order to receive the special AMI group rate of $159 for single or double occupancy. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10644 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10644 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:31:19 CDT Charitable donations to animal-rights groups rose five percent in 2006, according to a new analysis by the Animal Agriculture Alliance. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10643 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10643 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:30:02 CDT Room reservations for the 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference, April 13-15, 2008, at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center, must be made by March 24. After this date, rooms will be available on a space and rate available basis only. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10642 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10642 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:27:51 CDT The FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) has issued Notice 18-08: Questions and Answers Related to Raw Meat and Poultry Product Performance Standards for Salmonella Sampling and Reporting. The purpose of the notice is to respond to questions about the responsibilities of inspection program personnel and District Offices regarding the following: reporting of Salmonella performance standard (PR/HACCP) sampling results, issuance on an “End of Set” letter, and scheduling Salmonella... http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10641 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10641 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:25:57 CDT The 9th Annual Thermal Processing of Ready-to-Eat Meat Short Course will be held April 8-10, 2008, at the University Plaza Hotel, 3110 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio. The program (including topics, speakers and presentation summaries), and the on-line registration form can be found at: http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~meatsci/Thermal.htm. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10640 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10640 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:24:35 CDT With negotiations on the new Farm Bill continuing, the House and Senate agreed this week to extend the 2002 Farm Bill law until April 18. The current extension was set to expire March 15. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10639 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10639 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:23:26 CDT U.S. ethanol policy is continuing to drive meat and poultry prices higher, according to preliminary results of an analysis by expert economist Tom Elam, Ph.D., president of Farm Econ. “You cannot use the combined grain crops of Australia and Indonesia for U.S. fuel and not have an impact on corn, soybean and food prices,” Elam said. He said he expects food price inflation to rise five or six percent in 2009. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10518 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10518 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:08:49 CDT Good afternoon, this is the third test of the system. There was a very minor glitch in the system that is now corrected. As per Janet's previous correspondance please take a moment to click through to the link below. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10517 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10517 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:56:55 CDT Good afternoon, this is a test. As per Janet's previous correspondance please take a moment to click through to the link below. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10504 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10504 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:18:20 CDT This is the blurb. This is only a test. Please email ehartman@meatami.com to confirm you received it. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10146 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10146 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:46:39 CDT This text is what the recipient of the Portal Stories and Press Releases sees. Usually the first few sentences or even the first paragraph of the story. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10059 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10059 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:01:45 CDT U.S. ethanol policy is continuing to drive meat and poultry prices higher, according to preliminary results of an analysis by expert economist Tom Elam, Ph.D., president of Farm Econ. “You cannot use the combined grain crops of Australia and Indonesia for U.S. fuel and not have an impact on corn, soybean and food prices,” Elam said. He said he expects food price inflation to rise five or six percent in 2009. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10058 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10058 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:59:58 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or the agency) issued two new notices: Notice 16-08, Humane Handling Activities and Documentation in Livestock Slaughter Establishments, and Notice 17-08, Increased Verification of Humane Handling Requirements in Livestock Slaughter Establishments. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10056 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10056 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:58:56 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has revised its Eligible Plant List for Mexico. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10055 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10055 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:58:15 CDT The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is increasing the fees and charges for Federal voluntary egg, poultry, and rabbit grading, certification, and auditing services for the next two fiscal years, FY 2008 and FY 2009. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10054 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10054 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:57:31 CDT The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring a public meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. March 5 to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 2nd Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in The Hague, Netherlands, from March 31-April 4, 2008. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10052 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10052 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:56:51 CDT Registration for the 2008 Conference on Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources, April 13-15, at the Marriott New Orleans at the Convention Center, at the Early Bird Rate of $625 ends on March 10. Three or more registrations from the same member company at the Early Bird Rate are $565 each. After March 10, registration rates increase to $675 for an individual or $615 for three or more registrations from the same member company. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10051 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10051 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:56:02 CDT The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) to be held in Beijing, China in April. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10050 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10050 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:55:13 CDT Applications for AMI’s 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) are now available online at http://www.meatami.com. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10049 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10049 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:54:06 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today issued a backgrounder regarding interim and long term steps it is taking in the wake of the USDA investigation at the Hallmark/Westland facility. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10048 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10048 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:53:24 CDT The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or the agency) has issued Questions and Answers regarding FSIS Directive 6100.4, Verification Instructions Related to Specified Risk Materials. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10047 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10047 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:51:32 CDT AMI President J. Patrick Boyle told members of Congress yesterday that the images shown in an undercover video taken at a Hallmark/Westland facility in California represent a shocking departure from both industry best practices and typical operations in federally inspected meat plants, but also reflects multiple problems — in the plant’s practices, in inspection oversight at the plant and within the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10038 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10038 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:23:53 CDT AMI submitted a letter to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) requesting a 60 day extension of the comment period regarding a January 28, 2008, Federal Register notice, “Salmonella Verification Sampling Program: Response to Comments and New Agency Policies.” http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10036 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10036 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:22:16 CDT The United Nation’s agency responsible for relieving hunger is drawing up plans to ration food aid in response to escalating food prices, its director told the Financial Times newspaper. Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP) said that crisis talks are currently being held to decide what aid to halt if new donations do not arrive in the short term. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10035 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10035 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:21:02 CDT The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that U.S. agricultural exports are forecast to reach a record $101 billion for fiscal year 2008, up $10 billion from November’s forecast and an unprecedented $19 billion above 2007. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10034 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10034 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:19:56 CDT Food prices, which have been surging because of increased demand stemming from ethanol production, rose by 0.7 percent last month, the biggest monthly increase in three years, according to a Labor Department report released today. The spike was the largest monthly increase since October 2004. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10033 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10033 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:18:59 CDT AMI has awarded longtime meat industry leader Rosemary Mucklow, executive director emeritus of the National Meat Association (NMA), with its prestigious Richard E. Lyng Award in recognition of her long and continued commitment and dedication to the meat industry. http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10032 http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/ArticleDetails/i/10032 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:18:09 CDT AMI’s Vice President of International Trade John Reddington delivered the keynote ad