News Articles

• Nov 18, 2008 AMI Joins Broad Coalition In Calling For Repeal of Ethanol Subsidies on 30th Anniversary of Mandates 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 ...  
• Nov 17, 2008 FSIS Revises Directive on Recall of Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 8080.1, Revision 5, which provides updated information ...  
• Nov 17, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive on Foodborne Illness Investigations 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 ...  
• Nov 14, 2008 AMS Modifies Country-of-Origin Labeling Web Site The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently modified its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) Program's Web site ...  
• Nov 13, 2008 American Meat Institute Foundation Adds Six New Videos to `Ask the Meat Science Guy' Consumer Education Series 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 ...  
• Nov 13, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive Regarding Operations Occurring Outside Approved Hours The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published Directive 12700.1 ...  
• Nov 7, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice to Begin Routine Sampling of Raw Ground Beef Components The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 80-08, which informs program personnel that they are to begin ...  
• Nov 7, 2008 FSIS Issues New Instructions for Multiple Follow-up Sampling Following Positive E. coli O157:H7 Result The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued new instructions (Notice 79-08) for multiple follow-up samples ...  
• Nov 7, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice Clarifying Scheduling of Food Safety Assessments The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued notice 78-08, which clarifies when District Office (DO) personnel are to schedule ...  
• Nov 5, 2008 California Voters Approve Proposition 2 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.  
• Oct 31, 2008 FSIS Issues Instructions for Verification Sampling Programs for E. coli 0157:H7 in Raw Beef Products 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...  
• Oct 31, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Movement of Product Between Custom Exempt Facilities 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).  
• Oct 28, 2008 Department of Homeland Security Publishes No-Match Supplemental Final Rule 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).  
• Oct 28, 2008 FSIS Adds Checklist on E. coli O157:H7 Control to Directive 10,010.1 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...  
• Oct 28, 2008 Meat Industry Illness and Injury Incidence Rates at Lowest Level Recorded, New Data Show 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)...  
• Oct 27, 2008 Study: Consumers Willing to Spend More on Premium Meats 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.  
• Oct 23, 2008 AMI, Ag Groups, Protest Agriculture Secretary's Offer of Loans to Ethanol Plants 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...  
• Oct 22, 2008 Final Rule Says Swine Contractors Subject to Packers and Stockyards Act 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].  
• Oct 17, 2008 American Meat Institute Elects New Officers The American Meat Institute today elected officers for the coming year during its annual business meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo.  
• Oct 16, 2008 FSIS Issues Draft Label Policy Guidance for N-60 E. coli O157:H7 Testing Claims 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...  
• Oct 15, 2008 AMI Releases Consumer-Focused Country-of-Origin Brochure AMI this week released a new, consumer-oriented brochure to explain new country-of-origin information on meat packages and in retail meat cases.  
• Oct 13, 2008 Annals of Oncology Editorial Challenges World Cancer Research Fund Conclusions 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...  
• Oct 10, 2008 FSIS Issues Updated Listing of Safe and Suitable Ingredients for Use in Production of Meat and Poultry Products 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.  
• Oct 8, 2008 Consumers Confirm Growing Appeal of Supermarket Prepared Meals 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.  
• Oct 7, 2008 USDA Schedules Public Meetings to Discuss Impact of 2008 Farm Bill on Swine and Poultry Industries 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.  
• Oct 3, 2008 AMI, NRA to Host Webinar on New Feed Rule 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.  
• Oct 1, 2008 Trade Associations Urge Congress To Pass $700 Billion Rescue Package 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...  
• Sep 30, 2008 AMIF Partners with NAMP on “Center of the Plate Training” Course at Pennsylvania State University 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.  
• Sep 30, 2008 FSIS Issues Notices on Beef Trim Testing and on Exclusions from Salmonella Testing The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued two notices related to beef trim testing and Salmonella verification testing of raw products.  
• Sep 26, 2008 Non-ambulatory Cattle Language Defeated 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...  
• Sep 26, 2008 USDA to Name Beth Johnson as Acting Under Secretary of Food Safety 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...  
• Sep 25, 2008 House Passes Spending Bill Which Includes Funding for E-Verify Program 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  
• Sep 25, 2008 USDA To Host Public Meetings on Animal Raising Claims and Sampling Procedures 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.  
• Sep 22, 2008 Health Canada Announces Approval of Diacetate as Preservative in RTE Meat Products 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...  
• Sep 22, 2008 AMI Senior Vice President Janet Riley to be Featured on Martha Stewart Show September 23 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.  
• Sep 19, 2008 FSIS Collecting Comments on Revised Laboratory Methods for Detecting E. coli 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),...  
• Sep 19, 2008 FSIS Issues IKE Scenario on Verifying Changes that May Affect HACCP Plan 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.  
• Sep 12, 2008 FSIS Updates E. coli Reports, Export Requirements 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.  
• Sep 11, 2008 USDA Secretary Says More Ethanol-Subsidy Cuts Needed 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....  
• Sep 9, 2008 `Wet Tare' Method Not Included in FSIS Final Rule on Net Weight Compliance 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.  
• Sep 9, 2008 Industry Groups Call On Senate to Reauthorize, Improve and Expand E-Verify Program 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...  
• Sep 8, 2008 AMI Launches New `Ask the Meat Science Guy' Consumer Education Video Series 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.  
• Sep 8, 2008 Report: Restrictive Policies Resulting from Animal Disease Outbreaks Have High Economic Costs 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...  
• Sep 8, 2008 FSIS Issues Instructions for Performing Food Defense Verification Procedures in Identification Warehouses 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.  
• Sep 2, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Conducting Food Safety Assessment Related to Control of Salmonella 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.  
• Aug 28, 2008 FSIS Issues Interim Final Regarding Generic Approval for Country of Origin Labeling 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...  
• Aug 27, 2008 USDA Announces Proposed Rule to Ban All Non-Ambulatory Cattle from the Beef Supply USDA announced a proposed rule to completely ban the use of non-ambulatory cattle in the food supply.  
• Aug 27, 2008 NACMCF to Hold Public Meetings 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...  
• Aug 25, 2008 FSIS Issues HIKE Scenario on Cattle in Chute and Drive Alleys The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) Scenario 04-08: Cattle in Chute and Drive Alleys  
• Aug 22, 2008 USDA Schedules Public Meeting on AMI Petition to Use Low Dose Irradiation as Beef Processing Aid 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...  
• Aug 22, 2008 FDA Approves Use of Irradiation on Iceberg Lettuce and Spinach 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...  
• Aug 21, 2008 National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection to Hold Public Meetings Next Week 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...  
• Aug 19, 2008 Hunger, Stress Are Roadblocks to Healthy Eating, New ERS Report Shows Hunger and stress may be major roadblocks to healthy eating, according to a new report from USDA's Economic Research Service.  
• Aug 19, 2008 USDA ERS Reports Shows Decline in Nutrition Label Use A new USDA Economic Research Service report shows that while the majority of consumers say they use nutrition labels, overall use has declined.  
• Aug 12, 2008 ImmigrationWorks Southeastern Summit Slated for September 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.  
• Aug 12, 2008 AMI Submits Comments in Opposition to Proposed Regulation that Would Require Federal Contractors to Use E-Verify 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...  
• Aug 11, 2008 FSIS Issues Instructional Notice on PBIS Procedure and Result Codes The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 50-08: New Performance-Based Inspection System (PBIS) Procedure Code and Result Codes.  
• Aug 7, 2008 EPA Denies Texas’ Request for RFS Waiver 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).  
• Aug 7, 2008 Experts Cast Doubt on the Meat and Cancer Hypothesis 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...  
• Aug 6, 2008 AMI Executive Vice President Affirms Safety and Benefits of Processed Meats, Denounces PCRM Efforts to Eliminate Processed Meats from School Nutrition Programs 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...  
• Aug 5, 2008 Spots Still Available For August Webinars 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...  
• Aug 4, 2008 Number of Lunch `Brown-Baggers' at an All-Time High 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.  
• Aug 1, 2008 E-Verify Legislation Passes the House of Representatives 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...  
• Jul 31, 2008 AMIF Process Lethality Determination Spreadsheet Updated 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.  
• Jul 31, 2008 AMI Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards 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.  
• Jul 31, 2008 AMI Unveils Updated Implementation-Focused Country-of-Origin Labeling Web Site 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.  
• Jul 30, 2008 FSIS Seeks Comments on IKE Scenario on Direct Observation of Corrective Actions 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.  
• Jul 30, 2008 FSIS Releases Third Food Defense Plan Survey 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.  
• Jul 30, 2008 AMI, Ag Groups, Send Letter in Support of Imported Ethanol Parity Act 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...  
• Jul 29, 2008 USDA Releases Interim Final Country-of-Origin Rule 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.  
• Jul 29, 2008 WTO Talks Collapse 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.  
• Jul 28, 2008 2008 Annual Hot Dog Lunch Photos Viewable Online A photo gallery from the 2008 annual American Meat Institute Hot Dog Lunch, held July 23 on Capitol Hill, is now viewable online.  
• Jul 24, 2008 AMI, FMI and United Fresh Produce Association to Host COOL Workshops 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.  
• Jul 23, 2008 Annual Hot Dog Lunch Hits Another Home Run on the Hill 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...  
• Jul 22, 2008 EPA Needs More Time To Consider RFS Waiver Request 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...  
• Jul 18, 2008 FDA Document Addresses Questions About Amendments to Animal Feed Regulations 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...  
• Jul 18, 2008 AMIF, Other Industry Groups, Partner to Present E. coli Education Programs 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...  
• Jul 11, 2008 USDA Announces Plan to List Retail Stores Receiving Recalled Meat and Poultry Products; AMI Voices Opposition, Cites Public Confusion 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.  
• Jul 11, 2008 Congress Introduces Bill To Reauthorize `E-Verify' Employment Verification Program Congress has introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify employment verification program.  
• Jul 10, 2008 AMIF Partners with NAMP on “Center of the Plate Training” Course at Colorado State University 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.  
• Jul 9, 2008 South Korean Beef Market To Officially Open July 10 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.  
• Jul 9, 2008 FSIS Issues Revised Directive on Food Safety Assessment Methodology 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...  
• Jul 7, 2008 Hot Dog Council Video ‘Hot Dog Etiquette’ Gets You Tube’s Top Billing on July 4 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...  
• Jul 3, 2008 FSIS Releases Revised Directive on Review of Establishment Testing Data The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published Directive 5000.2 Revision 1: Review of Establishment Testing Data by Inspection Program Personnel.  
• Jun 2, 2008 AMI, Other Groups, Urge President To Immediately Suspend Import Tariff on Ethanol 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.  
• Jul 1, 2008 51 House GOP Members Urge Immediate Reduction in Required Ethanol Production 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.  
• Jun 27, 2008 FSIS Issues HIKE Scenario on Egregious Electrical Stunning The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) has issued HIKE Scenario 03-08:Egregious Electrical Stunning.  
• Jun 27, 2008 New Questions and Answers Posted on AskFSIS 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  
• Jun 25, 2008 ICE Priorities Key Part of Spending Bill 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).  
• Jun 25, 2008 AMI, 100+ Other Groups, Urge Immediate Penalty-Free Release of CRP Acres 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),...  
• Jun 24, 2008 New Ethanol Studies: Little Effect on Gas Prices, Significant Pressure on Food 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.”  
• Jun 23, 2008 AMI Submits Comments in Support of RFS Waiver 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.  
• Jun 20, 2008 Agriculture Spending Measure Approved 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.  
• Jun 20, 2008 U.S. Beef Exporters Respond to the Statement from the Korea Import Beef Association 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...  
• Jun 19, 2008 House, Senate Override Farm Bill Veto Again The House and Senate voted Wednesday to override President Bush's veto of the $290 billion farm bill.  
• Jun 18, 2008 Members of Congress Urge EPA To Pursue Non-Food Based Biofuels as Alternatives to Ethanol 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...  
• Jun 13, 2008 Court Suspends Indefinitely Effective Date of Proposed New Privacy Act Record System in National Animal Identification System (NAIS) 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...  
• Jun 12, 2008 Proposed Regulation Would Require Federal Contractors To Use E-Verify 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,...  
• Jun 11, 2008 FSIS Issues Update on Nationwide Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 40-08: Nationwide Young Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program-Update.  
• Jun 10, 2008 Bill Aimed at Reducing Ethanol Tariff Introduced 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...  
• Jun 10, 2008 Food Before Fuel Campaign Launched with Goal of Encouraging Congress to Revisit Food-to-Fuel Policies 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.  
• Jun 9, 2008 Bush: Federal Contractors Must Confirm Immigration Status of Employees 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.  
• Jun 6, 2008 DHS Announces New IMAGE Associates Program 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.  
• Jun 4, 2008 Senate Passes Budget Resolution, Proposed User Fees not Included 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...  
• Jun 3, 2008 World Bank President Zoellick Calling for U.S. to Lift Tariff on Brazilian Ethanol "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.  
• Jun 3, 2008 AMI to Host Two Webinars on Country of Origin Labeling Implementation 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.  
• Jun 3, 2008 AMI Indicates Support for Policy That Tested Product Should be Kept Under Control Until Negative Results Are Received 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.  
• Jun 2, 2008 Record $108 Billion Agriculture Exports Forecast for 2008 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.  
• May 29, 2008 FSIS Updates New Technology Table 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.  
• May 29, 2008 OECD and FAO See Food Prices Remaining High and Growing More Volatile 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.  
• May 28, 2008 AMI Foundation Releases 2008-2009 Request for Pre-Proposals 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...  
• May 27, 2008 USDA Announces CRP Permitted Use for Livestock Feed Needs 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.  
• May 27, 2008 Report: DHS Lacks Evidence To Conclude That Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Can Be Done Safely On Mainland 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...  
• May 27, 2008 June 2 Deadline Approaching for USDA’s Partnering with MyPyramid: Corporate Challenge 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.  
• May 23, 2008 FSIS Issues Two Notices Aimed At Improving Data Collection 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.  
• May 21, 2008 FSIS Posts Compliance Guideline for Controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted the second edition of the Compliance Guideline for Controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry.  
• May 20, 2008 Scientific American Magazine: U.S. Should End Corn-to-Ethanol Subsidies 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.  
• May 19, 2008 IRI Study Finds Sustainability an Emerging Key to Product and Store Selection 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.  
• May 15, 2008 Congress Sends Veto-Proof Farm Bill to the President’s Desk 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.  
• May 16, 2008 Final Rule on Mandatory Price Reporting Published in Federal Register 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.  
• May 16, 2008 Subscriber Alert: MeatAMI.com To Change Service Providers 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.  
• May 12, 2008 Negotiators Agree On Farm Bill; Bush Vows Veto 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.  
• May 12, 2008 Hotel Deadline for AMI Environmental Conference Extended to May 16 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.  
• May 12, 2008 State Immigration Legislation Update: South Carolina and Arizona 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...  
• May 9, 2008 Hotel Deadline for AMI Environmental Conference May 13 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.  
• May 8, 2008 AMI Adds Hot Dog Video to Meat News Network 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...  
• May 5, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Verification of Carcasses 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.”  
• May 2, 2008 Public Meeting Scheduled To Discuss Strategies for Improved Coordination During Foodborne Outbreaks 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...  
• May 1, 2008 AMI Joins Advocacy Groups from Across Political Spectrum in Urging Congress To Revisit Food to Fuel Mandates 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...  
• Apr 28, 2008 Deadline Today for 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) 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.  
• Apr 25, 2008 FDA Amends Feed Rules 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.  
• Apr 25, 2008 AMI Submits Comments On Safe Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter 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...  
• Apr 24, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive On Inviting Non-FSIS Scientists for OPHS Scientific Seminar Presentations 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...  
• Apr 22, 2008 California Department of Health Provides Additional Information for Meat and Poultry Recalls 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.  
• Apr 22, 2008 AMI Files Citizen Petition to Keep All Non-Ambulatory Cattle Out of Food Supply 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,...  
• Apr 21, 2008 USDA GIPSA Reopening Comment Period on Scales and Weighing Regulations Proposal 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.  
• Apr 18, 2008 HIKE Scenario on Egregious Electrical Stunning Available 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).  
• Apr 18, 2008 Reports Available On Proposed Public Health Risk-Based Inspection System 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...  
• Apr 18, 2008 U.S., South Korea Announce Agreement To Resume Beef Trade 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,”...  
• Apr 17, 2008 FSIS Notice: How To Contact the Policy Development Division (PPD) 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...  
• Apr 17, 2008 AMI Launches New YouTube Channel “Meat News Network" 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...  
• Apr 16, 2008 Chile Approves Imports of U.S. Poultry 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.  
• Apr 15, 2008 FSIS, FDA and CDC to Host Two-Day Public Health and Food Safety Summit 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.  
• Apr 10, 2008 New York Times Editorial: Biofuels Production Contributing To World Food Crisis 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.  
• Apr 10, 2008 FSIS Revises Directive 5500.2: Non-Routine Incident Response The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated Directive 5500.2:Non-Routine Incident Response.  
• Apr 9, 2008 FSIS Alerts ID Warehouses On Policy For Disclaimer or Instructional Statements Concerning E. coli 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...  
• Apr 9, 2008 President Bush Sends Colombia FTA to Congress 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.  
• Apr 8, 2008 Downer Animal Measure Advances in California Assembly 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.  
• Apr 4, 2008 EFSA Panel: Antimicrobial Agents Do Not Increase Bacterial Tolerance or Antimicrobial Resistance 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...  
• Apr 3, 2008 APHIS Amends Final Rule on the Importation of Uncooked Pork and Pork Products On April 2, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it is amending the regulations for importing animal products.  
• Apr 2, 2008 FSIS Issues Guidance on Requesting a Waiver of Regulatory Requirements For Technology 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.  
• Apr 2, 2008 United States, Canada, Mexico Agree On Protocols For Breeding Cattle Trade 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...  
• Apr 1, 2008 Panel Finds EU Ban on Hormones Remains WTO-Inconsistent 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.  
• Mar 31, 2008 CBO To Provide Cost Estimates For Schuler Immigration Bill This Week 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).  
• Mar 31, 2008 AMI Tells Ag Secretary It Opposes Expansion of FSIS E. coli Policy 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...  
• Mar 28, 2008 FSIS to Host Public Meeting to Discuss Challenges and Solutions for Reducing the Incidence of E. coli O157:H7 in Raw Beef 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...  
• Mar 28, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive on Reporting in the Import Alert Tracking System 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.  
• Mar 25, 2008 CMMA To Co-Sponsor AMI Foundation Best Hiring Practices Workshop April 7 in Chicago 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.  
• Mar 24, 2008 DHS Issues Supplemental Proposed Rule For No-Match Letters Focuses on Employer Guidance 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...  
• Mar 24, 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference Room Reservation Deadline Extended 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.  
• Mar 19, 2008 Senator Introduces Legislation That Would Stiffen Penalties For Slaughter Facilities Processing Downed Animals Of All Species 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.  
• Mar 19, 2008 Best Hiring Practices Workshops Room Reservation Deadlines Approaching 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...  
• Mar 19, 2008 Charitable Donations to Animal Rights Groups Increase 5 Percent Charitable donations to animal-rights groups rose five percent in 2006, according to a new analysis by the Animal Agriculture Alliance.  
• Mar 19, 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference Room Reservation Deadline Approaching 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.  
• Mar 17, 2008 FSIS Notice Addresses Questions About Salmonella Sampling and Reporting 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...  
• Mar 13, 2008 Annual Thermal Processing of Ready-to-Eat Meat Short Course Slated For April 8-10 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:...  
• Mar 13, 2008 Senate and House Pass Farm Bill Extension to Allow for Further Negotiations 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.  
• Mar 11, 2008 Expert Economist Says National Ethanol Policy Continuing to Drive Meat and Poultry Prices Higher 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,...  
• Apr 5, 2008 Good afternoon Public Affairs and Animal Welfare Committees 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.  
• Apr 4, 2008 Good afternoon Public Affairs and Animal Welfare Committees Good afternoon, this is a test. As per Janet's previous correspondance please take a moment to click through to the link below.  
• Apr 3, 2008 This is the title or head line of the story This is the blurb. This is only a test. Please email ehartman@meatami.com to confirm you received it.  
• Mar 13, 2008 TEST - Welcome to AMI's new web experience... 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.  
• Mar 11, 2008 Expert Economist Says National Ethanol Policy Continuing to Drive Meat and Poultry Prices Higher 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,...  
• Mar 11, 2008 FSIS Issues Notices on Humane Handling Practices 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.  
• Mar 5, 2008 FSIS Revises Eligible Plant List for Mexico, Export Requirements for Canada The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has revised its Eligible Plant List for Mexico.  
• Mar 5, 2008 AMS Increasing Fees For Grading, Certification and Audit Services 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.  
• Mar 5, 2008 USDA and FDA To Host Public Meeting On 2nd Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) 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...  
• Mar 3, 2008 Worker Safety Conference Early Bird Registration, Hotel Cutoff Approaching 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....  
• Mar 3, 2008 USDA and FDA To Host Public Meeting On 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) 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...  
• Feb 29, 2008 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) Materials Available Applications for AMI’s 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) are now available online at http://www.meatami.com.  
• Feb 29, 2008 FSIS Issues Inspection and Surveillance Backgrounder 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.  
• Feb 29, 2008 FSIS Issues Questions and Answers for Directive 6100.4, & Provides Updated List of New Technologies 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.  
• Feb 29, 2008 AMI President Tells Congress That Undercover Video Reflects Multiple Failures at Plant, in Government and at Activist Group