Constituent Update - February 27, 2026

Constituent Update - February 27, 2026

FSIS Releases Infographics for Determining Whether Products Are Under FSIS Jurisdiction

FSIS is announcing the availability of three infographics to assist businesses in determining whether meat, poultry, or egg products are under FSIS jurisdiction. These infographics are now available on the agency's Apply for Grant of Inspection webpage These infographics are intended to provide businesses with information that explains how FSIS determines meat, poultry, and egg product jurisdiction based on the product source, processing, and formulation.

FSIS encourages prospective establishments to contact FSIS with questions via askFSIS and Small Plant Help Desk web platforms, or by phone at 1-800-233-3935 or 1-877-374-7435. Prospective establishments may also contact their respective District Office by finding their contact information in the Office of Field Operations (OFO) webpage.

MOI Reports Now Available to Industry in PHIS

FSIS has launched a new feature in its Public Health Information System (PHIS) for industry to generate Memoranda of Interview (MOI) reports. Instead of viewing each MOI individually, users with the Plant Management or Corporate Administrator roles in PHIS can now input a date range and generate a report that includes all MOIs in that respective date range for their establishment(s). This report is available with other PHIS reports in the Reports module.

Instructions on how to generate reports in PHIS are available in PHIS Help, under Report Tutorials.

An MOI is a written summary prepared by FSIS to document key information shared during an official interview or discussion conducted as part of inspection, compliance, or enforcement activities. It records a clear, factual account-such as who was interviewed, when and why the discussion occurred, and the information provided-to ensure accuracy and consistency in FSIS records.

Industry users may contact [email protected] to report any technical issues, error messages, or outages related to PHIS.

Stakeholder Engagement

On February 24, 2026, FSIS Deputy Administrator for Science and Policy Dr. Denise Eblen participated in the Global Crisis Management Summit Americas 2026 in New Orleans, La., where she discussed how the federal government identifies and responds to food safety risks. She was joined by Erik Mettler from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a joint presentation and panel discussion.

The session highlighted how potential food safety events are evaluated and addressed, including recall assessment, classification, public health alerts, and effectiveness checks. Dr. Eblen outlined the factors FSIS considers when determining whether product is adulterated or misbranded, emphasizing that each situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

She also reviewed recent recall and public health alert trends, noting year to year variability and the importance of understanding broader system indicators. Dr. Eblen and Mr. Mettler discussed coordination between FSIS and FDA when products or ingredients cross jurisdictions, emphasizing how routine information sharing helps align response efforts and address risks efficiently.

The Global Crisis Management Summit brings together leaders from government, industry, and the insurance sector to discuss preparedness and response strategies. Dr. Eblen's participation underscored FSIS' commitment to transparency, science-based decision making, and collaboration, all of which are central to protecting consumers and ensuring a safe and resilient food supply.

Pictured, from left: Dr. Eblen and Mr. Mettler discussing interagency coordination. Photo by FSIS Senior Public Affairs Specialist Ethan Pickrell.

Available for Public Comment

FSIS seeks public comments on proposed rules and notices, which are viewable on the FSIS Federal Register & Rulemaking webpage. FSIS is currently seeking comments on the following:

• Until February 27: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: New Swine Inspection System
• Until March 16: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Advanced Meat Recovery
• Until March 16: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Specified Risk Materials
• Until April 13: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Sanitation SOPs and Pathogen Reduction/HACCP
• Until April 20: Maximum Line Speed Under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)
• Until April 20: Maximum Line Speed Rates for Young Chicken and Turkey Establishments Operating Under the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS)

Reminder: FSIS to Onboard Chile and Argentina in PHIS Export Component

As announced in the February 13, 2026, Constituent Update, all FSIS meat and poultry product export certificates for products exported to Chile and Argentina will be generated, issued and officially maintained in FSIS' Public Health Information System (PHIS) starting on June 1, 2026. This change excludes certificates for casings and egg products. The PHIS Industry Test Environment (ITE) will be available for testing on March 2, 2026.

View the February 13 Constituent Update article for more details and contact [email protected] with questions regarding these changes. Technical questions can be directed to [email protected].

Export Requirements Update

The Library of Export Requirements has been updated for products for the following:

• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Taiwan
• Namibia
• Mexico
• Guatemala
• Egypt
• Albania
• Ukraine
• Korea
• North Macedonia
• United Kingdom

Complete information can be found at the FSIS Import & Export Library.