United States
Department of
Agriculture
Food Safety and
Inspection Service
Volume 6, Issue 43
December 16, 2005
FSIS Constituent
Update
Inside this Issue
New District Manager Named ..................................................2
Joint Public Meeting on Jurisdiction ...........................................2
Holiday Food Safety Recommendations......................................3
Protecting Public Health Through Food Safety and Food Defense
U.S. Resumes Beef Trade with Japan
On December 11, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns issued a
statement to announce that the Japanese market is now open to U.S.
beef products. “Japan’s action today provides an excellent example
for other countries in Asia whose markets remain closed. Now is the
time for Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and
others to open their markets to U.S. beef,” said Johanns.
Under the agreement, the United States may export beef from cattle
20 months of age and younger to Japan. More than 94 percent of
total U.S. ruminant and ruminant products, representing a total export
value of $1.7 billion, are once again eligible for export to Japan.
With the opening of the Japanese border, 67 countries have now
established trade to selected U.S. beef and beef products.
FSIS Issues Notice of Request for New
Information Collection
Today FSIS published a notice
in the Federal Register titled,
“Notice of Request for a
New Information Collection
(Application for Return of
Exported Products).” The
notice announces FSIS’ intention
to request a new information
collection form for the return of
exported meat, poultry and egg
products to the United States.
The form will help FSIS’ Offi ce
of International Affairs (OIA)
determine if products need to
be re-inspected after they are
exported to foreign countries
and then returned to the United
States. In accordance with the
Continued on page two