Salmonella Performance Standards have been in place in the poultry industry since the implementation of the Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) System in 1998.  Prior to that implementation, there was also a regulatory declaration of a “Zero Tolerance” standard for visible fecal contamination in all species.  Also the PR/HACCP rule required testing of biotype 1 E. coli as a quantitative measure of process control of sanitary dressing.

During the first years of the PR/HACCP rule, the per cent of broiler carcasses positive for Salmonella fell sharply from the industry baseline of 20% positive.  However, that level began to creep back up causing FSIS to refocus attention on the Performance Standard by creating Categories within that Performance Standard Framework. 

The USDA-FSIS has introduced the Poultry Inspection Modernization Rule which aims at improving safety at poultry slaughter facilities. The rule rescinds the biotype 1 E. coli testing because the Agency concluded that it may not be as useful as originally believed for indication of control of sanitary dressing procedures for broiler processing.  “The Agency will allow establishments to use other more relevant indicators of process control” (USDA, FSIS 2014. FR 79(162): Pages 49565-49637). One of the provisions in the rule states that poultry slaughter facilities can choose an indicator organism(s) to monitor process control as well as testing for Salmonella and Campylobacter per the new regulations.  It also may be possible to look at other indices of process control for Sanitary Dressing Procedures.

This Roundtable will be organized for USDA and the poultry industry to share experience with HIMP, the precursor to NPIS, as well as discuss with the audience possibilities for the use of the indicator organism option from FSIS. The roundtable will be comprised of regulatory and industry representatives, both domestic and international.