Constituent Update - March 27, 2026

Constituent Update - March 27, 2026

FSIS Announces Overtime and Holiday Inspection Fee Reductions for Small and Very Small Establishments

FSIS is temporarily reducing overtime and holiday inspection fees for eligible small and very small official meat, poultry, and egg products establishments during fiscal year (FY) 2026. The notice is currently on display in the Federal Register and will officially publish on Monday, March 30.

FSIS is using $20 million in available de-obligated funds to provide a 30 percent reduction in overtime and holiday inspection fees for eligible small establishments and a 75 percent reduction for eligible very small establishments. Establishments that qualify may also receive partial refunds for eligible overtime and holiday inspection fees paid since October 5, 2025, while funding remains available.

Only small and very small official establishments are eligible for the fee reduction. Establishments affiliated with large or multi-establishment corporations are not eligible. To request a fee reduction, establishments must complete and submit FSIS Form 5200-16, Overtime/Holiday Rate Reduction Form, which requires information on employee counts and average annual sales and includes an attestation of accuracy.

Establishments may begin submitting completed forms on March 30, 2026. Forms may be submitted to the FSIS inspection personnel assigned to the establishment or directly to the appropriate FSIS District Office.

This action does not change inspection requirements, sampling frequencies, or food safety standards. All regulatory requirements remain in effect.

FSIS Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Establishment Size Definitions

On March 24, 2026, FSIS issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public comments on whether and how the agency should update establishment size definitions used in meat, poultry, and egg product regulations. The ANPR is available for public comment through May 26, 2026.

Current FSIS establishment size definitions were established in 1996. Since that time, the structure and scale of the meat and poultry industry have evolved significantly. FSIS uses establishment size classifications in various contexts, including regulatory impact analyses under the Regulatory Flexibility Act and in tailoring certain requirements and outreach to small and very small establishments.

Through this ANPR, FSIS is seeking stakeholder input on whether existing size definitions continue to reflect how establishments operate today or whether revisions may be warranted. Specifically,

FSIS invites comment on:

• Whether current employee-based size definitions remain appropriate;
• Whether additional factors, such as production volume, business structure, or corporate ownership, should be considered;
• Whether alignment with Small Business Administration size standards would be appropriate; and
• How any potential updates could impact small and very small establishments.

FSIS emphasizes that this ANPR does not propose specific changes to establishment size definitions at this time. It does not modify any inspection requirements, sampling frequencies, or operational standards. The agency is seeking information and data to inform any potential future rulemaking.

FSIS encourages small and very small establishments, industry associations, trade groups, consumer organizations, and other interested stakeholders to submit comments and relevant data.

Comments may be submitted online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

FSIS Extends Retained Water Labeling Changes Deadline to January 1, 2027

In the August 15, 2025, Constituent Update, FSIS announced that establishments with an updated retained water protocol would have until July 1, 2026, to make any necessary label changes.

FSIS is providing one final extension to January 1, 2027, to ensure that stakeholders can obtain sufficient label materials and update any product labels, as necessary, by the deadline. As was previously announced, the Office of Policy and Program Development is reviewing and approving all retained water protocols. Establishments still seeking review and approval of their retained water protocol must submit it with the associated data through askFSIS by June 1, 2026. Questions regarding retained water protocols can also be sent to the Office of Policy and Program Development through askFSIS by selecting the "New Technology, Innovations" Inquiry Type.

USDA Launches New "Product of USA" Webpage

Earlier this year, USDA's new "Product of USA" labeling standard went into effect. To prepare for the change, FSIS released supporting guidance and held informational webinars for industry and state government officials. To build on these resources, USDA has launched a new, dedicated webpage for resource materials.

The page provides a straightforward overview of the "Product of USA" standard, including:

• What qualifies for the label under the updated criteria
• Examples to help distinguish compliant and non-compliant scenarios
• Answers to common questions from industry

View the new Product of USA webpage at usda.gov/usa, and read the Department's press release, USDA Promotes New, Voluntary "Product of USA" Label.

FSIS Leadership Update

Todd Reed now serves as Acting Deputy Administrator for Science and Policy at FSIS. Todd has been in the FSIS Office of the Administrator since February 2018, serving as the agency's Chief Operating Officer (COO). Prior to his role as COO, Todd served as the FSIS Senior Advisor for Data Integration and Food Defense.

Todd brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to the agency's food safety mission.

You can find this update, and all personnel changes, on the FSIS website.

IFSAC Releases 2023 Annual Report on the Sources of Foodborne Illness

The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration's (IFSAC) newest annual report is now available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

IFSAC is a collaboration between FSIS, CDC, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The group was established in 2011 to improve coordination of federal food safety analytic efforts and address cross-cutting priorities for food safety data collection, analysis, and use.

IFSAC analyzes foodborne illness outbreak data for priority pathogens and specific foods and food categories that are responsible for foodborne illnesses in the United States. The data are analyzed by calendar year and released in annual reports as part of ongoing efforts to understand sources of foodborne illness in the United States. CDC estimates that, together, these priority pathogens - Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Campylobacter, and Listeria monocytogenes - cause more than three million cases of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. each year.

Attribution estimates for Campylobacter are again not presented in this year's report. Evidence suggests the sources of Campylobacter outbreaks likely differ considerably from the sources of non-outbreak-associated illnesses caused by this pathogen. IFSAC is exploring alternative approaches for estimating the sources of Campylobacter illnesses.

The updated estimates, combined with other data, can help shape agencies' priorities and inform the creation of targeted interventions that may help reduce foodborne illnesses caused by these pathogens. These estimates also inform stakeholders and improve our ability to assess whether prevention measures are working.

For more information, visit IFSAC projects or email [email protected].

Graduate Student Food Safety Fellowship Available

FSIS is continuing its Food Safety Fellowship program in partnership with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). This fellowship is a scientific research opportunity that will assist FSIS in its goal of building strong relationships with academia.

Student applicants working toward a doctoral degree are encouraged to submit proposals that detail an area of research aligned with the agency's food safety research priorities.

The application period closes on June 5, 2026, at 3 PM Eastern Time. The anticipated appointment start date is August 3, 2024. Application details can be found on the Zintellect website.

Contact Isabel Walls at [email protected] for more information.

Simple Food Safety Steps for Spring Holiday Meals

This spring, families across America will gather to celebrate Easter, Passover, and Mother's Day. If you're hosting or preparing food for a group, a few simple food safety steps can help reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Check out our latest press release and read on for key tips.

FSIS recommends the following tips for spring holiday meals:

• Cook meats to a safe internal temperature, as measured with a food thermometer:
  • Fresh, uncooked ham must reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F with a 3-minute rest.
  • Brisket and other beef and lamb cuts are safe to eat when they reach 145 degrees F with a 3-minute rest.
  • Quiches, breakfast casseroles, and other egg dishes should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
• Handling prepared foods: If you are transporting prepared foods, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Divide food into small portions, place in shallow containers and refrigerate until ready to serve or keep hot at 140 degrees F or above.
• Remember the 2-hour rule: Don't leave food out for more than 2 hours at temperatures between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F, also known as the "Danger Zone." Bacteria thrive in these temperatures, multiplying into unsafe levels that cause foodborne illness.
• Serve food in stages: When hosting a buffet-style meal, bring out smaller portions at a time and replace them every hour with portions straight from the refrigerator or oven.

For more spring holiday food safety tips, check out the Spring Holiday Food Safety Guide, and follow FSIS on X at @usdafoodsafety.

If you have any questions about food safety, contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or email [email protected] from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

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 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)
• Until May 11: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Nutrition Labeling of Major Cuts of Single-Ingredient Raw Meat or Poultry Products and Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products
• Until May 18: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Public Health Information System: Public Health Information System (PHIS)
• Until May 19: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and Requests for Waivers
• Until May 22: Notice of Request to Renew an Approved Information Collection: Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
• Until May 26: Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Laboratory Assessment Requests

Policy Update

FSIS notices and directives on public health and regulatory issues are available on the FSIS Policy webpage. The following policy update was recently issued:

FSIS Notice 14-26: Procedures for Work-Related Fatalities, Injury, and Illness Recordkeeping and Annual Reporting Requirements

FSIS Directive 5010.1: Food Safety Related Topics for Discussion During Weekly Meetings with Establishment Management - Revision 4

Export Requirements Update

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

• Japan
• Dominican Republic
• European Union
• Cuba
• China
• Hong Kong
• Jamaica
• North Macedonia
• Chile
• South Africa
• Mexico

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

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2026