Notice2025-17737
Availability of Guideline for Applying for Food Safety and Inspection Service Inspection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 15, 2025
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood Safety and Inspection Service
Abstract
FSIS is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on a new guideline titled FSIS Guideline for Applying for USDA FSIS Inspection. FSIS developed this guideline to provide businesses interested in applying for FSIS inspection with information about determining the need for FSIS inspection, products exempt from routine inspection, the application process, FSIS verification activities, and resources to support new applicants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 176 (Monday, September 15, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 176 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44361-44363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17737]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2025-0013]
Availability of Guideline for Applying for Food Safety and
Inspection Service Inspection
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: FSIS is announcing the availability of and requesting comments
on a new guideline titled FSIS Guideline for Applying for USDA FSIS
Inspection. FSIS developed this guideline to provide businesses
interested in applying for FSIS inspection with information about
determining the need for FSIS inspection, products exempt from routine
inspection, the application process, FSIS verification activities, and
resources to support new applicants.
DATES: Submit comments on or before November 14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of the FSIS Guideline for Applying
for USDA FSIS Inspection is available to view and print at <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-guidelines">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-guidelines</a>.
FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
document. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
<bullet> Hand- or Courier-Delivered Submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2025-0013. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received,
call (202) 720-5046 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Edelstein, Assistant
Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development, at (202) 205-
0495 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c2a6ada1a9a7b6a1aea7b0a982b7b1a6a3eca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5b1bab6beb0a1b6b9b0a7be95a0a6b1b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a> with a subject line of ``Docket No. FSIS
2025-0013.'' Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind,
hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in
the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FSIS is responsible for ensuring that the nation's supply of meat,
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.
FSIS administers the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601
et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et
seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031 et
seq.). Establishments producing products subject to these Acts must
apply for and receive FSIS inspection services unless they qualify for
an exemption.\1\
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\1\ Exemptions can be found in 21 U.S.C. 623 for meat products,
21 U.S.C. 464 for poultry products, and 21 U.S.C. 1044 for egg
products.
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To assist prospective applicants, particularly those operating
small and very small businesses, FSIS developed the guideline Applying
for USDA FSIS Inspection. The guideline provides information on finding
resources for small and very small establishments, determining whether
FSIS inspection is required based on the type of the product and
intended distribution, identifying products that are exempt from
routine FSIS inspection, meeting the requirements for applying for FSIS
inspection, accessing commonly used FSIS guidance documents related to
food safety requirements, understanding FSIS verification activities in
inspected establishments, and contacting FSIS for further assistance
throughout the application process.
The guideline is designed to make the application process more
transparent and accessible, thereby facilitating compliance with the
FMIA, PPIA, EPIA and implementing regulations. It does not establish
any new regulatory requirements. It simply explains existing statutory
and regulatory requirements and provides information to assist
applicants in understanding how to comply with those requirements.
FSIS invites comments on all aspects of the guidance, including its
clarity, completeness, and usefulness for establishments seeking to
apply for inspection services. After reviewing the comments received,
FSIS may update the guideline as necessary.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at:
<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register</a>.
FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register
publication through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to
provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations,
Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can provide information
to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an
email subscription service that provides automatic and customized
access to selected food safety news and information. This service is
available at: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe</a>. The available
information ranges from recalls to export information, regulations,
directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions
themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and
employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA
programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status,
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or
local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the
Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally,
program information may be made available in languages other than
English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to
File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write
a letter
[[Page 44363]]
addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information
requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call
(866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1)
mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 9410,
Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99e9ebf6feebf8f4b7f0f7edf8f2fcd9eceafdf8b7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abdbd9c4ccd9cac685c2c5dfcac0ceebded8cfca85ccc4dd">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Justin Ransom,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2025-17737 Filed 9-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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