Stay ahead with EAS October eNews: USDA’s foreign audit process explained, process validation insights, plus upcoming seminars on GMP, labeling, cosmetics, and more.
By Juan Francisco Rodriguez, EAS Consulting Group Independent Consultant
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is responsible for ensuring that imported meat, poultry, and processed egg products meet the same safety standards as those produced domestically. To achieve this, FSIS’s State and International Audit Staff (SIAS) regularly audits food safety inspection systems of foreign countries deemed equivalent to the United States (U.S.).
Each year, FSIS evaluates whether an onsite audit is necessary for countries currently recognized as having equivalent food safety systems that are active in exporting FSIS regulated products to the U.S. This decision is based on a risk-based approach outlined in FSIS official methodology for prioritizing audits. Once selected for an audit, the country’s Central Competent Authority (CCA) receives a formal notification letter from FSIS, specifying the audit’s scope and suggesting possible dates. After the CCA agrees to the timeline, the SIAS auditor prepares a detailed itinerary, which is sent at least 35 days before the audit begins.
As a member of the Certified Group and Food Safety Net Services, EAS clients have access to world-renowned testing laboratories that meet your organization’s sophisticated needs. In this column, you’ll hear about their capabilities, environmental challenges and more. We hope you’ll enjoy a look “under the microscope.”
Discovering ways to develop great-tasting foods and beverages can be an invigorating and gratifying process. However, once discovery has been achieved, you must verify that your production process renders foods or beverages that are safe for consumption.
For many food manufacturers, this entails not only meeting minimum regulatory requirements but also establishing processes that meet even higher internal or customer-driven standards. This blog focuses on process validation and why it’s essential to your food establishment.
Importing FDA-regulated products into the U.S. can be complex. Incomplete documentation, FDA Import Alerts, placement on a Red List, and other issues can result in detentions that disrupt your business. These disruptions lead to lost time, spoiled shipments, and unhappy customers.
But many of these issues are preventable. With the right knowledge, you can navigate the import process with confidence, avoid costly mistakes, and maintain seamless entry for your products.
View our complimentary webinars to learn how to master FDA import compliance from start to finish.
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Issue of the Month Author
Juan Francisco Rodriguez
EAS Consulting Group, EAS Independent Consultant
Juan Rodriguez is an experienced veterinarian and manager in international food safety issues surrounding global trade of USDA-regulated products, with over 30 years of experience in supporting both domestic and international stakeholders in meeting U.S. food safety standards with confidence and clarity. He specializes in helping clients navigate complex U.S. import/export requirements, audit preparation, and foreign inspection system equivalency. Drawing on his leadership roles at USDA FSIS and his background in military and public service, Juan offers strategic guidance to ensure product integrity, regulatory alignment, and market access.
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