Site Map: www.fsis.usda.gov

FSIS: Mission & Activities

Learn more about the Food Safety and Inspection Service and how it carries out its mission--ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly packaged and labeled. Look here for documents that pertain to strategic planning and the National Partnership for Reinventing Government (NPR).

FSIS Organization and Program Areas

This area includes a "who's who" in FSIS and how the Agency is organized, key contacts and organizational charts.

FSIS Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Home Page

Learn how to make a FOIA request, visit the electronic reading room, or link to USDA's FOIA pages.

FSIS Office of Management Administrative Services Page

The Office of Management is responsible for procurement, employment, civil rights, internal controls, environmental health and safety, information resources management, budget and travel.

FSIS Office of Public Health and Science

OPHS provides expert scientific analysis, advice, data, and recommendations on public health issues of concern to FSIS. Topics include risk assessments for Salmonella Enteritidis and E. coli O157:H7, accredited laboratory program, FoodNet, Domestic Residue Data Book, publications, speeches, and reports.

U.S. Codex Alimentarius Commission Office

Codex is the major international mechanism for encouraging fair international trade in food while promoting the health and economic interests of consumers. The U.S. Codex office, located in FSIS, offers information on Codex mission and activities, structure, delegates, and publications.

Library of Export Requirements

The Library, from the Export Coordination Staff, contains information on all countries that have notified FSIS of their extra requirements and/or their approved plant lists and FSIS notices to exporters with important information regarding export to certain countries.

Food Safety Virtual University Home Page

The FSVU Web site was created by FSIS' Human Resource Development Staff. In an era of rapid change, this "university without walls" delivers training and education in the area of food safety to a widely dispersed and very diverse audience.

Policy Documents

The Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation provides information about:

• Animal Production Food Safety
• Labeling and Additives
• National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
• Regulations Development and Analysis

What's New?

Check here to find the most recent additions to the FSIS Web site. This page also offers shortcuts to frequently updated pages on the FSIS site and links to several other key food safety Web sites.

News and Information

This page is a gateway to all the latest news and current information offered on the Web site. It includes Backgrounders, news releases and other public statements, announcements of public meetings, the President's National Food Safety Initiative, quarterly enforcement reports, and much more.

Pathogen Reduction/HACCP & HACCP Implementation

This section provides information relating to the implementation of the Pathogen Reduction/HACCP final rule. Bookmark the HACCP page if you're interested in key facts about HACCP, guidance documents, generic models, the Baseline Data Collection program, HACCP-Based Inspection Models Project, and small plant initiatives.

News Releases

Get the latest food safety news here. This site offers Agency press releases (current and archive) as well as consumer-oriented news feature stories.

Recall Information Center

Access news releases and Recall Notification Reports pertaining to recalls of meat and poultry products.

Communications to Congress

Here you will find Congressional testimony by the Administrator and USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety as well as reports to Congress.

Backgrounders

For information on FSIS' policy, requirements, and recommendations on various issues of concern, consult these background papers ("Backgrounders") and fact sheets ("Key Facts").

Speeches

Obtain the full text of remarks by FSIS officials and the Under Secretary for Food Safety; older speeches are available in the Speech Library.

FSIS Constituent Update

The Update is a weekly publication for constituent groups. Read the current issue and back issues for the last 12 months.

Regulations Development and Analysis Division Home Page

This section includes information on rulemaking, plus copies of the rules and regulations, proposed rules, and notices recently published by FSIS in the Federal Register. FSIS Notices and Directives are also located here.

Hot Topics; Issues

• Agricultural Biotechnology (a USDA site)
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
• Civil Rights
• Cooking Ground Beef Safely
• Dioxin
• Egg Safety
• Irradiation
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Year 2000

Consumer Education and Information

Learn about safe storage, handling, and preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products. This page includes information on the President's National Food Safety Initiative, programs such as National Food Safety Education Month, and the consumer education campaigns Fight BAC!™ and Thermy™. Also included are reports, conference proceedings, and research related to consumer behavior.

Publications

This section hosts consumer publications (disaster assistance, Food Safety Features, Food Safety Focus, Consumer Information from USDA, brochures, publications for children, fact sheets, graphics) and technical publications (guidebooks, Report to Congress, research agenda, FoodNet, recall policy, Technical Information from FSIS).

The Food Safety Educator

The Educator is a free, quarterly publication for those engaged in consumer or food handler education. All issues are available.

Meat and Poultry Hotline

The hotline (1-800-535-4555) is a resource for consumers and professionals with food safety questions. Download seasonal  packets; find out what to do if you have a problem with a food product.

Related Links

Visit Web sites of FSIS' partners and cooperators. This section has links to food safety related agencies, centers, programs, and Federal departments.

Communication with FSIS

This page, called Conversations with America, lists key Agency contacts, field office locations and phone numbers, district office after-hours emergency numbers, public meetings and special events, telephone hotlines.

Contact the Webmaster

You may email the FSIS webmaster if you have questions about the FSIS Web site. For more specific questions, several other e-mail addresses are provided. If you have questions about a specific document, we recommend that you consult the office or individual listed in the  document under "For Further Information Contact..." To comment on a particular docket or proposal, please follow the instructions in the docket for submitting comments; this will ensure that your comments reach the intended recipients.

Site Map

You are here! We hope this page helps you navigate the FSIS Web site.

Search

For more help, use this form for queries with Microsoft Index Server. To search all of USDA, go to www.usda.gov/search/