Chile Can Export Poultry Products to US

WASHINGTON - Oct 31/07 - SNS -- The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will allow Chile to export poultry and poultry products, processed in certified establishments within Chile, to the United States effective December 3, 2007.

FSIS has determined that Chile's laws, regulations and other materials showed that its poultry inspection system includes requirements equivalent to all provisions in the Poultry Products Inspection Act and its implementing regulations. FSIS, through annual on-site reviews, will verify that establishments certified by the government of Chile continue to meet all U.S. requirements.

In addition to relying on its initial determination of a country's eligibility and performing ongoing audits to ensure that products shipped to the U.S. are safe, wholesome and properly labeled and packaged, poultry and poultry products exported to the U.S. from Chile will be subject to FSIS reinspection procedures at ports of entry for proper certification, labeling, transportation damage and general condition. Selected shipments will be subject to additional reinspection procedures including examinations for product defects, laboratory analyses to detect harmful chemical residues, or pathogen testing appropriate for the product.

The proposed rule to allow the export of poultry and poultry products from Chile was published in February 2007 following a thorough evaluation of Chile's poultry inspection system, laws, regulations and on-site reviews that began in 1997 after Chile requested approval to export these products to the U.S.