FSIS to Allow Imports of Raw Poultry of Honduras, Though Still Subject to APHIS Restrictions

The Food Safety Inspection Service will allow exports of raw poultry products from Honduras to the U.S., FSIS said in a final rule. “The FSIS review of Honduras’ laws, regulations, and inspection system demonstrated that its poultry slaughter inspection system is equivalent to the system FSIS has established under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) and its implementing regulations,” the agency said. The determination applies only to raw poultry products. Honduras would need to get a separate equivalency determination for exports of heat-treated poultry such as canned or cooked product, FSIS said. Also, despite the equivalency determination, Honduras is currently ineligible to ship raw poultry to the U.S. because it is not recognized by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to be free of Newcastle Disease, FSIS said. The final rule takes effect May 6.