USDA Finds No Fault with Honduran Meat Inspections

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002390 SIPDIS GUATEMALA FOR SHUETE USAID FOR LLIBANATI USDA FOR DORELLANA USDA PLEASE PASS FDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON EIND ETRD AMED HO SUBJECT: USDA Finds No Fault with Honduran Meat Inspections ¶1. This is an action request: please see para 7. ¶2. Summary: USDA inspectors have found the GOH beef plant inspection system to be sound and noted no serious health violations in the two Honduran plants that currently export to the U.S. Inspectors were favorably impressed with the exhaustive records kept by GOH inspectors and laboratory personnel, but noted that because all records are hand- written in paper ledgers, they are nearly useless for future statistical analyses. Post requests (see para 7) that a modest sum from Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary trade capacity building funds be allocated to assist the GOH to automate food safety records keeping. For a small sum of money, such an investment would help protect the health of the U.S. consumer, while promoting the key foreign economic policy goals of trade and prosperity. End summary. ¶3. Following a week of on-site inspections in Honduras, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has found few concerns in the GOH inspection regime for plants exporting beef to the U.S. The inspection, part of an annual audit, sought to verify equivalence of the GOH inspection regime with U.S. standards. This is generally done by conducting spot checks jointly with the GOH in a random subset of all plants, to verify that GOH inspectors adequately note any health code violations. In the case of Honduras, only two plants currently export to the U.S., so both plants were inspected. Inspections were carried out jointly with the GOH plant and animal health authority SENASA. ¶4. Inspectors reported finding only "trivial" matters for correction, and noted that most were corrected immediately, in the presence of the inspectors. Violations noted included dust collecting on overhead wires and in storerooms in the packing plants, a lack of paper towels in the locker rooms, and an under-temperature sterilizer. There was also one "humane handling" violation, when it was noted that bolts protruding into the cattle pen could harm the animals. The bolts were immediately trimmed. ¶5. No Notices of Intent to Decertify (NOIDs) were issued by SENASA during these inspections. NOIDs are warnings of more serious violations and require remedial action within 30 days. One NOID had previously been issued against a Honduran plant in December 2002, but that violation was corrected within the stipulated time period and the plant was re-certified by SENASA. ¶6. USDA inspectors noted that the Honduran producers are in compliance with U.S. standards, but that they "are doing it the hard way." For example, a required flow chart of the meat packing process -- generally 10 to 15 steps in the U.S. -- was nearly 100 steps long in the case of one Honduran plant. Since each step in the chart must undergo hazard analysis, this generated considerable additional and unnecessary work for the plant. The inspectors provided the plant with additional guidance. ¶7. Action request: Inspectors also examined SENASA's laboratory, finding that it was orderly and sufficient, though "far from state of the art." One concern was noted, though it violates no standard or regulation: the lab's records of analyses are thorough, but are all hand-written in paper ledgers, making the data all but useless for future statistical analyses, including risk profiling. Post requests that serious consideration be given to allocating a modest amount of available trade capacity building funding for information technology equipment and/or training to automate records keeping in this vital area. Such a program would require only a small investment, and would further protect U.S. consumers from food borne illnesses, while also promoting regional trade and prosperity in Honduras. Williard