In the November 2, 2015, Federal Register, USDA's FSIS established an Export Verification Program. The program is designed to verify establishments' control of FDA-regulated closed-faced sandwiches destined for Canada. Under the program, the sandwiches will be produced in establishments that are under FSIS's voluntary reimbursable inspection service and that are operating under conditions that are as consistent as practical with those under which other post-lethality exposed meat and poultry products are produced. This program has been established because, in contrast to U.S. regulations, Canada requires that closed-faced sandwiches be produced under a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point ("HACCP") plan. Once the program is implemented, only establishments participating in this program will be able to export closed-faced sandwiches to Canada. The program will be implemented February 1, 2016.
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