WASHINGTON — In a constituent update on Dec. 13, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Federal Grants of Inspection (GOIs) will no longer be reserved solely for import establishments within a 50-mile radius of conventional ports of entry. Now facilities outside of the previous 50-mile criterion will be considered for GOIs for official import inspection activities.

Since all shipments of meat, poultry and egg products need to be reinspected by FSIS at an official import inspection establishment, the agency is looking to provide more flexibility for importers and domestic establishments with this policy update.

Instead of following the previous 50-mile criterion, FSIS will consider GOIs for official import inspection establishments on a case-by-case basis based on the following factors:

• The availability of inspection program personnel to staff the establishment.
• The expected volume of product.
• The hours the establishment would be operating to determine whether FSIS should issue the GOI.

The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) supported the agency’s move. In fact, GCCA said the policy change was in response to a joint petition filed by the group along with the Meat Import Council of America (MICA).

In the petition, which was sent to FSIS in July 2023, the groups called for a reinterpretation of the 50-mile policy rule for GOIs, claiming it to be “restrictive.”

Since the 50-mile rule was established in 1990, significant changes have occurred in the supply chain that allow thorough and real time tracking of shipments, alleviating many of the concerns that were in place when the policy was originally adopted, GCCA pointed out. 

“We welcome this common-sense ruling, which will help our members not only drive operational efficiencies but also better meet growing customer needs for import services,” said Sara Stickler, GCCA president and chief executive officer. “We take great pride in the high standards of compliance that are delivered across the global cold chain, both at the point of export and import, and our proposals have been carefully considered to maximize consumer protection while improving supply chain efficiency.”