Rules of Practice 6/30/08

RULES OF PRACTICE
Objectives
To demonstrate mastery of Rules of Practice, the trainee will 1) Define the following terms a) inspection b) enforcement c) compliance d) due process e) Rules of Practice f) regulatory control action g) withholding h) suspension i) Notice of Intended Enforcement Action j) abeyance 2) Identify circumstances where prior notice of enforcement action is not required 3) Identify circumstances where prior notice of enforcement action is required 4) Identify the appeals process

Overview
The goal of FSIS is to protect public health by maximizing compliance with laws and regulations governing the production of meat and poultry products. The food-producing establishment has the responsibility to comply with the regulations and to produce a safe and wholesome food product. FSIS has the responsibility to verify that the establishment meets regulatory requirements. You ensure that establishments adhere to food safety regulations by conducting inspection verification activities and taking enforcement action when needed to ensure food safety compliance. Let’s clarify the meaning of some of these terms. Inspection includes all actions the Agency may take to examine the establishment and its processes, products, and systems. Enforcement actions are those the Agency takes when an inspector determines that the establishment’s plans and systems are not in compliance with laws and regulations. There is a range of enforcement actions that FSIS uses. Some examples of enforcement actions are regulatory control actions such as slowing or stopping the slaughter line, rejecting equipment or processing locations, or retaining product; withholding actions; or the suspension of inspection. We will discuss these actions in more detail later in this module. The Rules of Practice, 9 CFR 500, are FSIS’s enforcement regulations.