The National Chicken Council has asked USDA to extend the public comment period for the agency’s proposed salmonella framework for raw poultry products.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service released its framework in July. The proposal would prevent some poultry products like raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, ground chicken and ground turkey from entering the market with certain salmonella levels.
Originally the agency provided a 60-day comment period, but later pushed it to Nov. 7.
NCC wrote in comments to the agency that even the 90-day comment period is not adequate to allow for substantive feedback given the length and detail of the proposal. The group requested an additional 90-day extension.
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here
The agency hosted two webinars to discuss the proposal. However, NCC said these did not answer most clarifying and technical questions asked by representatives including small establishments, public health officials and other stakeholders.
Earlier this month, Reps. Jim Costa, D-Calif., and Steve Womack, R-Ark., who co-chair the Congressional Chicken Caucus, asked the agency to extend the comment period by 180 days — until April 4, 2025.
USDA will evaluate additional requests to further extend the comment period, according to an agency spokesperson.
“The proposed framework marks a historic, and urgently needed step forward to combat the unfortunately persistent threat of Salmonella in poultry," the spokesperson said in an email.
