Internal Controls: Program to Address Problem Meat and Poultry Plants Needs Improvement
RCED-89-55
Published: Mar 31, 1989. Publicly Released: Mar 31, 1989.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO assessed the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) Intensified Regulatory Enforcement (IRE) Program at 10 meat and poultry plants.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | To ensure the long-term effectiveness of the IRE program, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Administrator, FSIS, to improve the IRE program by developing and implementing: (1) criteria for placing plants in the program; and (2) a data information system based on these criteria that profiles all plants inspected. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working on a stronger automated information system to track plant performance. This work will take several years. Until that time, USDA will use its directive which contains instructions for manually entering and removing plants from the program. Action will close after June 1991.
|
| Department of Agriculture | To ensure the long-term effectiveness of the IRE program, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Administrator, FSIS, to improve the IRE program by developing and implementing a special monitoring system for plants taken off IRE so that these plants are monitored to determine if they again become problem plants. |
Closed – Implemented
USDA has implemented an expanded monitoring program which calls for additional follow-up reviews to determine if the plants have again become problem plants.
|
| Department of Agriculture | To ensure the long-term effectiveness of the IRE program, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Administrator, FSIS, to improve the IRE program by taking such actions as entering into stipulation and consent orders and reinstating plants in the IRE program, or withdrawing inspections at plants that become problem plants after being taken off IRE. |
Closed – Implemented
In March 1991, FSIS established a progressive enforcement program for problem plants. This enforcement program will address varying levels and terms of plant noncompliance and, when necessary, apply enforcement actions.
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Topics
Consumer protectionContaminated foodsData collectionInternal controlsMeat inspectionMeat packing industryMonitoringPoultry industryPoultry inspectionSafety regulation