Food Safety:
Inspection of Domestic and Imported Meat Should Be Risk-Based
T-RCED-93-10: Published: Feb 18, 1993. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 1993.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) inspection of domestic and imported meat, focusing on: (1) changes in inspection procedures for Canadian meat; (2) whether those changes adequately responded to identified problems; and (3) microbiological testing conducted on domestic and imported meat products. GAO noted that: (1) FSIS has improved Canadian meat inspection by documenting the equivalency of the U.S. and Canadian inspection systems, controlling sample selection, aligning U.S. and Canadian sampling criteria and methodology, eliminating advance notification of inspection to Canadian producers, and establishing control over Canadian meat products before inspection at inland locations; (2) there was no external, independent assessment by scientific and public health experts of the FSIS equivalency determination process; (3) inspectors relied on a product's look, smell, and feel to detect contamination, but did not test for microbial pathogens in either domestic or imported meats; (4) FSIS did not require meat plants to have microbiological testing programs, although some plants have established voluntary programs; and (5) FSIS has developed strategies for reducing meat contamination by hiring more inspectors for the short term, and revamping the entire inspection system.
Dec 9, 2020
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International Trade:
Observations On Whether Women's Rights and Economic Interests Are Protected or Promoted by U.S. Trade Preference ProgramsGAO-21-190: Published: Dec 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 2020.
Dec 2, 2020
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Foreign Assistance:
USAID Should Analyze Data on the Timeliness of ExpendituresGAO-21-51: Published: Dec 2, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 2, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Global Food Security:
Information on Spending and Types of Assistance Provided by the United States and Other DonorsGAO-21-47R: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
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Human Trafficking:
Agencies Have Taken Steps to Strengthen International Anti-trafficking ProjectsGAO-21-53: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020. -
Rule of Law Assistance:
State and USAID Could Improve Monitoring EffortsGAO-21-14: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
Oct 27, 2020
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Forced Labor Imports:
DHS Increased Resources and Enforcement Efforts, but Needs to Improve Workforce Planning and MonitoringGAO-21-106: Published: Oct 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 27, 2020.
Oct 2, 2020
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Combating Wildlife Trafficking:
Agencies Work to Address Human Rights Abuse Allegations in Overseas Conservation ProgramsGAO-21-139R: Published: Oct 2, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 2, 2020.
Sep 22, 2020
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Cyber Diplomacy:
State Has Not Involved Relevant Federal Agencies in the Development of Its Plan to Establish the Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies BureauGAO-20-607R: Published: Sep 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 22, 2020.
Sep 15, 2020
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Steel and Aluminum Tariffs:
Commerce Should Improve Its Exclusion Request Process and Economic Impact ReviewsGAO-20-517: Published: Sep 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 15, 2020.
Sep 14, 2020
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Conflict Minerals:
Actions Needed to Assess Progress Addressing Armed Groups' Exploitation of MineralsGAO-20-595: Published: Sep 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 14, 2020.
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