Meat, poultry, and egg products imported to the United States fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS). FSIS administers requirements that seek to ensure these products are produced under standards equivalent to the U.S. inspection system.  For nearly 2 decades, Dutch veal was banned from the U.S. due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) concerns. But following a rigorous review by FSIS of the Dutch food safety system as it relates to veal production (in 2014 and 2015), the Netherlands won approval to renew exports of raw intact veal intended for intact use.

Yesterday, FSIS announced it will now also begin allowing imports of raw intact veal intended for raw non-intact use from the Netherlands from veal slaughtered on and after July 15, 2017.  This announcement follows the Agency’s review of the Netherlands’ raw veal Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) verification activities.  FSIS Notice 36-17 explains procedures for FSIS inspection personnel to verify the accuracy of inspection certificates for imported raw non-intact veal and raw intact veal intended for raw non-intact use from the central competent authority of the Netherlands. The certificates serve to provide assurance that these products meet FSIS requirements.