All permit applications for FSIS exempted food products containing less that 2 percent of meat and/or poultry ingredients will be reviewed by FSIS prior to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issuing permits. Products such as bouillon cubes, extracts, and soup mixes, which have previously gained entry solely under a health certificate indicating product being concentrated by boiling, will now require a USDA import permit.

As part of the new process, after permit applications are submitted to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, they must be reviewed and approved by FSIS to ensure the meat and/or poultry ingredients in such food originate from and eligible source, i.e., prepared under FSIS inspection or in a foreign establishment certified by a foreign inspection system approved by FSIS.

Importers will be required to provide documented evidence directly to FSIS to support the origin of the meat and/or poultry ingredient used in the food product(s) identified on the APHIS permit application. If this condition is not met, FSIS will advise APHIS that the imported food product is ineligible for importation into the US, and a permit will not be issued.   Shipments of covered food products not accompanied by a USDA permit will be denied entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection beginning June 22, 2009