CHAPTER VII - CLOSURE AND POST-RECALL ASSESSMENT REPORT

I. CLOSURE

    A. The RO is to provide a memo to RMTAD with a request to close the recall and include the amount of product recovered, if any, and disposition. If the amount of product recovery or disposition is unknown, the memo is to include any available known product recovery or disposition information. The RO is to upload the memo to the APM Recall case.

    B. Before closing a recall, RMTAD is to review the recall effectiveness check summary and the RO summary of findings.

    C. If a recall is associated with a reported illness, RMTAD is to ask AES, OPHS, whether there are any current illnesses associated with the recalled product.

        1. If data indicate that illnesses continue to occur because product remains in commerce, the recall case will remain open. RMTAD may request that the firm expand the recall if evidence indicates that additional products are causing illness.

        2. If data indicate that no additional illnesses associated with the recalled product are being reported, and there are no signs that recalled product remains in commerce, RMTAD may proceed to recommend closing the recall.

    D. RMTAD is to submit a Recall Termination memo to the OFO AA that summarizes the recalling firm's efforts and the findings of the FSIS effectiveness checks.

    E. RMTAD is to close the APM Recall case, notify the recalling firm in writing through email that the recall is closed and notify DECS to identify the recall as closed on the FSIS website.

II. POST-RECALL ASSESSMENT

    A. When the OPPD AA determines that it is necessary, OPPD will review the events leading to recall recommendations, as well as FSIS' response, to assess whether the Agency can improve its policies and recall procedures.

    B. OPPD is responsible for coordinating the post-recall assessment meeting. Participants in the meeting may include, but are not limited to, the following Agency personnel:

        1. RMTAD.

        2. OFO program personnel:

            a. Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations;

            b. District Manager or DDMs participating in the recall;

            c. Case Specialist from the recalling district;

            d. Supervisory EIAOs and EIAOs designated by the recalling district; and

            e. IPP as designated by the District Manager or designee through the supervisory chain of command.

        3. OIEA program personnel:

            a. CID RD;

            b. CID Supervisory Investigator; and

            c. CID Investigator.

        4. Other Agency personnel that participated in the recall activities, including personnel from SIPRS, OPPD, OPHS, and OPACE.

    C. When conducting the post-recall assessment, the meeting participants should consider pertinent information within and across program areas, such as, but not limited to, the following information:

        1. Recall Effectiveness Checks results;

        2. Food Safety Assessments;

        3. Enforcement history;

        4. Failures of the establishment's food safety programs;

        5. Reports of consumer illness; and

Any pertinent information collected during the preliminary inquiry, as described in Chapter II.

CHAPTER VIII. QUESTIONS

Refer questions through supervisory channels.