US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA2390

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002390 
 
SIPDIS 
 
GUATEMALA FOR SHUETE 
USAID FOR LLIBANATI 
USDA FOR DORELLANA 
USDA PLEASE PASS FDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, EAID, ECON, EIND, ETRD, AMED, HO 
SUBJECT: USDA Finds No Fault with Honduran Meat Inspections 
 
 
1. This is an action request:  please see para 7. 
 
2. Summary:  USDA inspectors have found the GOH beef plant 
inspection system to be sound and noted no serious health 
violations in the two Honduran plants that currently export 
to the U.S.  Inspectors were favorably impressed with the 
exhaustive records kept by GOH inspectors and laboratory 
personnel, but noted that because all records are hand- 
written in paper ledgers, they are nearly useless for future 
statistical analyses.  Post requests (see para 7) that a 
modest sum from Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary trade capacity 
building funds be allocated to assist the GOH to automate 
food safety records keeping.  For a small sum of money, such 
an investment would help protect the health of the U.S. 
consumer, while promoting the key foreign economic policy 
goals of trade and prosperity.  End summary. 
 
3. Following a week of on-site inspections in Honduras, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection 
Service (FSIS) has found few concerns in the GOH inspection 
regime for plants exporting beef to the U.S.  The 
inspection, part of an annual audit, sought to verify 
equivalence of the GOH inspection regime with U.S. 
standards.  This is generally done by conducting spot checks 
jointly with the GOH in a random subset of all plants, to 
verify that GOH inspectors adequately note any health code 
violations.  In the case of Honduras, only two plants 
currently export to the U.S., so both plants were inspected. 
Inspections were carried out jointly with the GOH plant and 
animal health authority SENASA. 
 
4.  Inspectors reported finding only "trivial" matters for 
correction, and noted that most were corrected immediately, 
in the presence of the inspectors.  Violations noted 
included dust collecting on overhead wires and in storerooms 
in the packing plants, a lack of paper towels in the locker 
rooms, and an under-temperature sterilizer.  There was also 
one "humane handling" violation, when it was noted that 
bolts protruding into the cattle pen could harm the animals. 
The bolts were immediately trimmed. 
 
5. No Notices of Intent to Decertify (NOIDs) were issued by 
SENASA during these inspections.  NOIDs are warnings of more 
serious violations and require remedial action within 30 
days.  One NOID had previously been issued against a 
Honduran plant in December 2002, but that violation was 
corrected within the stipulated time period and the plant 
was re-certified by SENASA. 
 
6. USDA inspectors noted that the Honduran producers are in 
compliance with U.S. standards, but that they "are doing it 
the hard way."  For example, a required flow chart of the 
meat packing process -- generally 10 to 15 steps in the U.S. 
-- was nearly 100 steps long in the case of one Honduran 
plant.  Since each step in the chart must undergo hazard 
analysis, this generated considerable additional and 
unnecessary work for the plant.  The inspectors provided the 
plant with additional guidance. 
 
7.  Action request:  Inspectors also examined SENASA's 
laboratory, finding that it was orderly and sufficient, 
though "far from state of the art."  One concern was noted, 
though it violates no standard or regulation: the lab's 
records of analyses are thorough, but are all hand-written 
in paper ledgers, making the data all but useless for future 
statistical analyses, including risk profiling. Post 
requests that serious consideration be given to allocating a 
modest amount of available trade capacity building funding 
for information technology equipment and/or training to 
automate records keeping in this vital area.  Such a program 
would require only a small investment, and would further 
protect U.S. consumers from food borne illnesses, while also 
promoting regional trade and prosperity in Honduras. 
 
Williard