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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is continuing inspection services during Gov. Tim Walz’s two-week stay at home executive order and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release. This includes inspections of dairy, meat and food manufacturing facilities, retail food outlets, pesticide and fertilizer operations, and seed, grain and nursery companies.

The MDA stated in the release it appreciates the cooperation of its regulated industries during this time of change and uncertainty while it continues to ensure a safe food supply for Minnesota residents.

MDA inspection staff will exercise every option to conduct any field activities in a manner safe for both themselves and the industries it regulates. The inspectors are following the general hygiene and social distancing recommendations of the Minnesota Department of Health.

It has made some minor modifications to its inspection services for the protection of all employees, enabling everyone to practice social distancing when possible, the release stated.

These inspection modifications include:

 

Food and feed inspection

Retail Food Inspectors continue field services at operations including grocery stores and other retail food stores. Some inspection activities will be abbreviated and focus on the significant food safety activities which are occurring. The MDA will increase its outreach by phone and email to efficiently meet information needs about food safety and COVID-19.

The manufactured food inspection program and the commercial feed program continue to perform regulatory oversight and inspection activities while prioritizing response to adverse incidents, high risk complaints and illness investigations.

The produce safety program does not have inspection activities scheduled at this time but remains available for response to a natural disaster or other major adverse event. Program staff are maintaining operations to provide technical support, education and other outreach for growers.

Contact Katherine Simon, director of the food and feed safety division, at Katherine.simon@state.mn.us or 651-201-6596 with questions.

 

Dairy processing facilities

Dairy inspection staff are expected to follow all biosecurity and health precautions instituted by dairy manufacturers during in-person visits, and the primary inspection approach will continue to be in-person inspection work. However, the MDA states it understands some facilities may be concerned about allowing inspectors to visit their facilities. During the COVID-19 situation, MDA dairy inspectors will, upon request, conduct virtual or video-based routine inspections at dairy processing facilities in lieu of conducting in-person inspections.

Because of the importance of pasteurizer testing in ensuring pasteurizers are functioning properly, in-person work will still be expected. However, if concerns exist, alternatives may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Requests for virtual inspections or other accommodations should be made directly to the inspector.

It also recognizes the key role milk haulers have in the food supply chain, the release stated. An online testing format has been made available to help expedite the testing process and to allow options for better social distancing during evaluation and licensing procedures.

Contact Nicole Neeser, director of the dairy and meat inspection division, at 651-201-6225 or Nicole.neeser@state.mn.us with questions.

 

Pesticide licensing

With the passage of legislation last week, the MDA will now exempt individuals from testing and other licensing requirements to allow them to apply general use antimicrobials for hire to disinfect buildings and control the spread of COVID-19. This exemption will expire April 1, 2021. There are several specific measures tied to this exemption: The exemption applies only to commercial application of general use pesticide products for the sanitizing or disinfecting treatment for COVID-19.

This exemption does not include those who commercially apply pesticides in HVAC systems or cooling towers in industrial, commercial and institutional buildings, residence and other buildings to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate indoor mold, bacteria or othermicrobes beyond COVID-19.

Roger Mackedanz, assistant director of the pesticide and fertilizer management division, at 651-201-6400 or Roger.mackedanz@state.mn.us with questions.

 

Seed, grain and nursery dealers

The MDA will continue to provide services, including inspections, that are mandatory for plants or plant products to be sold or moved. This includes phytosanitary certification and shipping point inspection, as well as hemp THC analysis and nursery grower inspections, and fruit and vegetable grading under its agreement with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

For other inspections that do not have a mandated timeline, such as seed, grain and nursery dealers, it is pausing those inspections and will resume them when the governor’s stay at home order is lifted. It will continue to respond to complaints or other incidents.

Contact Mark Abrahamson, director of the plant protection division, at 651-201-6505 or mark.abrahamson@state.mn.us with questions.