The proposal would allow some companies under the voluntary program to conduct their own meat inspections
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced new guidelines that could change how packers process hogs.
The USDA’s New Swine Slaughter Inspection System will allow some companies under the volunteer program to conduct meat inspections.
Food Safety and Inspection Service inspectors from the USDA will be on hand but largely focus on crucial food safety oversight.
And the cap on processing line speeds, the rate that packing plants process animals, will be removed with packers still responsible for maintaining strict animal welfare and employee safety rules, the USDA said.
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Based on a pilot study since the late 1990s involving five pork plants, USDA determined that the new system can provide public health protection at least equivalent to the existing inspection system, the agency said.
“FSIS is excited to continue modernizing inspection practices, while allowing opportunities for industry to innovate and streamline food production,” said acting deputy undersecretary for food safety Carmen Rottenberg.
Proponents of USDA’s plan touts it as progress in food safety and innovation.
The pilot program proved that the process is a strong inspection model, said North American Meat Institute president Barry Carpenter.
“We look forward to working with the agency as it develops a final rule that maintains a strong level of food safety in the most efficient manner,” said Carpenter.
Dr. Dan Kovich, a veterinarian with the National Pork Producers Council, said worries about increased line speeds are unfounded.
“The plants don’t have free will to run as fast as they want. They have to make sure they can still meet the letter of the law when it comes to animal welfare, food safety and employee safety as they did before,” said Kovich.
Still, those opposed to the proposition argue that the new rule puts too much power in the hands of packers at the detriment of animals and employees.
“It’s (rule) moving in the wrong direction. A lot of the big companies want to get USDA inspectors off the line so that they can run it faster,” Center for Food Safety senior policy adviser Jaydee Hanson said.
Debbie Berkowitz, senior fellow for worker safety and health with the National Employment Law Project, said removing line speed limits is “another example of the (U.S. President Donald) Trump administration rigging the rules against workers and being perfectly willing to sacrifice their health to benefit corporate interests.”
The proposed rule has a 60-day comment period after it is published in the Federal Register.
