USDA extends comment period for swine slaughter inspection proposed rule
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) has extended the comment period for the Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection proposed rule by 30 days.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) has extended the comment period for the Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection proposed rule by 30 days. The original deadline to submit comments was April 2, 2018, but in response to requests from industry and consumer groups, the agency has set extended it to May 2.
The proposed rule would amend the federal meat inspection regulations to establish a new inspection system for market hog slaughter establishments that provides public health protection at least equivalent to the existing inspection system. Market hog slaughter establishments that do not choose to operate under the new swine inspection system may continue to operate under their existing inspection system.
The agency also proposed several changes to the regulations that would affect all establishments that slaughter swine, regardless of the inspection system under which they operate or the age, size, or class of swine. These proposed changes would allow all swine slaughter establishments to develop sampling plans that are more tailored to their specific operations and thus be more effective in monitoring their specific process control. These proposed changes also would ensure that before the start of slaughter operations, food-contact surfaces are sanitary and free of enteric pathogens.