USDA proposal for speeding up the pork processing lines is making waves in the industry
A proposal to amend the federal meat inspection regulations to repeal a redundant regulatory requirement for hog slaughter establishments presented by US Departement of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is contested by workers’ rights groups.
Pork processing plants could increase their line speeds under a new rule the USDA is considering but workers’ rights groups believe that employees are already suffering injuries at current line speeds and the initiative would make things worst, reports WNAX.com.
From the USDA's point of view, The proposed rule would remove a redundant requirement that requires hog slaughter establishments to clean hog carcasses before incising.
Establishments are required to have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system that identifies potential biological, chemical or physical hazards, and the controls to prevent, reduce or eliminate those hazards at specific points in the process. Because establishments are required to operate under HACCP regulations and apply HACCP principles, this command-and-control regulatory requirement is no longer necessary to ensure food safety; its objectives are met by other regulations, including HACCP regulations.
“It’s a practice of good government to regularly review regulations on the books, especially older ones, to ensure they are still relevant and achieving their intended purpose. Removing outdated and duplicative regulations, such as this one, will continue to be our focus as we seek to streamline our regulations and get them in line with HACCP principles.”, said Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Carmen Rottenberg.
FSIS is requesting public comment on the proposed rule to remove this redundant regulation. There will be a 60-day period for comment once the rule is published in the Federal Register.
In just one day, the rule has received about 70,000 comments regarding the changes that are going to happen once it will be implemented.
(Photo source: Wikimedia.org)
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