Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

Regulations & Legislation

FSIS looks to modernize swine slaughter inspection

By Betsy Booren, Jolyda Swaim
The National Provisioner's Regulations and Legislation
March 20, 2018

On Feb. 1, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or agency) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that outlines the intent of the agency to modernize swine slaughter inspection. The proposed rule, if finalized, would amend federal meat inspection regulations to create a new inspection system for market hog slaughter establishments as well as changing certain regulatory requirements for all official swine slaughter establishments, regardless of inspection system. 

The proposed New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS), which was informed by the agency’s experiences under the HACCP-Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP), intends to provide public health protection equivalent to the current inspection system. Establishments will be given the option of operating under the proposed new inspection system or remain under the existing inspection system (“traditional inspection”). Key elements of NSIS include:

  • requiring establishments to sort animals before anti-mortem inspection;
  • requiring establishments to trim and identify defects before post-mortem inspection;
  • requiring establishments to identify animals or carcasses for disposal before inspection, then denature onsite and maintain all appropriate records;
  • requiring establishments to notify FSIS if they suspect an animal or carcass has a reportable or foreign animal disease;
  • requiring establishments maintain records that products meet the new definition of Ready-To-Cook (RTC) pork product, which would be any slaughtered pork product free from bile, hair, scurf, dirt, hooves, toe nails, claws, bruises, edema, scabs, skin lesions, icterus, foreign material, and odor which is suitable for cooking without need of further processing;
  • removing maximum line speed requirements and allowing establishments to determine line speed based on their ability to maintain process control; and
  • reallocating agency resources to conduct more effective food safety activities.

During an outbreak in 2015 that had more than 150 illnesses, the FSIS investigation found evidence of unsanitary conditions, including preoperational food contact surfaces that were contaminated with the outbreak strain of Salmonella. For that reason, the agency believes the proposed food contact surface sampling requirement would reduce the risk of cross-contamination from unsanitary conditions and could identify harborage sites for Salmonella biofilms. As such, for all official swine slaughter establishments, FSIS is proposing each establishment:

  • develop, implement and maintain in their food safety systems written procedures to prevent the contamination of carcasses and parts by enteric pathogens, fecal material, ingesta, and milk throughout the entire slaughter and dressing operation, including microbiological sampling programs to assist in assessing process control and sanitary conditions; and 
  • develop, implement and maintain in their food safety systems written procedures to prevent contamination of the pre-operational environment by enteric pathogens. 

The agency has also made available two draft compliance guidelines for review and comment to assist establishments in complying with the regulatory requirements outlined in the proposed rule. 

The Draft FSIS Compliance Guideline: Modernization of Swine Inspection System Developing Effective Microbiological Sampling Programs in Swine Slaughter Establishments to Assess Process Control and Sanitary Conditions was developed to assist all swine slaughter establishments in complying with the microbiological sampling and analysis regulatory requirements outlined in the proposed rule. The compliance guideline provides recommendations for establishments as they develop written plans for assessing process control, which would include a sampling plan for indicator organisms (e.g. Aerobic Plate Count (APC), generic E. coli, total coliforms, and Enterobacteriaceae). If the proposed rule is finalized as is, this compliance guideline provides recommendations on how establishments can meet the proposed regulatory requirements for having written procedures, including sampling and analysis, to ensure pre-operational food contact surfaces are sanitary and free of enteric pathogens. The effective date of these requirements will be determined after the proposed rule is finalized. It is important to note that the agency encourages establishments to utilize the information provided as it may be helpful for developing programs prior to the finalization of the Proposed Rule.

The Draft Compliance Guideline for Training Establishment Employees under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System provides recommendations to swine slaughter establishments electing to be inspected under NSIS on how to train their employees to conduct live animal and carcass sorting activities. This Compliance Guideline should be used only after the proposed rule is finalized. 

FSIS opened its 60-day public comment period through April 2 for interested stakeholders to submit comments on the proposed rule as well as the two draft compliance guidelines. 

It is clear FSIS is making good on its goals outline in its 2017-21 strategic plan by modernizing inspection systems, policies and the use of scientific approaches. This proposed rule, along with the New Poultry Inspection System, integration of genome sequencing and the Public Health Information System, among other activities, are just a few examples of how the agency is following the strategic plan. The industry should expect FSIS to continue to modernize the inspection tools and processes that assist it in achieving its public health mission. NP

This article was originally posted on www.provisioneronline.com.
KEYWORDS: FSIS policy initiatives swine inspection

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Betsy Booren recently joined Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz, PC in Washington, D.C. as senior policy advisor.

Jolyda “Jody” Swaim is a principal at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC. For more information, email her at jswaim@ofwlaw.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Methods
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Personal Hygiene/Handwashing
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Contamination Control
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

recalled sysco and lyons imperial nutritional shakes

Listeria Outbreak Linked to Nutritional Shakes Served at Healthcare Facilities Causes 14 Deaths

Image of fish on ice

Common Fish Food Poisoning Types and Prevention Methods

Scientist inspecting food substance with microscope

FDA Announces ‘Proactive’ Post-Market Chemical Review Program to Keep Food Supply Safe

Events

June 12, 2025

Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility

Live: June 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn how ingredient bans will impact product development, labeling, and sourcing.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • FSS news generic image

    USDA modernizes swine slaughter inspection for the first time in over 50 years

    See More
  • confined swine

    California Court Allows Slaughter Establishments to Pre-Sort Swine Prior to Federal Inspection

    See More
  • FSS news generic image

    UFCW files lawsuit to stop new swine inspection rules

    See More
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing