Source: USDA FSIS, 10/13/17

On Sep. 10, 2017, the National Chicken Council (NCC) petitioned FSIS to permit waivers of the maximum line speeds prescribed for poultry slaughter establishments operating under the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS). The maximum line speed allowed for young chicken establishments operating under the NPIS is 140 birds per minute (bpm), with an exception for establishments that had participated in the HACCP-based Inspection Models (HIMP) pilot study. FSIS has granted Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP) waivers for the 20 former HIMP young chicken establishments to continue to operate at line speeds of up to 175 bpm after they convert to the NPIS. The petition requests that FSIS grant waivers to allow all establishments operating under the NPIS to operate without line speed limits provided they maintain process control. As a condition for the waivers, the petition provides that establishments would be required to opt into the NPIS,  participate in the SIP, and develop a system for monitoring and responding to loss of process control.

The petition is available on the FSIS’s website at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/7734f5cf-05d9-4f89-a7eb-6d85037ad2a7/17-05-Petition-National-Chicken-Council-09012017.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

FSIS’ regulations permit interested persons to submit comments on petitions filed with the Agency and provide for posting these comments on the FSIS webpage (9 CFR 392.7). FSIS has received comments on the September 2017 NCC petition and has posted them on its webpage. Based on communications with stakeholders, FSIS anticipates that it will receive a significant number of additional comments. 

Therefore, to facilitate submission and public posting of comments on the NCC petition, interested persons may submit comments online via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov; by mail including CD-ROMs sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700; or by hand or courier-delivery to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700. All comments submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and ID number FSIS-2017-0045. Comments on the petition should be submitted by Dec.13, 2017.