Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 1/15/18



The White House Office of Management of Budget (OMB) has cleared a rule that would change inspection duties in pork slaughter plants, according to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

OMB’s approval is the last step in the rule-making process before the Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection Rule is finalized.

The new rule derives from the HACCP Inspection Models Project, or HIMP, in which five major pork plants have participated for years to test the efficacy of putting some responsibilities — such as visual organoleptic checks — into the hands of company workers in order to focus USDA resources on food safety verification later in the process.

A HIMP-based regulation, with the same approach to inspection, already has been finalized and applied to the U.S. broiler industry and is being used on a voluntary basis.

NPPC has voiced strong support for the new pork rule, saying it will improve the federal inspection process and facilitate rapid adoption of new food safety technologies in pork slaughter. The potential increase of U.S. hog slaughter capacity is another plus, the group said.

Opponents to the HIMP approach say it puts too much discretion into the hands of the regulated. That, coupled with the potential increase in line speeds, threatens the safety of both food and people, they contend.

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