Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 10/8/14


The lawsuit filed last month by Food & Water Watch (FWW) asking the federal court to stop the implementation of USDA’s New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) rules has begun to take shape, according to court documents.

USDA has filed its “opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction,” saying the plaintiffs lack standing in the case — because they cannot demonstrate actual or imminent injury — and also that the agency provided plenty of time and opportunity for all voices to be heard on the matter, counter to one of FWW’s other arguments. USDA’s lawyers also denied that the new system violates the Poultry Products Inspection Act.

As well, in a separate filing several groups joined FWW’s side in the case, collaborating on an amicus brief filed in support of Food & Water Watch’s motion for a preliminary injunction. The Southern Poverty Law Center, the Center for Foodborne Illness, the Consumer Federation of America and Nebraska Appleseed provided their input through the Government Accountability Project (GAP), which filed the documentation.

Much of the substance of the amicus brief is based on statement of FSIS inspectors, who were consulted as part of GAP research into the new inspection program.

Under the final rule, all poultry slaughter establishments must develop, implement, and maintain written procedures to ensure that carcasses contaminated with visible fecal material do not enter the chiller, and they must incorporate these procedures into their HACCP plans, or sanitation SOPs, or other prerequisite programs (also referred to collectively as ``the HACCP system'' in this document).

This final rule also requires that all poultry slaughter establishments develop, implement, and maintain written procedures to prevent contamination of carcasses and parts by enteric pathogens and fecal material throughout the entire slaughter and dressing operation, and that they incorporate their procedures into their HACCP systems.

The effective date for the new rule is October 20.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.