Pork Plants Get Green Light to Speed Up Slaughter Lines?
Published Date: 2/19/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The USDA is proposing new rules that let swine slaughter plants set their own line speeds if they can keep things safe and under control. Inspectors can slow down the line if they spot problems, and plants won’t have to send yearly reports about worker conditions anymore. These changes aim to make swine processing faster without risking food safety, with public comments open until April 20, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Remove 1,106 Head/Hour Line Limit
If your slaughter establishment operates under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS), FSIS proposes to remove the existing maximum line speed of 1,106 head per hour (hph). Under the proposal, NSIS establishments could set their own maximum line speeds based on their ability to maintain process control and food safety.
Estimated Industry Net Benefits
FSIS' summary shows the proposed rule would yield annualized industry benefits estimated between $110.9 million and $418.2 million, agency benefits of $1.6 million, industry costs between $6.9 million and $12.1 million, and net annualized benefits between $105.6 million and $407.6 million. These estimates were annualized assuming a 10-year adoption period and a 7 percent discount rate.
Inspector Authority to Slow Lines
FSIS proposes to clarify that an FSIS inspector in charge may require an establishment to reduce its line speed at any point in the slaughter process when the inspector judges there is a loss of process control or cannot perform adequate carcass-by-carcass inspection. The authority applies when problems are observed with how carcasses are presented or due to the health condition of a herd.
Remove Worker-Condition Attestation Requirement
FSIS proposes to remove the rule (9 CFR 310.27) that required NSIS establishments to submit an annual attestation stating they maintain a program to monitor and document work-related conditions of establishment workers, and to remove the related severability provision (9 CFR 310.28). Establishments would still need to follow applicable Federal, state, and local worker safety requirements administered by OSHA.
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