American Protein Processing Modernization Act

Higher inspection rules for meat plants

If enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would publish objective food safety criteria in the Federal Register for requests to use alternate inspection rates. The Secretary would start reviewing requests within 90 days of enactment and must approve or deny each request within 90 days of submission. A failure to respond in 90 days would be treated as an approval. Plants already using alternate inspection rates as of enactment could keep them while they maintain effective process control or until their request is approved or denied. If a plant fails to meet the criteria, the Secretary would give a written notice and a 180‑day remedial period. After 180 days, the Secretary could revoke the higher inspection rate, provide another chance to fix problems, or set a timeline to return to standard post‑mortem inspection rates while trying to reduce harms to animal producers, contracts, and animal welfare. The bill would also say USDA and FSIS are not made liable by this section for worker safety or environmental effects related to alternate inspection rates.