Maximum Line Speed Under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)

Document 2026-03228 is a Proposed Rule published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on February 19, 2026. FSIS is proposing to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to allow establishments operating under the NSIS to determine their own line speeds based on their ability to maintain process control. FSIS is also proposing to clarify that the FSIS inspector may reduce the rate of establishment operations at any point in the slaughter process when, in their judgement, there is a loss of process control, or a carcass-by-carcass inspection cannot be adequately performed within the time available due to the manner in which the swine are presented to the online carcass inspector or the health condition of the particular herd. Finally, FSIS is proposing to amend the regulations to remove the requirement that NSIS establishments submit an annual attestation to FSIS stating that they maintain a program to monitor and document work-related conditions of establishment workers. The proposed amendments would allow NSIS establishments to slaughter swine more efficiently while continuing to ensure food safety and effective online carcass inspection. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/19/2026-03228/maximum-line-speed-under-the-new-swine-slaughter-inspection-system-nsis.

No. Document 2026-03228 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.