Visual Post-Mortem Inspection in Swine Slaughter Establishments

Document 2026-10186 is a Final Rule published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on May 21, 2026, with an effective date of July 20, 2026. FSIS is amending its regulations to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes ("lymph nodes") incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)). Mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is amending the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to "incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera" as part of their sorting activities before FSIS post- mortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also amending the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change will allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment's line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/21/2026-10186/visual-post-mortem-inspection-in-swine-slaughter-establishments.

No. Document 2026-10186 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.