USDA Proposes Major Changes to Pig Slaughterhouse Line Speeds and Worker Safety Rules

You might care about this because the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, or FSIS, is proposing important changes to how pig slaughterhouses operate. Specifically, for facilities using the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS), the agency wants to let them decide their own production line speeds. Right now, there's a cap of 1,106 pigs per hour, but this proposal would remove that fixed limit. However, FSIS inspectors would still have the power to slow down operations if they see that food safety is at risk, or if they cannot properly inspect each pig. Another significant part of this proposal is the removal of a rule that currently requires these NSIS facilities to submit an annual report about how they monitor and document working conditions for their employees. FSIS argues that worker safety falls under the authority of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), not theirs. These proposed amendments aim to make pig slaughtering more efficient while still keeping food safe. This move comes after a previous attempt to remove line speed limits was blocked by a court in 2021, which said FSIS hadn't properly considered worker safety concerns. Since then, some slaughterhouses have been allowed to operate at higher speeds as part of a special trial program, and FSIS believes data from this trial supports their new proposal. What makes this proposal particularly interesting is its history and the core issues it addresses. This isn't the first time FSIS has tried to let slaughterhouses set their own speeds. A court previously overturned their decision because they did not properly consider public comments about worker safety. So, this new proposal is FSIS's response to that legal setback. They conducted a "Time-Limited Trial" and a worker safety study, which they now cite as justification. The agency is essentially reaffirming its position that while food safety is its domain, worker safety is OSHA's responsibility. Removing the annual worker condition report is a direct reflection of this stance. This highlights a tricky balance: how to allow businesses to be more efficient without compromising food safety, and who is ultimately responsible for worker well-being in these environments. It sets up a potential conflict between government agencies and different advocacy groups, especially those focused on worker rights. Several groups will find this legal document highly relevant. First, anyone involved in the pork production industry, especially owners and operators of NSIS slaughterhouses, will be keen to understand how these changes might impact their operations, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Consumers are also important stakeholders, as they have a vested interest in ensuring that faster line speeds do not compromise the safety and quality of the pork products they buy. Food safety advocates will closely examine the scientific basis and data FSIS is using to justify that food safety can be maintained at higher speeds. Perhaps most crucially, worker safety advocates and labor unions, such as the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), will pay close attention, given their previous successful lawsuit and their ongoing concerns about employee well-being in slaughterhouses. Finally, government agencies like OSHA, whose role in worker safety is explicitly mentioned, will be monitoring these developments, as will legal experts interested in the ongoing debate about agency authority and regulatory scope.