March 25, 2025

USDA moves to ease regulations on pork and poultry industries

US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced new measures aimed at reducing regulatory burdens on the US pork and poultry industries.

The directive instructs the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to remove administrative requirements that have slowed production and increased costs for American producers.

Rollins stated that the US leads the world in pork and poultry production and that the government is committed to ensuring producers remain competitive on a global scale.

She emphasised that under President Trump's leadership, efforts are being made to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, allowing businesses to operate more efficiently while maintaining food safety standards.

The new policy will extend waivers that permit pork and poultry facilities to maintain higher line speeds. The FSIS will begin rulemaking immediately to formalise these speed increases, allowing plants to meet demand without government restrictions.

The directive also removes the requirement for processing plants to submit worker safety data that the USDA described as redundant. The agency cited extensive research indicating no direct link between processing speeds and workplace injuries.

- Quality Assurance & Food Safety