USDA has proposed updates to federal line speed regulations in pork establishments operating under modern inspection systems to increase efficiency at pork processing plants. USDA says these updates reflect years of data and experience and are designed to lower costs for American families, reduce outdated regulatory barriers for processors and support a more efficient and resilient food supply.
“As Secretary, my responsibility is to ensure that American families have access to affordable, safe and abundant food,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “These updates remove outdated bottlenecks so that we can lower production costs and create greater stability in our food system. By bringing our regulations in line with proven, real-world capabilities, we are supporting a stronger supply chain, giving producers and processors the certainty they need and helping keep groceries more affordable for every household.”
The proposal aims to remove maximum line speed limits for establishments operating under NSIS. Participating establishments will be allowed to set their own line speeds based on their demonstrated ability to maintain process controls and food safety, rather than adhering to a strict maximum speed limit.
USDA says the proposals maintain full federal oversight in every establishment and reaffirm the authority of inspectors to slow or stop operations whenever inspection cannot be performed effectively.
“Greater efficiency of increased line speeds provides financial security and more stability for pork producers,” says National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) president Duane Stateler, an Ohio pork producer. “Without the NSIS program, some pork producers could have incurred an additional loss of nearly $10 a head.”
USDA says these actions provide clarity and consistency for establishments that have operated for years under a patchwork of waivers, pilots and temporary measures, and will replace uncertainty with predictable, long-term rules. The updated regulations would also reduce redundant paperwork for the industry by removing worker safety attestations that fall outside USDA’s statutory authority.
“The Meat Institute has supported changes to line speed rules for pork and poultry processing through four administrations,” says Meat Institute president and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “With this long overdue regulatory certainty, our member companies can invest in their operations to continue growth of the processing sector which benefits the consumer with more affordable and nutritious food.”
Since 2019, NPPC has advocated for increased line speeds.
“We’ve been working on this bill for years,” Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO said at the Illinois Swine Mixer on Tuesday. “It’s a big win.”
Here’s a look at the major milestones leading up to this proposal.
- November 2021: FSIS permitted increased line speeds at six pork packing plants while simultaneously gathering data to evaluate potential worker impacts.
- November 2023: FSIS extended the trials for an additional 90 days.
- February 2024: FSIS again extended the trials through Jan. 15, 2025.
- April 2024: USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Sandra Eskin discussed the pilot program with producers at NPPC’s legislative action conference.
- June 2024: U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry ranking member John Boozman (R-AR) introduced his Farm Bill framework, making permanent the program, among several NPPC priorities.
- January 2025, FSIS released the results of a months-long study at six plants, concluding “line speeds were not determined to be the leading factor in worker musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk at these plants.”
- March 2025: USDA announced plans to make permanent the NSIS increased line speed program.
NPPC says it plans to continue to work with FSIS to ensure greater efficiency and food safety within pork processing plants.
USDA invites public comment on both proposed rules. Comments will be accepted for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. More information will be available at www.regulations.gov.
