Elimination of Prior Approval Requirements for Establishment Drawings and Specifications, Equipment, and Certain Partial Quality Control Programs

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the Federal meat and poultry products inspection regulations by removing the requirements for prior approval by FSIS of establishment drawings, specifications, and equipment used in official establishments. Requirements involving the comparison of blueprints and specifications with actual facilities and equipment will end, affording industry the flexibility to design facilities and equipment in the manner they deem best to maintain a sanitary environment for food production. FSIS will continue to verify through inspection that sanitation requirements are being met. FSIS is also ending its prior approval of most establishment-operated partial quality control programs, which are used by establishments to control certain kinds of food processing and product characteristics. This change will enable establishments to develop and implement quality control programs without first having to receive permission from FSIS to do so. This action is being taken as part of FSIS's regulatory reform effort to improve FSIS's meat and poultry food safety regulations, better define the roles of Government and the regulated industry, encourage innovations that will improve food safety, and remove unnecessary regulatory burdens on inspected establishments.