The House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to move forward on its proposed rule to modernize poultry inspection.
The controversial rule, called the HACCP-based inspection Models Project (HIMP), permits USDA inspectors to avoid checking chickens carcasses for visual defects when on the line, which increases the line speeds in slaughter houses.
The amendment to the rule, offered by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), passed by voice vote with a bipartisan majority.
“Rep. Kingston and the members of the committee from both sides of the aisle are to be commended for their support of modernizing a poultry inspection system that has been in place since 1957," said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown. “In an effort to continue our progress towards reducing foodborne illnesses, we believe, and the committee recognizes, that the poultry inspection system should be modernized to transition to a model that is more science and risk-based."
A pilot program was put in 20 chicken plants in 1999 to test this system. Since then, it has been studied, debated and reviewed to assure its effectiveness in regards to modernizing chicken inspection while improving food safety, protecting workers and better utilizing USDA resources.
