In Opposition to Permitting Poultry Plants Entering the USDA’s Inspection System to Increase Line Speeds

Summary

On March 15, 2016, Deborah Berkowitz submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee in opposition to the amendment of FY 2017 Appropriations for Food Safety & Inspection Service that would allow poultry plants entering the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) program to increase their lines speeds. This amendment that would rewrite the USDA’s rule, subverting the normal rulemaking process without any formal public comment or input from the public, who along with poultry line workers, will be negatively affected by any change to this rule.