Visual Post-Mortem Inspection in Swine Slaughter Establishments
Built by the Tribune's code from the Federal Register. No AI wrote this page. Published in the Federal Register May 21, 2026. Document 2026-10186. Updated Nov. 11, 2026.
- What it does
FSIS is amending its regulations to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes ("lymph nodes") incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)). Mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is amending the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to "incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera" as part of their sorting activities before FSIS post- mortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also amending the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change will allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment's line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service's summary, as published in the Federal Register.
- What changed in the regulation
1 part of Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).
- Compared with
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has published 2 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 3 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.
- Before this
1 earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 0583-AD99 since Jan. 1, 2025.
- What happens next and when
Effective July 20, 2026.
The agency's dates, word for word.
The record as published
| Document number | 2026-10186 |
|---|---|
| Action | Final rule. |
| Agencies | Agriculture Department; Food Safety and Inspection Service |
| Published | May 21, 2026 |
| Effective date | July 20, 2026 |
| Regulation identifier (RIN) | 0583-AD99 |
| Docket | FSIS-2024-0023 |
Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register