Zachary B. Corrigan

Food & Water Watch

1616 P Street, NW, Suite 300

Washington, D.C. 20036

RE: FOIA-2018-00213

Hog HIMP

Dear Mr. Corrigan:

This is the fourth interim response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

request, dated February 23, 2018, to the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). You requested access to a 

copy of records regarding Hog HIMP, from 2006 to 2017. This response 

responds to Part 16 of your request, which seeks: “Any records detailing the 

analysis of the swine slaughter inspection systems of Denmark and Netherlands, 

as referenced in the NSIS proposed rules.” We received your request in our 

Office on February 23, 2018. 

The FSIS FOIA staff works with subject matter experts across the Agency to 

locate responsive documents. For this request, we conducted a records search in 

the Office of Data Integration and Food Protection, the Office of Public Health 

Science, and the Office of Policy and Program Development. FSIS’ search 

began on February 26, 2018. Our search includes responsive records in FSIS’

control on that date.

We have processed 768 pages responsive to Part 16 of your request. After a 

thorough review, we have determined that portions of the pages are exempt from 

disclosure under (b)(4), (b)(5) and (b)(6) of the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552, as 

amended. Accordingly, this request is granted in part.

Some responsive records constitute confidential commercial or financial 

information, which is exempt from disclosure under FOIA Exemption 4, 5 U.S.C. 

§ 552(b)(4). Disclosure of this information may cause substantial competitive 

harm to the person or entity from which this information was obtained. Further, 

disclosure of this information would impair the government’s ability to obtain 

necessary information in the future. 

Some responsive records contain drafts, staff analyses, opinions, or 

recommendations. Those portions are deliberative and pre-decisional and are an 

integral part of the agency’s decision-making process. They are exempt from the 

FOIA’s disclosure requirements by FOIA Exemption 5, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(5).

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service

1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW.

Washington, D.C.

20250
Zachary Corrigan

Page 2

Be Food Safe: CLEAN: Wash Hands and Surfaces Often SEPARATE: Separate Raw Meats from Other Foods

COOK: Cook To The Right Temperature CHILL: Refrigerate Food Promptly

 An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

FOIA Exemption 6 permits FSIS to withhold from “personnel and medical files and 

similar files” information about individuals when the disclosure of such information 

“would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” 5 U.S.C. § 552 

(b)(6). As a threshold matter, we have determined that the records at issue meet the 

definition of “similar” files because they contain information pertaining to individuals. In 

the enclosed records, we are withholding the identity (but not job titles), direct telephone 

and cellphone numbers and the signatures of individuals who are not employees of 

USDA. We have also redacted conference call codes.

Please be advised that your FOIA request, including your identity and the information 

made available, is releasable to the public under any subsequent FOIA requests. 

However, FSIS does not release your personal privacy information, such as home 

addresses, telephone numbers, or Social Security Numbers, all of which are protected 

from disclosure under FOIA Exemption 6.

FSIS will continue to process records responsive to your request and will forward them 

promptly upon completion of review. As this is not a final response to your FOIA request, 

we request that you reserve your right to appeal. We will include your appeal rights in 

our final release.

If you have any questions about the way this request is being handled, or about the 

USDA’s FOIA regulations, please contact Anne Sylvester at (202) 205-0144 or via email 

at Anne.Sylvester@usda.gov

Thank you for your interest in FSIS programs and policies. 

Sincerely,

Arianne M. Perkins

Director, Freedom of Information Act Staff

Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Enclosure