To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to publish criteria for the review of requests by certain meat or poultry establishments to operate at alternate inspection rates, to review and respond to such requests, and for other purposes.

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to publish criteria for the review of requests by certain meat or poultry establishments to operate at alternate inspection rates, to review and respond to such requests, and for other purposes. 1. Requests for alternate inspection rates of meat and poultry (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the Secretary (1) publish in the Federal Register food safety criteria that the Secretary shall consider in granting a request submitted by any establishment to operate at alternate inspection rates; and (2) begin reviewing and responding to such requests from such establishments. (b) Response (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date on which a request from an establishment to operate at alternate inspection rates is submitted, the Secretary shall respond— (A) in the case of a request that the Secretary determines meets the food safety criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1), by approving such request; or (B) in the case of a request that the Secretary determines does not meet the food safety criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1), by denying such request in writing and explaining in detail the reasons for such denial. (2) Failure by Secretary to respond In the case of a failure by the Secretary to respond to a request during the 90-day period referred to in paragraph (1), such request shall be deemed to have been approved by the Secretary. (c) Continuation of operations at certain establishments In the case of an establishment operating at alternate inspection rates as of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall authorize such establishment to continue operating at such rates— (1) so long as the establishment maintains effective process control; or (2) until such date that the Secretary, under subsection (b)(1), approves or denies a request submitted by the establishment to operate at alternate inspection rates. (d) Duration of approved requests An establishment may continue to operate pursuant to the terms of a request approved under subsection (b)(1) so long as the establishment continues to meet the food safety criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1). (e) Noncompliance and revocation (1) Notice of noncompliance The Secretary shall provide— (A) in the case of an establishment operating pursuant to the terms of a request approved under subsection (b)(1) that fails to meet the food safety criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1), written notice to such establishment describing the nature of such failure; and (B) in the case of an establishment continuing operations under subsection (c) that fails to adhere to the requirements of such subsection, written notice to such establishment describing the nature of such failure. (2) Grace period; response to noncompliance Following the 180-day period beginning on the date on which an establishment receives a written notice of noncompliance under paragraph (1), if the Secretary determines the establishment has not remedied the failures described in such notice, the Secretary may— (A) at the discretion of the Secretary, provide the establishment an additional opportunity to remedy the failures described in such notice; or (B) revoke the authority of the establishment to continue operating at alternate inspection rates and provide written notice to the establishment describing the basis for such revocation. (3) Timeline for adjusting inspection rates (A) In general The written notice of revocation referred to in paragraph (2)(B) shall include a timeline for adjusting inspection rates at the establishment receiving such notice to inspection rates otherwise permitted under regulations implementing the post-mortem inspection requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (B) Minimization of negative impacts In establishing the timeline for adjusting inspection rates described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall— (i) consider potential effects on live animal production and sourcing; and (ii) consult with the establishment to which such rates shall apply to minimize negative impacts— (I) on the ability of the establishment to fulfill any contractual obligations of the establishment in effect on the date on which such timeline is established; (II) on animal producers or growers; and (III) on animal welfare. (4) Applicability A revocation under paragraph (2)(B) shall not limit the ability of an establishment to apply and be approved for alternate inspection rates under subsection (b)(1), so long as the establishment otherwise meets the food safety criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1). (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Alternate inspection rates The term alternate inspection rates 21 U.S.C. 601 et seq. 21 U.S.C. 451 et seq. (2) Establishment The term establishment (A) an official establishment that is subject to inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (B) an official establishment that is subject to inspection under the Poultry Products Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.

Summary: This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to publish food safety criteria, and review requests, for meat and poultry establishments to operate at alternate inspection rates. (Under the bill,&nbsp;alternate inspection rates are any rates in excess of the maximum rates permissible under regulations implementing the post-mortem inspection requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act.)The bill requires USDA to approve or deny a request to operate at alternate inspection rates within 90 days of submission. If USDA fails to respond within 90 days, the establishment’s request shall be deemed approved by USDA.Once USDA approves a request, an establishment may continue to operate pursuant to the terms of the request (i.e., the approval does not expire).The bill establishes written notice requirements and a timeline for USDA to revoke an establishment's authority to operate at alternate inspection rates. As part of the revocation timeline, USDA must consult with the establishment to minimize the negative impacts of adjusting the inspection rates.Further, USDA must authorize establishments currently operating under alternate inspection rates (e.g., under a USDA pilot program) to&nbsp;continue operating at such rates (1) so long as the establishment maintains effective process control, or (2) until USDA approves or denies a submitted request to operate at alternate inspection rates.