Revised livestock hygiene rule eases requirements

The revised rule halves the training required of operators and farmers seeking HACCP certification for livestock businesses, cutting it to two hours from at least four. Employees at those businesses will need 16 hours of instruction, down from at least 24.

The amendments address shortcomings in the operation of the existing system.

The rule took effect upon publication, except for an amendment effective Jan. 1, 2027. Authorities must notify operators who request test results of livestock products. The rule also removed an attachment requirement for applications to extend HACCP certification and lowered a threshold used in assessments of certified sites to 90 percent from 95 percent.

Businesses changing licensed or registered details must file within seven days, while operators other than slaughterhouses and milk-collection businesses need not report temporary closures lasting less than one month. Slaughterhouse and milk-collection operators must still submit notices at least five days before planned suspensions, reopenings or closures.

The rule permits businesses that prepare meat for immediate retail sale to use internet-of-things vending machines to sell packaged meat. Machines must use cooling or freezing equipment to maintain required temperatures and monitor storage temperatures and use-by dates in real time. They must display product information including use-by dates and prices per 100 grams and undergo daily hygiene and operating checks. Operators must report their use and comply with newly prescribed facility and operating standards.

The penalty schedule for failing to report changes such as a business site's floor area will also be eased. A first violation will draw a warning, followed by seven-day and 15-day suspensions for second and third violations. The previous schedule imposed suspensions of seven days, 15 days and one month, respectively.