View Rule

The Food Safety and Inspection Service is proposing to amend the Federal meat inspection, poultry product, and egg regulations to require establishments that have an Internet connection to provide FSIS access to it for the purposes of conducting and recording inspection verification activities.  Internet service is essential to FSIS personnel for the inspection of meat, poultry, and egg products, given the need to fully employ the FSIS Public Health Information System (PHIS). PHIS assigns inspectors tasks to verify the establishment meets regulatory requirements and to respond to public health incidents promptly.  Inspectors also enter their activities in PHIS.  FSIS views Internet service as a necessary utility, like lighting, heating, and laundry services, that should be provided by establishments as a regulatory condition of receiving inspection.  Similar to the provision that small plants requiring less than one full time inspector need not furnish facilities such as office space, lighting, heat, janitor services, and lockers, FSIS will not require establishments without Internet access to purchase the services or to upgrade services that are not sufficient for FSIS’ use.