Agriculture Department, Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSIS is considering revising how it defines establishment sizes for purposes of its oversight of meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants. Since 1996, FSIS has used Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) size categories, which are based on employee count and annual sales, to analyze the impact of regulations and tailor assistance to small entities. More recently, FSIS has also applied volume-based thresholds to categorize establishments to analyze the impact of regulations and for establishing Agency sampling frequencies or setting sampling requirements for the regulated industry. This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) requests stakeholder input on whether FSIS should update its establishment size definitions and, if so, how.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service 9 CFR Chapter III [Docket No. FSIS-2026-0001] RIN 0583-AE09 AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: FSIS is considering revising how it defines establishment sizes for purposes of its oversight of meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants. Since 1996, FSIS has used Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) size categories, which are based on employee count and annual sales, to analyze the impact of regulations and tailor assistance to small entities. More recently, FSIS has also applied volume-based thresholds to categorize establishments to analyze the impact of regulations and for establishing Agency sampling frequencies or setting sampling requirements for the regulated industry. This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) requests stakeholder input on whether FSIS should update its establishment size definitions and, if so, how. DATES: Submit comments on or before May 26, 2026. ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this document. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the on-line instructions at that site for submitting…
Citation: 91 FR 13979
