TITLE 345 INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH

The Indiana state board of animal health (BOAH) proposes to amend its rules governing meat and poultry products inspection (345 IAC Article 9; 345 IAC Article 10). The primary purpose of the changes is to conform BOAH's rules to the United States Department of Agriculture - Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) regulatory requirements under the federal Meat Inspection Act and Poultry Products Inspection Act (9 CFR Parts 300 – 500).

State law requires the BOAH to enforce requirements with respect to intrastate operations that are at least equal to those imposed and enforced under the federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.). See IC 15-17-5-1(4). In order to comply with this statutory mandate, BOAH must periodically update the meat and poultry rules to ensure they are at least equal to 9 CFR Subchapter E, which contains the requirements for federally-inspected facilities. This is largely accomplished by updating the incorporation by reference of the pertinent federal regulations every two years, which is what is being proposed in this request. BOAH is proposing to update the incorporation by reference at 345 IAC 9-2.1-1 and 345 IAC 10-2.1-1 from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2020. The rule also clarifies references to certain federal regulations and updates the incorporation by reference of the federal regulations for the voluntary inspection of rabbits.

BOAH currently provides inspection service to 78 official meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants. In addition, BOAH oversees the operation of 38 custom exempt establishments, which are facilities that are in the business of slaughtering animals for the producer's use in their household. BOAH has worked to involve these regulated entities in the development of the rule. For example, prior to the first reading of a rule, BOAH sends out emails to interested stakeholders so they are aware of upcoming rulemaking matters before the board. The BOAH posts the board agenda in a prominent location on the website so the rule information can be found on this page in addition to the rulemaking docket. The BOAH also sends out an issues newsletter to stakeholders on a quarterly basis. The affected industry includes small businesses under the definition at IC 4-22-2.1-4.

The proposed rule does not increase annual reporting, record keeping, or other administrative costs for regulated entities. The BOAH currently inspects Indiana's 78 official plants and 38 custom exempt plants. An inspector must be on site at an official plant continually during the slaughtering process and inspect the processing area once per day. A custom exempt plant undergoes a routine inspection twice per year. There have been no changes in the federal regulations being incorporated that expand the scope of current recordkeeping requirements that are verified during these inspections.

As stated above, because the 116 plants impacted by this rule are already operating in accordance with USDA-FSIS regulations and directives, the BOAH does not anticipate the proposed rule will increase compliance costs for regulated entities. There have been no significant changes in the federal regulations being incorporated that expand the scope of current food safety standards that are verified during these inspections. 345 IAC 9-2.1-1(d).

The proposed rule has the potential to decrease compliance costs because the primary substantive change in the federal regulations being incorporated provides increased flexibility for official establishments to engage in the production of products that are not for human consumption. Specifically, the incorporated regulations eliminate prescriptive requirements governing the manufacture of uninspected products, such as pet food, in edible product areas of official establishments and to allow official establishments to manufacture such products outside the hours of inspection. It is important to emphasize that the rule does not affect the authority of BOAH to verify that official establishments manufacturing inedible product are keeping it separate from meat and poultry products and not otherwise creating unsanitary conditions through its manufacture. It also does not affect the authority of the BOAH to take enforcement actions to prevent inedible product from entering commerce as human food.

a. Compliance with Federal and State Law

In addition to the state statutory mandate discussed above, this proposed rule is necessary to implement a federal mandate. State law authorizes the BOAH to cooperate with USDA-FSIS to effectuate the purpose of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Law, to accept federal assistance for that purpose, and spend public funds appropriate for the administration of the law to pay not more than fifty percent (50%) of the total cost of the cooperative program (IC 15-17-5-5(11)). Pursuant to this power, the BOAH has entered into a state-federal cooperative agreement with USDA-FSIS in order to receive 50% of the annual operating costs of the Meat and Poultry Inspection program. BOAH's program is subject to regular audits by USDA-FSIS to ensure that the state standards are at least equal to federal requirements. If BOAH does not update the incorporation by reference, it would jeopardize the funding the agency receives under the state-federal agreement.

If the BOAH does not remain in compliance with the state-federal agreement by proceeding with this proposed rule, it would have negative consequences for the regulated community. Indiana relies on the federal funding to support an adequate number of inspectors for the state's 78 official plants and 38 custom exempt plants. If BOAH cannot fund an adequate number of inspectors, the official plants will not be able to operate at full capacity because an inspector must be on site continually during the slaughtering process and inspect the processing area once per day.

In addition to the above-described benefits to the plants, the proposed rule provides a secondary benefit to the state's livestock and poultry farmers. The increasing demand for locally produced meat products has resulted in continually increasing requests for MPI inspection service. The proposed rule ensures that federal funds continue to be available so inspectors can be present at the plants to assist them in accommodating the farmers' slaughter and processing needs. The ability of the plants to keep pace with increasing demand is critical because animals must be slaughtered and processed under inspection in order for the meat to be sold to end consumers, retailers, and restaurants (with limited exceptions). It also benefits consumer protection by ensuring that plants are being required to comply with the most recent federal food safety regulations.

b. Justification of Requirements not Mandated by Federal or State Law

The proposed rule does not impose a requirement or cost beyond what is expressly required by federal or state law. With regard to the official and custom exempt facilities, the proposed rule does not impose requirements above the incorporated federal standards. BOAH estimates that the total estimated impact (cost) will be less than $500,000.

Because the proposed rule does not impose requirements beyond what is required by federal law, BOAH did not examine alternative methods with regard to the rule changes.

DIN: 20210303-IR-345200557EIA

Composed: Apr 19,2024 7:58:23AM EDT

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