A U.S. District Court in Minnesota issued a decision in a case that challenged the Trump administration’s lifting of line speed rules at pork processing plants. The decision threw out the elimination of line speed limits because the USDA didn’t adequately consider the impacts of faster slaughter speeds on worker safety. Minnesota Pork Producers Association CEO Dave Preisler says because the court issued a 90 day stay giving the Biden administration time to rewrite the speed line policy., it remains to be seen how the rule will be interpreted.
He says most processing plant employers do the best job they can to keep their workers safe and properly trained.
Preisler says moving forward its critical that processing plants be allowed to keep operating so that the food system isn’t backlogged or hampered and can flow smoothly to consumers.
Preisler says Minnesota Pork officials are working with their national group at NPPC to weigh in on the issue.