WTO notification · SPS
United StatesUpdated: check whether it is now adopted or in force
Official title
Visual Post-Mortem Inspection in Swine Slaughter Establishments
The United States issued an addendum on 22 May 2026 to the earlier SPS notification G/SPS/N/USA/3526. Addenda often report that a measure was adopted, changed, postponed or withdrawn. The measure was first notified on 25 August 2025. The comment period closed on 20 October 2025.
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Pork and pork products
The comment period closed on 20 October 2025. You can still raise concerns about the measure with your country's WTO SPS enquiry point, quoting the document symbol G/SPS/N/USA/3526/Add.1; it can take them up with the United States.
Find your country's enquiry point on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Latest notice (G/SPS/N/USA/3526/Add.1, 22 May 2026)
Visual Post-Mortem Inspection in Swine Slaughter Establishments
FSIS is amending its regulations to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes (‘‘lymph nodes’’) incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)). Mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is amending the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to ‘‘incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera’’ as part of their sorting activities before FSIS postmortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also amending the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change will allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment’s line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
FSIS is proposing to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)). Mandibular lymph nodes ('lymph nodes') incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is proposing to amend the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to 'incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera' as part of their sorting activities before FSIS post-mortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also proposing to amend the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change would allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment's line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
Every notice about this measure published here, newest first. Each one is the notifying member's own text.
AddendumG/SPS/N/USA/3526/Add.1
Visual Post-Mortem Inspection in Swine Slaughter Establishments
FSIS is amending its regulations to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes (‘‘lymph nodes’’) incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)). Mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is amending the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to ‘‘incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera’’ as part of their sorting activities before FSIS postmortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also amending the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change will allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment’s line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
Regular notificationG/SPS/N/USA/3526
Comment deadline: Closed on 20 October 2025
Visual Post-Mortem Inspection in Swine Slaughter Establishments
FSIS is proposing to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)). Mandibular lymph nodes ('lymph nodes') incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is proposing to amend the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to 'incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera' as part of their sorting activities before FSIS post-mortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also proposing to amend the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change would allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment's line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
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