FSIS Updates for Small Plants - October 28, 2026

FSIS Updates for Small Plants - October 28, 2026

FSIS Continues Efforts to Support Small Meat & Poultry Establishments

Since launching the Small Processor Action Plan in June, FSIS has continued implementing tailored assistance to better support small and very small meat and poultry establishments.

We are ensuring our policy documents and any guidance to industry are written in plain language. We are giving small plants a clearer way to file and track appeals. We are making sure businesses know who to contact when they need help and ensuring that help is actually delivered. We have revamped our regular small plant engagements with practical information and hands-on demonstrations. We are improving our training, so our requirements are applied consistently from one plant to the next. And we are working with the Small Business Administration to connect processors with resources that can help them thrive.

On October 23, 2026, USDA announced it could be expanding financial support for processors through the new Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Guaranteed Loan Program. The program makes $5 billion in loan guarantees available to help small, independent, and regional processors expand, improve, and diversify meat and poultry processing capacity. Building on USDA's Ranchers First Initiative, the program extends financing opportunities to seafood.

Additional support includes more than $57 million in tentative awards for 147 projects across 40 states through Round 4 of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), announced on October 26, 2026. The latest round focused expanding beef processing capacity, with dedicated funding for small and very small processors to purchase equipment, improve facilities, and expand operations. Meanwhile, eligible small and very small establishments can continue receiving temporary overtime and holiday inspection fee reductions of 30% and 75%, respectfully, through September 30, 2027, or until funds are expended.

USDA is also investing in state inspection capacity through the Stand-Up Program, offering up to $50 million to help states cover the start-up costs of launching or expanding their own inspection programs-all while maintaining the strongest food safety standards in the world. State meat and poultry inspection programs that meet federal requirements are critical for expanding local processing options, but there is even more we can do to help. FSIS is working to strengthen its coordination with states, which are key partners in a strong food safety network.

FSIS recently met with state departments of agriculture to hear about their experiences with cooperative inspection programs including State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs and Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) programs. States shared opportunities to strengthen these partnerships and challenges related to program requirements, administrative processes, and market access. This feedback will help inform ongoing efforts to improve how these programs operate and identify opportunities to better support small processors, farmers, and ranchers.

Together, these efforts aim to support small businesses, strengthen domestic processing capacity, and maintain strong food safety standards.

Strengthening Listeria Prevention with National Sampling Strategy

Recent agency investigations into 2024 listeriosis outbreaks linked to FSIS-regulated products, along with a comprehensive agency review, identified opportunities to strengthen Listeria prevention and verification. FSIS implemented several measures, including food safety assessments focused on ready-to-eat (RTE) establishments, weekly data collection on Listeria risk factors, and expanded Listeria species testing.   

Agency experts analyzed a year's worth of data to better identify risk factors and improve how FSIS targets its resources, adopting a more proactive approach to preventing Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).  

Based on this analysis, FSIS trained inspection personnel, piloted expanded sampling for food contact and non-food contact surfaces in RTE establishments, updated inspection tasks to target Listeria risk factors, and developed new data visualization tools to support earlier risk identification.

As a result, FSIS is building on the fiscal year (FY) 2026 pilot program conducted in the Alameda, Chicago, and Raleigh districts and will begin a phased implementation of the sampling across all nine districts in the coming months. 

The national implementation uses the same swabbing procedures, lab methods, reporting, and follow-up actions already in place under the RLm and IVT programs. 

What is changing? Like the pilot, the national implementation will add two food contact surface and two non-food contact surface sampling tasks to all existing RTE post-lethality exposed product samples ('RTEPROD" in PHIS). These four swabs will help better understand the environmental conditions that lead to Lm contamination. 

The swabs will be analyzed for Lm and non-LmListeria species, giving inspection teams more frequent, science-based checks of sanitation effectiveness and potential Listeria harborage sites.   

Integrating swabs into the existing sampling tasks provides an expanded view into conditions on and around the processing line without creating duplicative steps or requiring additional product holds.  

Our goal is prevention. Swabbing both food contact and non-food contact surfaces will strengthen FSIS' ability to detect risks early and ensures decisions are based on complete, accurate data.

This change is not meant to replace or discourage industry testing. It is designed to work with those efforts. With this consistent sampling data, FSIS can work with establishments to ensure their corrective actions effectively address the root cause or harborage sites. The national sampling will also help with early detection and provide a better understanding of Listeria trends across all RTE establishments. Broader sampling and more data ultimately means safer food. 

Timeline and training. All inspection personnel responsible for collecting samples and supervisors will be trained on the new sampling approach.

Training will be incorporated into foundational instruction to ensure consistent understanding and implementation across field operations.

National implementation will begin rolling out in phases starting January 2027.

Latest Regulatory & Program Updates

From policy and program changes to new sampling activities and PHIS updates, several recent developments may affect how establishments operate. Here's a look at what's changing, what it may mean for your plant, and where to find more information.

Egg Products & Exports

Establishments exporting egg products should be aware of updated export certification requirements that took effect September 19. These changes bring egg products export procedures more closely in line with those for meat and poultry, including requirements for applications, certification, and stamping. The PHIS export component has also been updated for eligible egg products shipments. If you export egg products, check the FSIS Export Library for country-specific requirements and the PHIS Components, Export, Country Rollout Schedule page to see which procedures apply.

PHIS & Regulatory Support

The September 19 PHIS update introduced changes to several tools establishments and inspection personnel use to manage day-to-day inspection activities, including noncompliance records, appeals, memoranda of interview, and export applications. The rollout caused temporary technical issues that disrupted some functions. Since then, the PHIS team has resolved these issues and continues to support users through the transition.

We encourage you to take a few minutes to review the updated user guides, tutorials, and webinar recordings. These resources walk you through the changes and can help you navigate the new features. Direct any technical questions to [email protected].

Other Policy Developments

Work continues on several proposals that could affect smaller establishments, including changes to establishment size definitions and line speeds under the New Poultry Inspection System and New Swine Slaughter Inspection System. Public comments are under review, and we'll share updates as these efforts progress. FSIS also announced it will be using the FY 2026 Public Health Regulations for FY 2027 as the agency assesses additional data-driven approaches for optimizing the allocation of inspection resources.

Sampling & Testing

Several changes to sampling activities are planned for FY 2027, with some beginning as early as January. The updated FY 2027 Annual Sampling Plan outlines what's changing and which products may be affected.

• As mentioned above, for RTE establishments, expanded environmental sampling for Lm and other Listeria species will begin rolling out in phases in January 2027. For raw pork processors, sampling will increase and expand to additional product types to gather more information about Salmonella risks.
• Bob veal residue sampling will decrease to reflect lower national slaughter volumes.

Establishments producing RTE products should also be aware of updated allergen verification sampling instructions. If your plant is selected for sampling, inspection personnel will explain the process, including any applicable product-holding requirements.

Take a moment to review the changes that may apply to your products and discuss questions with your in-plant inspection team.

Data & Transparency

Two proposed updates to publicly available inspection data are open for comment.

One would add a product name field to public laboratory product-sampling datasets beginning in January 2027. This would provide more detail about sampled products, with proprietary information redacted before publication. Establishments interested in how their product information may appear in these datasets can review the sample dataset and submit comments by November 6, 2026.

The other proposal would make structural improvements to public import datasets to make information easier to access and use. Comments are due November 13, 2026.

Items for your to-do list:

• Explore SPUR financing opportunities. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply at https://www.rd.usda.gov/oneRDguarantee.
• If you use (or would like to start using) overtime or holiday inspection services, contact your local FSIS District Office or askFSIS to learn more about available fee reductions.
• Plan ahead on labeling: take advantage of the extended deadline to ensure compliance with retained water labeling requirements by Jan. 1, 2027.
• Submit your draft retained water protocol and associated data through askFSIS to solicit feedback from the FSIS Office of Policy and Program Development. On askFSIS, navigate to "Policy Questions," "Ask a Policy Question," and complete the webform and attach related documents.
• Explore processing assistance. Phase 3 of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) is open for applications through December 7, 2026. Small and mid-sized beef processors interested in grant opportunities can visit the USDA Rural Development MPPEP website to learn more.
• Mark upcoming comment deadlines. Submit feedback on the proposed laboratory sampling dataset changes by November 6 and import dataset changes by November 13. Email comments to [email protected].

Get help when you need it. Continue using askFSIS and the Small Plant Help Desk when questions arise and monitor the weekly Constituent Update newsletter for future opportunities to provide feedback on policy and regulatory issues. Don't want to dig through your email to re-read these newsletters? Bookmark the Updates for Small Plants page on the News & Announcements section of the FSIS website.

Knowledge Article

askFSIS Public Q&A: Does FSIS restrict where shipments of meat, poultry, egg products or Siluriformes fish present for import reinspection?

While all imported shipments of meat, poultry, egg products or Siluriformes fish must be presented to FSIS for reinspection before they can enter commerce in the United States (9 CFR 327.6(a), 381.199(a), 557.6(a) and 590.925(a)), FSIS does not restrict which official import inspection establishment is used, or whether the shipment arrives by air, land or sea. The importer of record is responsible for designating the official import inspection establishment where the shipment will be presented. The importer of record provides FSIS with information about the official import inspection establishment on the Import Inspection Application (FSIS Form 9540-1, or electronically through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)). Importers should be aware of any animal health restrictions defined by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that may restrict where the shipment must be presented for reinspection.

Questions? Please submit them through askFSIS by filling out the web form on the FSIS website.

Visit askFSIS for more answers to common questions.