Washington, D.C.-- Testimony given on the implementation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) inspection standards in meat and poultry processing plants was the focus of Sixth District Congressman Frank Lucas' attention at a U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing today. A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) official was on hand to take questions from the Members of the committee.

The HACCP system of inspection was designed to allow for the development of site specific inspection processes by each individual meat or poultry processing plant to prevent physical, chemical and microbiological hazards in food. This new testing process replaces the old system of sight, touch and smell that failed to detect micro-pathogens in meat and poultry.

"HACCP is the answer to protecting our American citizens against food-borne illnesses," Lucas said. AHowever, the USDA has created a bureaucratic inspection predicament for plants by layering the HACCP system regulations on top of the old rules for inspection.

"When Congress and the USDA agreed to move to this inspection system, it was determined that the USDA would review the current system and find the path of easiest integration of HACCP for the big plants coming online in January," Lucas continued.

Large plants came under HACCP regulation in January of 1998 and small and medium-sized plants will come online in the next two years.

Under questioning Thomas Billey, Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA, stated that the USDA is working diligently to untangle the two inspection system's regulations. He said the bugs should be worked out by 1999 when the small and medium-sized plants begin come under HACCP regulation.

"Today's hearing was fruitful," Lucas said. "I have now been informed of the work the USDA is doing on this matter, and I will be monitoring this continued rule-making procedure. As more of our plants come online I will keep in mind the position of our small and medium-sized plants in this process."

Billey was the USDA official testifying before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry today.