FSIS Issues In-Plant Video Monitoring Draft Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS) has issued draft guidelines for video monitoring at federally
inspected meat and poultry plants. Although the guidelines do not require
in-plant video monitoring, such practices can be used to help strengthen
food safety and humane animal-handling practices, and to monitor product
inventory and building security, according to an October 14, 2010, FSIS news
release. “Records from video or other electronic monitoring or recording
equipment may also be used to meet FSIS’ record-keeping requirements,” the
agency stated.

The guidelines stem from a 2008 USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG)
recommendation that called for FSIS to “determine whether video monitoring
would be beneficial in slaughterhouse establishments,” FSIS Administrator
Al Almanza was quoted as saying. “In agreeing to that OIG recommendation,
FSIS committed to issuing compliance guidelines for using video records
and a directive clarifying FSIS’ authority to access establishment video
records. FSIS recognizes the importance of this resource.” FSIS has requested
comments by December 14, 2010.