WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said Wednesday that it had amended its rules to establish a voluntary trichinae certification program for U.S. pork.

The agency said that Trichinella is in the United States and that APHIS’s program is meant to enhance the ability of producers to export pork and pork products overseas. The European Union and other foreign markets require Trichinella testing for all imports of fresh pork and fresh pork products.

Trichinella is a parasitic species of worm found in many warm-blooded carnivores and omnivores, including swine. Transmission from one host to another only occurs by the ingestion of infected muscle tissue.

Reports said that under the new program, APHIS will certify pork production sites that follow good production practices that reduce, eliminate or avoid the risk of exposure of swine to Trichinella parasites. Good production practices include feed integrity as well as facility construction and condition.

Notice of this final rule is scheduled for publication in the Oct. 10 Federal Register and becomes effective Nov. 10.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture