21 U.S.C. § 471 — Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection Panel

(a) Review and evaluation. The advisory panel called the "Safe Meat and Poultry Inspection Panel," created by section 679a, must review and evaluate — as often as it thinks necessary — the adequacy, necessity, safety, cost-effectiveness, and scientific merit of: (1) inspection procedures, and work rules and worker relations involving federal employees, at plants inspected under this chapter; (2) informal petitions or proposals to change inspection procedures, processes, and techniques at those plants; (3) formal changes to poultry inspection regulations under this chapter, whether the changes are just announced, proposed, or already final; and (4) any other matters the Secretary refers to the panel about the quality or effectiveness of a safe, cost-effective poultry inspection system under this chapter. (b) Reports. (1) In general, the panel must send the Secretary a report on each review and evaluation, including whatever recommendations the panel thinks are appropriate. (2) Reports on formal changes. For a report about a formal change to poultry inspection regulations, it must be finished within the time limits set for formal public comments on that change.