The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has chosen not to move forward with new wastewater discharge rules for meat and poultry processors, shelving a proposal first introduced in 2024.
After reviewing feedback from stakeholders, the agency concluded that existing Clean Water Act standards are sufficient to safeguard the environment. The decision reflects a wider federal push to ease regulatory burdens within the agricultural industry.
Producer organizations representing pork, beef, poultry, and egg sectors expressed relief at the outcome, warning that additional restrictions could have led to higher operating costs, plant closures, and increased prices for consumers. Maintaining the current rules is viewed by these groups as a way to protect jobs and preserve the stability of smaller processors.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also backed the EPA’s move, noting that it supports the broader supply chain by providing flexibility for processors along with the farmers and ranchers who supply them. With this decision, the EPA has signaled that it intends to balance environmental oversight with the economic realities of the food production industry.
