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Meat and Poultry Products Effluent Guidelines

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The EPA initially promulgated the Meat and Poultry Products (MPP) Effluent Guidelines and Standards in 1974, and amended the regulation in 2004. The regulation (40 CFR Part 432) covers wastewater directly dischargedA point source that discharges pollutants to waters of the United States, such as streams, lakes, or oceans. by slaughterhouses, further processors, independent renderers and poultry processors. The requirements are incorporated into NPDES permits.

On this page:

  • 2024 Proposed Rule
  • Existing Regulations - Facilities Covered
  • Rulemaking History
  • Additional Information

2024 Proposed Rule

The EPA is proposing an amendment to the regulation that would establish more stringent effluent limitations for nitrogen and phosphorus, add E. coli bacteria limitations for direct dischargers, and extend coverage to include indirect dischargers.

  • 2024 Proposed Rule

Existing Regulations - Facilities Covered

Direct Dischargers—Existing and New Sources

Related Information
  • Stormwater fact sheet (Sector U—Food and Kindred Products Facilities)
  • All meat first processors (slaughterhouses)
  • Meat further processors that generate more than 6,000 pounds per day of finished products (examples: bacon or sausage)
  • Independent renderers of meat and poultry products that use more than 10 million pounds per year of raw material
  • Poultry first processors (slaughterhouses) that slaughter more than 100 million pounds per year
  • Poultry further processors that generate more than 7 million pounds per year of finished products (examples: ready-to-cook chicken cutlets or ground turkey)

Direct Dischargers—New Sources

  • All poultry first processors
  • All poultry further processors

Rulemaking History

2004 Rule

  • Final Rule - Federal Register notice (September 8, 2004)
    • Technical Development Document for the Final Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category (pdf) (2.93 MB, 2004, 821-R-04-011)
      Describes industry processes, pollutants generated, available control and treatment technologies, the technical basis for the final rule, and costs of the rule
      (821-R-04-011; 2004)
    • Economic and Environmental Benefits Analysis of the Final Meat and Poultry Products Rule (pdf) (1.25 MB, February 2004, 821-R-04-010)
  • Proposed Rule - Federal Register notice (February 25, 2002)

Additional Information

For additional information regarding the Meat and Poultry Products Effluent Guidelines, please contact Steve Whitlock ([email protected]) or 202-566-1541.

Effluent Guidelines

  • Effluent Guidelines Home
  • Industry Regulations & Studies
  • Learn about Effluent Guidelines
  • Effluent Guidelines Plan
    • Preliminary Plan #16 (2024)
    • Final Plan #15 (2023)
  • Implementation & Compliance
  • Effluent Guidelines Database
  • Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technology Database
Contact Us About Effluent Guidelines
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on April 4, 2025
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