The federal government is poised this month to adopt a rule that would essentially turn the largest pork processing lines in the United States into the autobahn: no speed limit.

Currently, plants are allowed to slaughter a maximum of 1,106 hogs per hour. As hogs move down the slaughter lines, federal inspectors stationed at each plant examine them and remove any parts potentially harmful to consumers.

But pork producers have pushed for a change to plant inspection regulations that would, among other things, do away with the speed limit and reduce the number of federal inspectors. For those in favor of the change, the advantages are clear. Plants would be able to slaughter more pigs and, therefore, make more money. The government would save money because it would not employ as many inspectors.

Proponents say speed limits are unnecessary anyway. They say that market hogs — about six months old and around 250 pounds — are generally healthy and that the elimination of maximum speeds would add flexibility to plant production schedules and staffing levels. The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said the revamped rule, which was proposed in February 2018, was based on current food safety science.