1. Requests for alternate inspection rates of meat and poultry (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the Secretary ) shall— (1) publish in the Federal Register food safety criteria that the Secretary shall consider in granting a request submitted by any establishment to operate at alternate inspection rates; and (2) begin reviewing and responding to such requests from such establishments. (b) Response (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date on which a request from an establishment to operate at alternate inspection rates is submitted, the Secretary shall respond— (A) in the case of a request that the Secretary determines meets the food safety criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1), by approving such request; or (B) in the case of a request that the Secretary determines does not meet the food safety criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1), by denying such request in writing and explaining in detail the reasons for such denial. (2) Failure by Secretary to respond In the case of a failure by the Secretary to respond to a request during the 90-day period referred to in paragraph (1), such request shall be deemed to have been approved by the Secretary. (c) Continuation of operations at certain establishments In the case of an establishment operating at alternate inspection rates as of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall authorize such establishment to continue operating at such rates— (1) so long as the establishment maintains effective process control