A family of large flightless birds that include ostriches, emus, and rheas, which U.S. farmers are beginning to domesticate and raise for food. On April 26, 2001, FSIS mandated the inspection of ratites. As a result of this action U.S. establishments slaughtering or processing ratites for distribution into commerce as human food are now subject to mandatory requirements of the Poultry Products Inspection Act and no longer pay a fee for inspection. Previously, some ratites had been inspected under the Agency’s voluntary poultry inspection program, which requires establishments to pay a fee for inspection services.