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| Voluntary Inspection of Exotic Animals (1) |
Q1: Are HACCP plans required for operations that slaughter and process exotic animals under Voluntary Inspection?
A1: No. As stated in 9 CFR Part 352, inspection of exotic animal products is conducted under the applicable
provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946, as amended. 9 CFR Part 352 does not reference
9 CFR Part 417, which sets out the requirement for HACCP plans. This part of the regulation does require
in 9 CFR 352.3(a) that official exotic animal establishments must comply with the provisions
of 9 CFR 416.1-416.6 in respect to the Sanitation Performance Standards.
Q2: Are exotic animals slaughtered under voluntary
inspection subject to Agency standards for no visible feces?
A2:
Yes, under 9 CFR 352.11, product under voluntary inspection is subject to 9
CFR 310.18, which permits no visible feces on carcasses and carcass parts.
Under this requirement, establishments must remove any such contamination from
carcasses and parts before they may be found wholesome and the mark of voluntary
inspection is applied [9 CFR 352.1(i)].
Q3: Do exotic animals slaughtered under
voluntary inspection require the removal of specified risk materials (SRMs)?
A3: No. The requirement in 9 CFR 310.22 applies
specifically to cattle.
Q4: When are exotic animal products
eligible to bear the round USDA mark of inspection?
A4: Exotic animal products are not amenable to
mandatory inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and therefore may not
bear the round USDA mark of inspection. Meat from an exotic animal may be used
as an ingredient in a product that contains meat or poultry from an amenable
species and is eligible to bear round marks of inspection, provided that:
- the meat and poultry products are produced in accordance with applicable
regulatory requirements and compliant with the requirements of 9 CFR 352 (and including yak),
- subject to verification by inspection personnel, and
- the meat and poultry products meet the criteria for amenable products
as stated under the “Amenability” definition in the
FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book
(PDF Only).
- Meat or poultry product(s) are defined as food product(s) containing 2% cooked or 3% or more raw amenable meat or poultry.
- Meat from an exotic species may contribute as much as 98% of the content of a
product composed of cooked amenable species or kind.
- Meat from an exotic species may contribute up to 97% of the content of a
product composed of raw amenable species or kind.
Q5: Can exotic animals that are
slaughtered without the benefit of FSIS voluntary inspection be sold
to restaurants?
A5: Yes, if the
product complies with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
requirements for the production of exotic animal products and any
local or State law. Producers should contact their State Health
Department or the State Department of Agriculture for further
information. Sources can be located through the web sites below:
- State Departments of Agriculture
- State and Local Health Departments (see bottom of link page)
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Last Modified: July 3, 2007 |
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