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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
Congressional and Public Affairs
Matt Baun (202) 720-9113
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2002 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service today announced that its 17 District Veterinary Medical Specialists (DVMS) have begun to report for duty. They will be the primary contact in each of FSIS’ district offices for humane handling and slaughter issues, and will be the liaison between the district office and headquarters on all humane handling matters.
"FSIS established these new positions because humanely handling and slaughtering animals continues to be a top priority," said Margaret O’K. Glavin, acting FSIS administrator. "These experts will ensure that all plants, regardless of size, appropriately address their humane handling responsibilities and other slaughter issues."
These additional resources will further bolster FSIS’oversight of humane slaughter and handling issues. Each DVMS will be responsible for on-site coordination of nationally prescribed humane slaughter procedures and verification of humane handling activities, as well as dissemination of directives, notices, and other information from headquarters through the district office to Veterinary Medical Officers in the field.
"FSIS has always been vigilant in, and remains fully dedicated to, ensuring that all livestock are humanely slaughtered," said Glavin. "These veterinary specialists are one example of FSIS’ steadfast commitment in this area. "In addition to the above duties, the DVMSes will participate in other farm-to-table activities, such as coordinating with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on foreign animal diseases and working with headquarters on biosecurity activities."
Each DVMS will also work with new FSIS veterinary hires on humane handling and slaughter regulatory responsibilities, including ante-mortem inspection. They will conduct on-site verifications of humane handling activities and prepare summary reports on their findings. In addition, they will partner with other federal, state, and private sector experts on humane handling issues, foreign animal disease concerns and assist district managers in sharing information on Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point systems, and residue control programs.
For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460