VERIFICATION OF AN ESTABLISHMENT'S SEGREGATION PROCEDURES
PRIOR TO FSIS ANTE-MORTEM INSPECTION

NOTE: THIS NOTICE IS NOT TO BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL: JULY 26, 2005

With this notice, FSIS is replacing existing memorandum and instructions regarding how inspection program personnel verify an establishment's voluntary segregation of animals prior to FSIS ante-mortem inspection (previously referred to as alternative ante-mortem inspection). FSIS is announcing that an establishment may no longer employ the practice for cattle, but may continue to do so for swine and sheep. This notice provides inspection program personnel new instructions regarding their responsibilities at establishments that voluntarily segregate swine or sheep prior to FSIS ante-mortem inspection.

Inspection program personnel, under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, perform an ante-mortem examination and inspection on all animals prior to slaughter to determine that an animal is fit for slaughter for human food purposes. If an establishment fails to present animals for ante-mortem inspection in accordance with 21 USC 603 and 9 CFR 309.1, inspection program personnel will be unable to determine that carcasses are not adulterated during postmortem inspection, and therefore cannot permit the carcasses to be marked as "inspected and passed."

Provided the establishment properly presents animals for ante-mortem inspection and properly follows the Humane Slaughter Act, FSIS has permitted an establishment to voluntarily segregate animals, to facilitate the establishment's scheduling of animals for slaughter. As of the implementation date of this notice, FSIS will only permit market classes of swine and sheep (i.e., market hogs and lambs), arriving for regular slaughter (i.e., not arriving for slaughter under any APHIS Veterinary Services permit or certificate) to continue to be voluntarily segregated by the establishment prior to FSIS ante-mortem inspection activities provided that:

1. market classes of animals comprise the predominant class slaughtered at the establishment,

2. the establishment has documented its segregation procedures in a prerequisite program,

3. all animals are presented to inspection program personnel for examination and inspection prior to slaughter, and

4. the procedures in the prerequisite program and related records are available to inspection personnel upon request (See FSIS Directive 5000.2).

INSPECTION PROGRAM PERSONNEL VERIFICATION OF ESTABLISHMENT SEGREGATION PROCEDURES FOR MARKET SWINE AND LAMBS PRIOR TO FSIS ANTE-MORTEM INSPECTION

1. Inspection program personnel conducting ante-mortem inspection are to:
   
   
   1. verify that the segregation procedures are only for market classes of swine and lambs;
      
      
   2. examine all animals found normal by the establishment while the animals are "at rest," (i.e., by randomly moving around in the pens.) (9 CFR 309.1(a));
      
      
   3. select 5 to 10 percent of all animals presented for ante-mortem inspection from several lots and observe them on each side in motion;
      
      
   4. instruct the establishment to move abnormal animals that may be condemned under 9 CFR part 311 to the designated "Suspect" pen under 9 CFR 307.2 for final disposition by the PHV; and
      
      
   5. randomly observe establishment personnel performing segregation procedures (i.e., segregating those animals showing signs of abnormalities or diseases from healthy animals) at least once per month.
      
      
2. If an establishment does not have documented segregation procedures or fails to implement its segregation procedures properly, the PHV is to instruct inspection program personnel to not take into consideration the establishment's segregation program.

NOTE: For livestock classes other than market swine and lambs (such as cattle), establishments may presort animals prior to inspection and move the animals that may be designated "U.S. Suspect" or "U.S. Condemn" under 9 CFR part 309 and 311 to the designated "Suspect" pen for final disposition by the PHV. The PHV must conduct a careful examination and inspection on all animals in the "Suspect" pen. Inspection program personnel are to conduct an examination and inspection of all remaining animals by observing them both at rest and in motion.

Refer technical questions to the Technical Service Center at 1-800-233-3935.

Philip S. Derfler /s/

Assistant Administrator
Office of Policy, Program, and Employee Development