This directive instructs inspection program personnel (IPP) how to verify that establishments effectively prevent contamination of poultry carcasses (other than ratites) throughout the slaughter and dressing operation as required in 9 CFR 381.65(f) and (g). This directive contains instructions previously found in FSIS Notice 64-14, Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection: Verifying an Establishment’s Procedures for Preventing Contamination by Enteric Pathogens and Fecal Material, and FSIS Directive 6410.3 Verifying Sanitary Dressing and Process Control Procedures by Off-Line Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) in Poultry Slaughter Operations. FSIS will no longer assign the Poultry Sanitary Dressing Verification task in the Public Health Information System (PHIS). This directive also supersedes instructions relating to poultry fecal contamination verification (Chapters III., IV., and V.) of FSIS Directive 6420.2, Verification of Procedures for Controlling Fecal Material, Ingesta and Milk Contamination. Lastly, this directive clarifies that the recordkeeping and sampling requirements in 9 CFR 381.65(g) are applicable to poultry establishments that slaughter under a religious exemption.

KEY POINTS

• Verifying establishments prevent contamination with feces and enteric pathogens throughout the slaughter process as part of the slaughter HACCP system
• Verifying establishments meet zero tolerance requirements for feces on poultry carcasses entering chilling system.
• Reviewing poultry slaughter establishment sampling results.