I. PURPOSE

This directive instructs inspection program personnel (IPP) how to determine whether intestines or casings from livestock are eligible to receive the mark of inspection and how to certify eligible intestines or casings for export.

Key Points Covered

• explains how to determine whether intestines or casings are eligible to receive the mark of inspection;
• instructs IPP on what is required to certify intestines or casings for export; - instructs IPP on what is required to certify imported intestines or casings for export;
• contains Questions and Answers for The Inspection and Export Certification of Livestock Intestines (Attachment 1). The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) may post additional Questions and Answers on askFSIS.

II. CANCELLATIONS

FSIS Directive 9000.2, Inspection and Export Certification of Livestock Intestines or Casings, dated 10/27/08

III. REASON FOR REISSUANCE

This directive clarifies that FSIS does not expect imported casings that are to be certified for export with FSIS Form 9060-18 to have been derived solely from livestock that was slaughtered under an inspection system equivalent to the U.S. system.

IV. REFERENCES

9 CFR 310.22

9 CFR Parts 96.3, 322, and 350

FSIS Directive 6100.4, “Verification Instructions Related to Specified Risk Materials”

FSIS Directive 6420.2, “Verification of Procedures for Controlling Fecal Material, Ingesta and Milk in Slaughter Operations”

FSIS Directive 9000.1, “Export Certification”

FSIS Directive 12,600.1, “Voluntary Reimbursable Inspection Services”

V. BACKGROUND

A. Since June 2006, FSIS has issued a series of notices designed to bring the inspection and certification services that FSIS performs on a fee-for-service basis under 9 CFR Part 350, Special Services Relating to Meat and Other Products, in line with other inspection activities that the Agency performs, particularly those that may result in the application of the mark of inspection.

B. Products labeled as “(species) intestines” are meat byproducts derived from the intestines of livestock and, as such, are under FSIS jurisdiction. Therefore, products labeled “(species) intestines” are required to be produced under inspection and are eligible to bear the mark of inspection.

C. Products labeled as “(species) casings” are derived from the intestines of livestock and are used as containers to prepare sausage and other meat food products. Casings are under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and normally do not bear the mark of inspection. A non-FSIS inspected facility (a casing manufacturer) may request voluntary reimbursable service under 9 CFR 350.3 to prepare casings under FSIS inspection, thus making them eligible to bear the mark of inspection.

D. Beef distal ileum is a specified risk material (SRM) in all ages of cattle and must be disposed according to 9 CFR 310.22(a)(2) and 310.22(c) prior to leaving inspection oversight at the slaughter establishment.

VI. INSPECTION PROGRAM PERSONNEL VERIFICATION ACTIVITIES AT OFFICIAL ESTABLISHMENTS PREPARING INTESTINES OR CASINGS

A. Intestines or casings prepared at official establishments are eligible to bear the mark of inspection and can be certified for export, provided, they are produced under sanitary conditions resulting in clean, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled product.

B. IPP are to consider the intestines or casings clean when they are visibly free of digestive tract contents. Intestines or casings are not subject to a zero tolerance standard for ingesta and fecal material. The zero tolerance standard applies to livestock carcasses and parts only (FSIS Directive 6420.2).

C. IPP are to verify that the intestines or casings are suitable for the intended use of the product. To receive the mark of inspection, the intestines or casings must be in an appropriate condition and suitable for use as an edible product.

D. Intestines or casings prepared at an official establishment are not required to bear the mark of inspection. When requested by establishments, IPP are to allow official establishments to prepare and ship intestines or casings that do not bear the mark of inspection and without denaturing the intestines, provided the process does not cause adulteration of edible product or produce unsanitary conditions, and the product is suitable for its intended purpose. After removal of the distal ileum from bovine intestines, the remaining intestines may leave the establishment undenatured as inspected or uninspected product.

VII. EXPORT CERTIFICATION OF INTESTINES OR CASINGS AT AN OFFICIAL ESTABLISHMENT

A. When requested, at an official establishment, IPP are to certify intestines or casings for export (see FSIS Directive 9000.1, Revision 1, “Export Certification”) as a non-reimbursable service in accordance with 9 CFR Part 322.

B. IPP are to provide the certification service and permit the application of approved labels bearing the mark of inspection to intestines or casings prepared from livestock slaughtered, inspected, and passed at that establishment or at another official establishment.

C. When an importing country requires certification of requirements not imposed by FSIS meat and poultry regulations, IPP are to certify intestines and casings for export (when requested) as a reimbursable service in accordance with 9 CFR 350.3(b).

VIII. EXPORT CERTIFICATION OF CASINGS AT A CASINGS FACILITY

A. When requested, IPP are to certify casings for export (see FSIS Directive 9000.1, Revision 1, “Export Certification”) as a reimbursable service in accordance with 9 CFR 350.3.

B. If a casings facility requests FSIS certification service for domestic casings not bearing the mark of inspection, IPP are to sign the Export Certificate, FSIS Form 9060- 7 (08/13/2008), “Animal Casings Export Certificate for Countries Requiring Ante-Mortem, Post-Mortem, and Fit for Human Food Statements,” provided IPP are able to certify that all the statements in the certification, including the following statement, are factual based on the documentation accompanying the shipment:

I certify that the animal casings specified hereon were derived from animals which received USDA ante-mortem and post-mortem veterinary inspection at the time of slaughter, and that the casings are sound, healthful, wholesome, and otherwise fit for human food. While in establishments subject to USDA inspection, said casings have been handled in a sanitary manner and were not subject to contagion prior to exportation.

C. Such casings are not eligible for the mark of inspection. The documentation is to substantiate that the intestines were harvested under sanitary conditions from livestock that passed ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection in the United States (U.S.) and meet the requirements listed in the Export Library for the importing country. Export requirements for destination countries can be found at  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Export_Information/index.asp.

D. FSIS Form 9060-7 is used for the export of casings derived from livestock slaughtered under USDA inspection, regardless of where the casings were further processed. IPP can sign FSIS Form 9060-7 even when the casings do not bear the mark of inspection or were processed outside of the U.S., provided they are presented with evidence that the animals were slaughtered under inspection in the U.S.

E. Casings processed outside of the U.S. must be accompanied by the documentation described in IX below and all documentation provided to FSIS inspection personnel is to be written in English.

F. When requested by a casings facility, the application of the mark of inspection will be granted as a reimbursable service, provided the casings were derived from intestines that received the mark of inspection. The casings must not have been processed outside the U.S. Casings processed outside the U.S. are not eligible for the mark of inspection.

IX. EXPORT CERTIFICATION OF IMPORTED CASINGS

A. Imported casings are regulated by FDA. Therefore, FSIS IPP do not inspect imported casings or permit the application of the USDA mark of inspection to them. However, IPP can certify imported casings for export.

B. When requested, IPP are to certify imported casings for export (see FSIS Directive 9000.1, Revision 1, “Export Certification”) as a reimbursable service in accordance with 9 CFR 350.3.

C. IPP are to provide export certification to imported casings, provided that the casings in the shipment presented are clean and sound

D. IPP also are to verify that:

1. The imported casings are accompanied by a certificate signed by a government official of the exporting country stating:

I hereby certify that the animal casings herein described were derived from healthy animals (cattle, sheep, swine, or goats), which received ante-mortem and post-mortem veterinary inspection at the time of slaughter, are clean and sound, and were prepared and handled only in a sanitary manner and were not subjected to contagion prior to exportation.

2. There is documentation in English from an official of the exporting country stating that the casings have not been commingled with casings from non-inspected sources, and documentation showing that the casings were released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

NOTE: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service requires this certificate in accordance with 9 CFR 96.3.

E. IPP are to ensure that the country to which the casings are to be exported does not restrict the importation of casings (i.e., the Export Library does not state "only casings originating from the U.S. are eligible," or similar wording). IPP are to verify that any requirements of the Export Library related to the shipment are met.

F. If requested by an exporter, IPP are to sign FSIS Form 9060-18 (08/13/2008), “Animal Casings Export Certificate for Countries Requiring Ante-mortem, Post-mortem, and Sound and Clean Statement,” if, based on all of the documentation accompanying the shipment, they are able to make the following statement,

I certify that the animal casings specified hereon were accompanied by documentation showing they were derived from healthy animals which received ante-mortem and post-mortem veterinary inspection at the time of slaughter, and are clean and sound. While in establishments subject to USDA inspection, said casings have been handled in a sanitary manner and were not subject to contagion prior to exportation.

G. Facilities may re-pack and re-label imported casings (without the USDA mark of inspection) under voluntary inspection, and FSIS Form 9060-18 may be used for the export of the casings, regardless of where the casings were further processed. FSIS Form 9060-18 can be issued only if all of the casings in a shipment presented for export certification are accounted for in the facility’s documentation and meet the conditions described above.

Refer questions to the Policy Development Division at 1-800-233-3935 and follow the auto- attendant menu prompts for questions regarding export of casings. Alternatively, submit technical questions through askFSIS.

See full PDF for Attachment

• Attachment 1- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE INSPECTION AND EXPORT CERTIFICATION OF LIVESTOCK INTESTINES

Related Information:

• Exporting Products