FSIS NOTICE |
50-04 |
10-7-04 |
BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
(BSE): ISSUES RELATING TO TONSILS AND BRAIN COLLECTION
FSIS is issuing this notice to clarify which practices
are acceptable for removing tonsils from cattle for
purposes of 9 CFR 310.22, the regulations that prescribe
requirements for the removal, segregation, and
disposition of specified risk materials (SRMs). Also,
this notice clarifies the notification protocol related
to the off-site collection of brain samples for BSE
testing described in
FSIS Notice 33-04.
Tonsils
The regulations in 9 CFR 310.22 require that
establishments develop, implement, and maintain written
procedures for the removal, segregation, and disposition
of SRMs, and that they incorporate these procedures into
their food safety systems (i.e., HACCP plans or
Sanitation SOPs or other prerequisite programs). Under 9
CFR 310.22, the tonsils from cattle of all ages are among
the materials designated as SRMs. As described in
FSIS Notice 9-04, inspection program personnel are to
verify that all SRMs are completely removed from the
carcasses of cattle, segregated from edible tissue, and
disposed of as inedible.
When FSIS designated the tonsils of all cattle as
SRMs, it was not FSIS´ intention to have establishments
modify their existing practices for properly removing
bovine tonsils. In the preamble to 9 CFR 310.22, FSIS
stated that tonsils of all livestock species, including
cattle, were already required to be removed and were
prohibited for use as ingredients in meat food products
under 9 CFR 318.6(b)(6). The accepted practice for
removing the tonsils from livestock has been to remove
all visible tonsils. In cattle, this includes separation
of the palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils from the
tongue (in establishments that harvest the tongue for
human food) by a transverse cut caudal (just behind) the
last vallate papillae. During accepted head dressing
procedures, tongues are removed with associated tissues
including lymph nodes, fatty tissues, salivary glands and
tonsils (i.e., palatine and lingual tonsils). FSIS is not
aware of any new evidence that would require a change in
its accepted practice. FSIS expected that establishments
would continue to remove tonsils from cattle in
accordance with the procedures that they had implemented
to comply with 9 CFR 318.6(b)(6), and, in addition, they
would incorporate their procedures for the removal,
segregation, and disposition of tonsils into their food
safety systems. Establishments that slaughter cattle
should have been following these practices before tonsils
were designated as SRMs.
INSPECTION PROGRAM PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES
Inspection program personnel are to verify that the
establishment´s procedures for the removal, segregation,
and disposition of tonsils include:
1) accepted head dressing procedures are followed
including removal of the tongue and its associated
lymph nodes, visible tonsils (palatine and lingual),
fatty tissues and salivary glands, and
2) for those establishments that harvest the tongue
for human food, removal of edible tongue is
accomplished by making a transverse cut caudal (just
behind) the last vallate papillae.
If an establishment does not have such procedures in
place, or fails to execute such procedures, FSIS
inspection program personnel are to take the
appropriate action as set out in FSIS Notice 9-04 and
FSIS Directive 5000.1, Revision 1.
NOTE: Additional information and diagrams on
the location of the tonsils are posted on the FSIS
Technical Service Center (TSC) web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov/ofo/tsc/
Off Site Collection of Brain Samples for BSE
Testing
FSIS Notice 33-04, "Compliance and Investigations
Division (CID) Protocol for Off-Site Collection of
Brain Samples for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
(BSE) Testing," issued on June 14, 2004, provides the
protocol for CID inquiries related to the collection of
brain samples for BSE testing of bovine animals that
were "U.S. Condemned"on antemortem inspection at
federally-inspected establishments and that are moved
from the federally-inspected establishment to an
off-site sample collection location (See also
FSIS Notice 28-04 and
29-04).
PROGRAM PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES
- FSIS Public Health Veterinarian (PHV)
When an animal is condemned for signs of a Central Nervous
System (CNS) disorder at a federally-inspected
establishment that has made arrangements through the Animal
Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Area
Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC) to test for BSE at an
off-site sample location, the PHV is to:
1) immediately notify, through supervisory channels,
the Office of Program Evaluation and Enforcement
Review (OPEER), Regional Manager (RM), of the CNS
condemnation, and
2) provide the RM with the date of condemnation, and
the establishment number
where the animal was
condemned.
- Regional Manager
When the OPEER RM has been notified of a CNS condemned animal,
he or she is to verify:
1) that the carcass was received at the off-site
location, and
2) that a brain sample for BSE testing was collected by
APHIS.
The RM should document this activity in
accordance with established procedures.
Philip S. Derfler /s/
Assistant Administrator
Office of Policy, Program,
and Employee Development
|
DISTRIBUTION: Inspection Offices; T/A
Inspectors; Plant Mgt; TRA; ABB; TSC; Import
Offices |
NOTICE EXPIRES: 11-01-05 |
OPI: OPPED |
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