Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2004 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today informed slaughterers of young calves, including those labeled as "veal," of the need to reassess their food safety plans with respect to residues and the use of unapproved new animal drugs.

This notice reflects the need of slaughterers to consider new conditions that affect the hazard analysis or otherwise alter Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans of establishments. The notice requires establishments to reassess their HACCP plans to determine if unapproved new animal drugs are hazards reasonably likely to occur in production. Through these reassessments, establishments should make appropriate changes to HACCP plans or Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures to prevent and control identified potential food safety hazards.

Earlier this year, FSIS inspectors identified implants in young cattle that were being presented for slaughter as "veal" during routine ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections. Industry sources relayed information to FSIS officials that the use of such growth promoting implants was widespread throughout the veal industry. The Food and Drug Administration has declared that the use of growth-promoting implants in animals labeled as "veal" is illegal.

FSIS is concerned about the illegal and widespread use of implants in young calves, and believes this reflects a change in conditions that would affect the hazard analysis or alter the HACCP plans of establishments that slaughter young calves.

Comments must be received by February 22, 2005. Written comments may be submitted to the FSIS Docket Room, Reference Docket #04-017N, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 102 Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700. Any comments received will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and will be posted at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080923193324/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRDockets.htm.

For further information contact Carole Thomas, Technical Analysis Staff, Office of Policy, Program, and Employee Development, FSIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, phone (202) 205-0210.