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Key Facts: Humane Slaughter |
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Background
USDA considers humane methods of handling animals and humane
slaughter operations a priority, and has a Farm Animal Well
Being Task Force to address sound standards for the care,
handling, transporting, and slaughter of farm animals. The
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the Agency within
USDA responsible for ensuring compliance with the Humane Methods
of Slaughter Act.
FSIS employs a Veterinarian and slaughter line inspectors at
every federally inspected slaughter establishment. The Veterinarian
enforces humane slaughter methods throughout the entire plant.
The Veterinarian and slaughter line inspectors observe the methods
by which cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other
equines are slaughtered, ensure plants take corrective action
where needed, and are responsible for reporting instances of
inhumane treatment of animals as they carry out their primary
food safety-related inspection responsibilities. FSIS
Veterinarians and inspectors stop the production line if they
see any violations of the humane slaughter regulations.
FSIS Compliance Officers make further inquiries and prepare reports
of instances in which there are alleged violations of the Federal
Meat Inspection regulations, including violations of the humane
slaughter and handling regulations.
The 1996 Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Point (HACCP) final rule has been implemented in all meat and
poultry slaughter and processing establishments. HACCP is designed
to prevent problems before they occur, including humane slaughter
violations.
As of September 30, 2000, there were over 900 federally inspected
livestock slaughter establishments that slaughtered approximately
130 million animals per year.
Training
All Veterinarians complete a computer-based training, and an exam
on antemortem inspection and humane slaughter. All slaughter line
inspectors complete classroom training, and an exam on antemortem
inspection and humane slaughter. A training video for humane
slaughter has been developed for education of new personnel and
continuing education of veteran inspection personnel.
Recent Actions
In March 1998, FSIS conducted a survey and issued a report
entitled Special Survey on Humane Slaughter and Ante-Mortem
Inspection (https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090115182126/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/antemort.pdf).
The report contained recommendations to strengthen certain humane
handling procedures, and suggested areas for further study. As a
result of this survey and report, FSIS formed a committee to
examine regulations on humane slaughter of livestock. The
committee is determining how best to establish more definitive
criteria for humane handling of animals, and once a final
decision is made, the Agency will begin the required rulemaking
process.
Last year, Dr. Temple Grandin, Assistant Professor of Livestock
Handling and Behavior, Colorado State University, released a
report showing continued improvements of animal handling in meat
and poultry establishments. A copy of the report is available on
the Internet, at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090115182126/http://www.grandin.com/survey/2000McDonalds.rpt.html.
FSIS regularly takes actions to raise the level of employee awareness
regarding the importance of humane handling and stunning. On January
18, 2001, an agency memorandum was issued to all District Managers,
Circuit Supervisors, Veterinarians, and all livestock slaughter
plants, to remind them of the importance of monitoring and
enforcing the humane handling and slaughter regulations.
Actions Underway
Currently, FSIS is conducting a correlation review process of humane
slaughter activities at federally inspected meat and poultry plants.
The correlation team members are reviewing regulations, appropriate
actions, and enforcement responsibilities with plant management and
FSIS inspection personnel. Any humane slaughter violations
discovered during this correlation process will be handled
appropriately.
FSIS is also determining how best to establish more definitive
criteria for handling and moving downer animals and is considering
amending the regulations to do it. These criteria would be used
by FSIS employees to help them more uniformly assess whether
there have been violations.
Closing
FSIS continues to work with other government agencies, industry, and
academia to develop and take steps to improve food safety. We support
the development and implementation of sound standards for the care,
handling, transporting, and slaughter of farm animals and will
continue to facilitate on-going discussions and activities to
encourage industry to voluntarily implement objective criteria
in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for humane handling of
animals.
June 22, 2001
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