[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 9, Volume 2]

[Revised as of January 1, 2007]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 9CFR354.130]



[Page 397-398]

 

                  TITLE 9--ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS

 

     CHAPTER III--FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 

                               AGRICULTURE

 

PART 354_VOLUNTARY INSPECTION OF RABBITS AND EDIBLE PRODUCTS THEREOF

--Table of Contents

 

Sec. 354.130  Diseases or conditions evident which require condemnation.



    (a) Carcasses of rabbits affected with or showing lesions of any of 

the following named diseases or conditions shall be condemned: 

Tularemia, anthrax, hemorrhagic septicemia, pyemia, septicemia, 

leukemia, acute enteritis, peritonitis, sarcomatosis, metritis, 

necrobacillosis (Smorl's Disease), tuberculosis, emaciation, 

streptobacillary pseudotuberculosis, and advanced stages of snuffles. 

Rabbits from pathological laboratories shall be condemned.

    (b) Any organ or part of a rabbit carcass affected with a tumor 

shall be condemned and when there is evidence that the general condition 

of the rabbit has been affected by the size, position, or nature of the 

tumor, the whole carcass shall be condemned. In cases of malignant 

neoplasms involving any internal organ to a marked extent, or affecting 

the muscles, skeleton, or body lymph glands, even primarily, the whole 

carcass shall be condemned.

    (c) Carcasses of rabbits showing any disease such as generalized 

melanosis, pseudoleukemia, and the like, which systemically affect the 

rabbit, shall be condemned.

    (d) Any organ or part of a carcass which is badly bruised or which 

is affected by an abscess, or a suppurating sore, shall be condemned. 

Parts or carcasses which are contaminated by pus shall be condemned.



[[Page 398]]



    (e) Carcasses of rabbits contaminated by volatile oils, paints, 

poisons, gases, or other substances which affect the wholesomeness of 

the carcass shall be condemned.

    (f) All carcasses of rabbits so infected that consumption of the 

meat or meat food products thereof may give rise to meat poisoning shall 

be condemned. This includes all carcasses showing signs of any of the 

following diseases: Acute inflammation of the lungs, pleura, 

pericardium, peritoneum or meninges; septicemia or pyemia, whether 

traumatic, or without evident cause; gangrenous or severe hemorrhagic 

enteritis or gastritis; polyarthritis and acute nephritis. Immediately 

after the slaughter of any rabbit so infected, the infected premises and 

implements used shall be thoroughly sanitized. The part or parts of any 

carcass coming into contact with the carcass or any part of the carcass 

of any rabbit covered by this section other than those affected with 

acute inflammation of the lungs, pleura, pericardium, peritoneum or 

meninges, shall be condemned.

    (g) Carcasses showing any degree of icterus with a parenchymatous 

degeneration of organs, the result of infection or intoxication, and 

those which, as a result of a pathological condition, show an intense 

yellow or greenish-yellow discoloration without evidence of infection or 

intoxication shall be condemned.

    (h) Carcasses of rabbits affected with mange or scab in advanced 

stages, or showing emaciation or extension of the inflammation to the 

flesh, shall be condemned. When the diseased condition is slight, the 

carcass may be passed for food after removal and condemnation of the 

affected parts.

    (i) In the disposal of carcasses and parts of carcasses showing 

evidence of infestation with parasites not transmissible to man, the 

following general rules shall govern: If the lesions are localized in 

such manner and are of such character that the parasites and the lesions 

caused by them may be radically removed, the non-affected portion of the 

carcass, or part of the carcass, may be certified for food after the 

removal and condemnation of the affected portions. Where a part of a 

carcass shows numerous lesions caused by parasites, or the character of 

the infestation is such that complete extirpation of the parasites and 

lesions is difficult and uncertainly accomplished, or if the parasitic 

infestation or invasion renders the organ or part in any way unfit for 

food, the affected organ or part shall be condemned. Where parasites are 

found to be distributed in a carcass in such a manner or to be of such a 

character that their removal and the removal of the lesions caused by 

them are impracticable, no part of the carcass shall be certified for 

food and the entire carcass shall be condemned. Carcasses infested with 

a hydatid cyst or cysts (Echinococcus granulosis), transmissible to dogs 

and from dogs to man, shall in all cases be condemned regardless of the 

degree of infestation.

    (j) Carcasses of rabbits showing such degree of emaciation or anemic 

condition as would render the meat unwholesome, and carcasses which show 

a slimy degeneration of the fat or a serious infiltration of the muscles 

shall be condemned.