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Script: askFSIS – Handling Specified Risk Materials in Custom Exempt
Establishments - Part 1 |
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Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
podcast. Each episode will bring you cutting edge news and information
about how FSIS is working to ensure public health protection
through food safety. While we’re on the job, you can rest assured
that your meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe,
wholesome, properly labeled, and packaged correctly. So turn
up your volume and listen in.
Host:
Hello and welcome. I’m Sheila Johnson from FSIS. Some time ago FSIS introduced a new Web-based feature that’s available 24 hours a day. This feature,
askFSIS, makes getting answers to technical and policy related questions much easier. Simply go to FSIS’ Web site
www.fsis.usda.gov and click on the link “Ask an Inspection Related Question.” Questions and answers are posted and updated regularly.
Today’s episode focuses on the first set of questions related to specified risk material or SRMs that come from a custom exempt plant. So, let’s begin.
The first question asks:
Do the SRM regulations apply to custom slaughter?
The answer is yes. By authority of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Secretary of Agriculture has designated SRMs as inedible and they are not eligible for human food. This rule applies to custom slaughtered as well as inspected animals and products in federal and state inspected establishments. Custom processors have the same obligation to deliver safe, wholesome, edible product back to the owner.
The next question is:
Are custom exempt operators required to have written procedures for the removal, segregation and disposition of SRMs and associated records and to keep records as described in 9 CFR 310.22(e)(4)?
In this case, the answer is no. FSIS does not require custom operators to keep records documenting written procedures describing the removal, segregation, and disposal of SRMs for federally inspected establishments as required for inspected plants, unless the custom operation is subject to all of 9 CFR 416 and uses SSOPs to document removal, segregation, and disposal in inspected beef.
The next two questions relate to recordkeeping. The first one is:
What are the minimum recordkeeping requirements regarding SRMs for custom operations?
Well, CFR 303.1(b)(3) describes recordkeeping requirements for custom operators. To facilitate identification of SRMs, FSIS Directive 5930.1, based on 9 CFR Part 320, states that custom operations must keep records that document the following:
- cattle slaughtered or processed are less than 30 months of age, and
- cattle are ambulatory at time of slaughter per 9 CFR 310.22(h).
Custom operations that fail to document the age of cattle slaughtered or processed and the ambulatory status of animals at slaughter are expected to handle the carcass as 30 months or older and remove all SRMs.
Be aware, custom operations conducted in official establishments are subject to all of 9 CFR Part 416. If the official establishment includes its written procedures to remove, segregate, and dispose of SRMs in its SSOP, it must meet all requirements including SSOP recordkeeping for its custom operations.
The second recordkeeping question is:
Can a plant keep custom SRM records in the same records used for SRMs under inspection?
The answer is yes. Custom establishments may keep custom records with records for activities that are under federal inspection provided that they are clearly identified as custom records.
All this information is contained in FSIS Directive 6100. 4, Verification Instructions Related to Specified Risk Materials, dated Sept. 13, 2007. The Custom Exempt Review Process is covered in
Directive 5930.1, Revision 3, dated April 26, 2007. The directives and the link to askFSIS can be found at
www.fsis.usda.gov.
Alright, that’s it for this episode. Join me next time for the continuation of questions and answers on specified risk materials.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your feedback
on our podcast. Or if you have ideas for future podcasts, send
us an e-mail at podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To learn more about food
safety, try our web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov.
Thanks for tuning in.
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