Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) new rule on the prohibition of the use of specified risk materials for human food, requirements for the disposition of non-ambulatory disabled cattle, and the prohibition of the use of certain stunning devices to immobilize cattle during slaughter. GAO found that (1) the final rule designated certain materials from cattle as specified risk materials and prohibits their use for human food, as well as prohibiting the slaughter of any non-ambulatory disabled cattle for human food, and the use of "air-injection" stunning; and (2) FSIS complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.