For use beginning 1/31/2020
This directive instructs inspection program personnel (IPP) on how to verify that establishments effectively prevent contamination of swine carcasses and parts throughout the slaughter and dressing operation as required in 9 CFR 310.18(c). It also instructs IPP on how to verify that establishments meet the recordkeeping requirements in 9 CFR 310.18(d). The requirements in 9 CFR 310.18(c) and (d) apply to all swine slaughter establishments as per the modernization of swine slaughter inspection final rule.
KEY POINTS:
• Provides instructions to IPP on how to verify compliance with the requirements in the modernization of swine slaughter inspection final rule that apply to all swine slaughter establishments, including instructions on how to verify that:
o The regulatory sampling requirements are being met;
o Establishments are preventing contamination throughout the slaughter and dressing process as part of their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, sanitation standard operating procedures (Sanitation SOPs), or other prerequisite programs (i.e., their HACCP systems); and
o Establishment sampling plans meet all requirements as per 9 CFR 310.18(c) and (d).
• Provides instructions to IPP on how to review establishment sampling results and determine actions to be taken.

For use beginning 12/1/2011
A. This directive is being reissued to provide off-line inspection program personnel (IPP) with information regarding how to verify that cattle slaughter operations are implementing sanitary dressing and process control procedures, and that the procedures they are implementing prevent contamination of carcasses and ensure that insanitary conditions are not created.
B. In addition, this directive provides information describing how IPP are to assess the sanitary dressing and process controls cattle slaughter establishments employ in their food safety systems. Such controls are likely to include decontamination and antimicrobial intervention treatments. Establishments should verify the effectiveness of these controls by sampling and testing for microorganisms of beef manufacturing trimmings, other raw ground beef components (including head meat and cheek meat), and raw ground beef.
KEY POINTS:
 Defines Process Control Procedures  Defines Sanitary Dressing  Defines Contamination of Carcasses and Parts
 Describes the purpose of sanitary dressing and process control procedures
 Describes the points in the slaughter process where carcass contamination with food safety hazards, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, are most likely to occur
 Describes how an establishment’s failure to properly execute its sanitary dressing and process control procedures can increase the risk of contamination of carcasses and parts at various points in the slaughter operation
 Provides instruction to IPP regarding how to verify that cattle slaughter operations are implementing effective sanitary dressing and process control procedures to prevent contamination of carcasses and are properly applying decontamination and antimicrobial intervention treatments to carcasses and parts to address any contamination that my occur
 Provides instruction to IPP on how to verify that the establishment is properly assessing any microbial testing results, including results for indicators of process control, at any point during slaughter and at subsequent trim fabrication and grinding operations. Examples of microorganisms used as indicators of process control in raw beef operations include Enterobacteriacae, generic E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, non-O157 STECs, and Salmonella
 Provides information regarding slaughter food safety systems and how each aspect of the system (e.g., sanitary dressing and process control procedures, intervention treatments, product sampling, supporting documentation) is a factor to be considered when determining whether there is regulatory compliance
 Provides clarification regarding the differences between documenting noncompliance under PBIS procedure code 06D01 and under procedure code 01C02
 Provides information regarding supervisory responsibilities, including instructions to Public Health Veterinarians (SPHV), Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspectors (SCSI), the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC), Multi-IPPs Supervisors, and Front Line Supervisors (FLS)

For use beginning on 01/09/2020
This directive provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) regarding their responsibilities in an official establishment that manufactures animal food or similar uninspected articles in the edible product department. FSIS is revising this directive because the Agency has issued a final rule removing the prescriptive regulatory requirements in 9 CFR 318.12 and 381.152 that govern the manufacture of uninspected products in edible product areas of official establishments and prohibit official establishments from manufacturing such products outside the hours of inspection. These amendments make the regulations at 9 CFR 318.12 and 381.152 consistent with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and sanitation regulations (9 CFR part 416 and 417).
KEY POINTS:
• Provides IPP information regarding establishments that produce pet food outside the hours of inspection.
• Provides IPP instructions for verifying an establishment’s compliance with HA

For use beginning 12/07/2007
This directive instructs inspection program personnel on how to perform antemortem and post-mortem inspection of ratites. In addition, this directive provides direction on how to make dispositions for some ratite diseases post-mortem and how to document the findings. Finally, this directive provides information about the compliance guidelines for the proposed performance standards for the production of processed meat from ratites.
Key Points Covered:
- Ante-mortem inspection for ratites
- Post-mortem inspection for ratites
- Disposition determinations

For use beginning 11/1/2013
This directive instructs inspection program personnel (IPP) to use the Improvest® Quality assurance certificate as documentation to determine whether hogs processed under the Improvest® program are classified as barrows. If intact male hogs are presented for slaughter without a Quality Assurance Certificate, IPP will address these animals as intact boars.

For use beginning 04/01/2019
This directive instructs Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs) on how to make post-mortem livestock dispositions for selected diseases and conditions and how to document the findings in the Public Health Information System (PHIS). This directive is being revised to clarify how PHVs are to make supportable dispositions of livestock carcasses and to clarify that there is no required “set” of procedures that must be performed on each carcass.
KEY POINTS:
• Provides instructions to PHVs on making dispositions of livestock carcasses and parts for selected livestock diseases and conditions
• Provides instructions to PHVs on documenting post-mortem findings in the PHIS Animal Disposition Report. The FSIS Form 6200-14, Daily Disposition Record, is no longer required to record disposition data as this data is now captured in PHIS

For use beginning 12/01/2017
Questions and Answer document

For use beginning 12/01/2017
This directive provides updated instructions on how to verify and document that establishments meet 9 CFR 310.22 requirements using food safety system (i.e. HACCP, Sanitation SOP verification, Hazard Analysis) and the dedicated Specified Risk Material (SRM) Control Verification task from VT Notice 26-16. Inspection program personnel (IPP) are to also continue verifying that all cattle slaughter and processing establishments that handle SRMs have written procedures describing the removal, segregation, and disposition of SRMs using food safety system and other SRM-related tasks in the Public Health Inspection System (PHIS).
KEY POINTS
• Tonsils and distal small intestine are SRMs in cattle of all ages, including veal
• Cattle over 30 months of age have additional SRMs defined in 9 CFR 310.22(a)
• IPP perform hands-on product and records-based verification of the establishment’s SRM control programs when performing the SRM Control Verification task
• While performing any SRM-related task in PHIS, IPP are to cite all 9 CFR 310.22 regulations that they verify. IPP are to also indicate the specific regulation(s) found not in compliance

For use beginning 10/24/2016
This directive provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) on how to perform post-mortem inspection of livestock. The directive also instructs Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs) on how to document post-mortem inspection findings in the Public Health Information System (PHIS).

II. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
A. Provides instructions to IPP on post-mortem inspection procedures for the different species of livestock.
B. Provides inspection instructions to on-line IPP on palpating swine mesenteric and portal lymph nodes.
C. Provides instructions to IPP on documenting post-mortem inspection findings in the PHIS Animal Disposition Report.
D. Provides instructions to the inspector in charge (IIC) on responsibilities and authority for reducing the slaughter line speed.
E. Provides instructions to IICs on the criteria used to evaluate (and allow) an establishment’s request for an alternative method of presentation for carcasses or parts.
F. Provides instructions to IPP on verifying that the establishment collects and/or documents animal identification devices.

For use beginning 07/21/2020
This directive provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) on how to inspect livestock before slaughter (ante-mortem inspection) and the methods used to verify that livestock offered for slaughter have received ante-mortem inspection. FSIS is reissuing this directive to incorporate the instructions for verifying the handling of non-ambulatory disabled veal calves, removing the requirement that ante-mortem inspection must be performed in holding pens, and updating the disposition instructions for recumbent cattle. Also, FSIS has updated the directive to provide a definition for “promptly” (as it pertains to euthanasia) and additional instructions about entering the Suspect tag in the Public Health Information System (PHIS).
Per 6 V.S.A. § 3305 (8), the State of Vermont adopts Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 3, 9 CFR §§ 300.1 et seq., together with any amendments, supplements, or revisions thereto.
KEY POINTS:
• Provides procedures for IPP to use in performing ante-mortem inspection of livestock
• Provides methodology to IPP for verifying that livestock offered for slaughter have received ante- mortem inspection
• Provides instructions to IPP for entering dispositions in PHIS
• Clarifies to IPP the disposition requirements for non-ambulatory disabled cattle, including veal calves