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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

For use beginning 10/01/2019
This directive provides safety procedures for inspection program personnel (IPP) to follow when firearms are used in official establishments to render animals immediately unconscious. This directive establishes a safe location that provides protection from a ricocheting bullet or bullet fragments as agreed upon by the establishment and the IPP.

For use beginning 12/28/2021
This directive provides instructions to inspection program personnel (IPP) for verifying the applicable regulatory requirements in official poultry establishments operating under approved religious exemptions for the slaughter and processing of poultry. This directive clarifies the parameters needed for approval and IPP verification of poultry religious exemptions.
KEY POINTS:
• Religious exempt establishments conduct microbial sampling to monitor their ability to maintain process control as required in 9 CFR 381.65(g)
• Ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections are conducted as per the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) • Viscera and other parts may be processed under an approved religious exemption and labeled as religious exempt
• Religious Exemption information is in the Public Health Information System (PHIS) Establishment Profile

For use beginning 12/01/2016
This directive instructs inspection program personnel (IPP) at official poultry slaughter establishments on how to conduct enhanced inspection for domestic poultry in the event of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak or an agro terrorism incident that involves HPAI viruses. This directive updates FSIS Directive 6020.1, Enhanced Inspection of Poultry Related to a Notification of a HPAI Outbreak by FSIS, 11/20/09, in regard to current notification procedures and enhanced inspection documentation. This update also reiterates hygiene and biosecurity practices.

This directive describes the application procedures for Vermont Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) program’s inspected establishments to apply for the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (program).
The CIS program allows selected establishments inspected by the MPI program to sell inspected meat and poultry products in commerce between any State, Territory or the District of Columbia.

This directive provides instructions to conduct food defense activities assigned to inspection program personnel (IPP) at meat and poultry establishments. Food defense activities include performing food defense tasks and observing and reporting food defense vulnerabilities.
IPP will no longer perform four food defense tasks per month, but instead will perform one comprehensive food defense task per quarter. These changes will improve efficiency for IPP and will enhance data quality by providing more specific data on food defense practices being implemented by establishments.

This Directive sets out the actions that a State Director or designee may take with an establishment that is not operating or has not responded to the Meat Inspection Service (MIS) inspection personnel inquiries as to the establishment’s operations status and intentions. This procedure is provided as a tool that State Directors or designees may use to ensure that MIS resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible. This directive also provides instructions to update the instructions concerning the Public Health Information System (PHIS).

This directive summarizes how FSIS determines the annual updated list of Public Health Regulations (PHRs). Based on FSIS data analysis, PHRs are associated with positive pathogen results or enforcement actions. PHR noncompliance rate data are used to inform as to when additional evaluation is necessary to assess an establishment’s operational and compliance history. This directive also instructs in-plant inspection program personnel (IPP) and the Meat Inspection Chief on how to respond to the Public Health Information System (PHIS) Early Warning Alerts. Finally, this directive provides information on when the Office is to schedule a Public Health Risk Evaluation (PHRE) to determine if a Food Safety Assessment (FSA) is necessary.
KEY POINTS:
• Each year, FSIS updates a list of PHRs, based on data analysis, to allow FSIS to focus on specific public health related regulations that may best inform FSA prioritization
• FSIS uses the PHR noncompliance rate data to determine cut points for a PHR Early Warning Alert and PHRE
• When IPP receive a PHR Early Warning Alert through PHIS, they are to review and evaluate the establishment’s noncompliance history, identify noncompliance trends, and work with their supervisors to determine what actions are necessary
• When the Office is informed by FSIS that an establishment met or exceeded the cut point for PHRE scheduling, the Office is to assign an Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officer (EIAO) to perform a PHRE to aid in determining whether a FSA is necessary