Annex Z: Compliance guideline for conditions relative to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) controls applicable to meat products derived from ovine and caprine animals

1. Introduction

The purpose of this annex is to describe the minimum standards that establishments must meet when producing ovine or caprine meat products that would be eligible for export to, or transit in the United States.

In order to meet the current import conditions of the United States, which are summarized below, the operator will have to develop and implement procedures to assure complete segregation of meat produced according to the United States requirements to the satisfaction of the CFIA when both eligible and non eligible products are present on premises. The written segregation procedures should clearly outline the controls that will be implemented to ensure that applicable requirements are met so that eligible products can be distinguished from non eligible products at all times. The procedures must be acceptable to the inspector in charge and must include monitoring, verification and record keeping activities, deviation procedures and be auditable and effective.

2. Specific import requirements for meat products derived from ovine and caprine animals destined for human consumption

Only meat products derived from animals less than 12 months of age is eligible. Age determination is to be based on dentition. Ovine or caprine animals which have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum are considered to be 12 months of age or above and products derived there from are not eligible for export to the United States.

The requirements described below are designed to meet the following objectives:

  • 1) to prevent cross contamination between eligible and non eligible products during slaughter, cutting/boning and processing;
  • 2) to ensure that age determination of animals is performed as required; and
  • 3) to enable verification of compliance with applicable requirements relating to TSE.

2.1. Requirements for slaughtering operations

Operators must have a written procedure in place that will ensure appropriate segregation of eligible and non-eligible products. If the operator intends to slaughter both animals aged under 12 months and 12 months and above, the slaughter operations of ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above must be done at the end of the production day or on a separate day.

Operators are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the carcasses of ovines or caprines aged 12 months and above, and to maintain the identity of these carcasses from the point at which the age is determined until the products are packaged and appropriately labelled or the carcass is removed from the area/plant.

These procedures must include the following:

  • 2.1.1. Examination of the incisor teeth of each carcass at or before the head inspection station.
  • 2.1.2. Application of a mark or device to clearly identify the head and carcass sides (and quarters or parts as needed) of all ovines or caprines determined to be aged 12 months or older based on the examination of the dentition.
  • 2.1.3. Complete segregationFootnote 1 of the carcasses and parts of ovines or caprines aged 12 months or older during chilling.
  • 2.1.4. Recording of the number of slaughtered ovines or caprines aged 12 months or older at the point where the age is determined, followed by reconciliation of the number of carcasses and parts entering and leaving the chiller, either to go for cutting/boning, packaging, or to depart the facility. In the latter case, the receiving plant must be notified of the number of intact carcasses/sides or parts to be expected.
  • 2.1.5. Labelling of packages containing carcasses/sides or parts derived from ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from packages containing meat derived from ovines or caprines under 12 months of age.

2.2. Requirements for cutting/boning operations

Operators may choose to cut/bone only carcasses from animals under 12 months. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written receiving procedures insuring only carcasses from animals under 12 months are received and processed. All carcasses from animals 12 months and above or carcasses for which there is a doubt as to the age must be refused and immediately shipped out of the cutting/deboning area/plant.

Operators may also choose to cut/bone both carcasses from animals aged under 12 months and 12 months and above. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the carcasses and cuts of ovines or caprines aged 12 months or older and to maintain the identity of the product issued from these carcasses. These procedures must include:

  • 2.2.1. Complete segregationFootnote 1 of the carcasses of ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above at reception.
  • 2.2.2. Cutting/boning of carcasses of ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above at the end of the production day, on a separate day or, subject to controls acceptable to the inspector, on a separate line with separate equipment.
  • 2.2.3. Labelling of boxes containing meat derived from ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from boxes containing meat derived from ovines or caprines under 12 months of age.
  • 2.2.4. Segregated storage and handling of boxes containing meat derived from ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above.

2.3. Requirements for other processing operations

Operators may choose to process only meat derived from animals under 12 months. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written receiving procedures insuring only boxes or meat from animals under 12 months are received and processed. All boxes of meat from animals 12 months and above or boxes for which there is a doubt as to the age must be refused and immediately shipped out of the processing area/plant.

Operators may also choose to process both meat from ovine or caprine animals aged under 12 months and 12 months and above.

In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the meat of ovines or caprines aged 12 months or older and to maintain the identity of the product issued from these carcasses. These procedures must include:

  • 2.3.1. Complete segregationFootnote 1 of the boxes of ovine or caprine meat cuts or products aged 12 months or above at reception.
  • 2.3.2. Processing of ovine or caprine meat products from animals aged 12 months or above at the end of the production day, on a separate day or, subject to controls acceptable to the inspector, on a separate line with separate equipment.
  • 2.3.3. Labelling of boxes containing meat products derived from ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from boxes containing meat products derived from ovines or caprines under 12 months of age.
  • 2.3.4. Segregated storage and handling of boxes containing meat products derived from ovines or caprines aged 12 months or above.

2.4. CFIA verification

CFIA inspection staff should routinely verify the accuracy and/or effectiveness of operator's implementation of control measures designed to meet the additional USDA requirements:

  • 2.4.1. Implementation of the operator's quality assurance program applicable to the prevention of cross-contamination and the required segregation between eligible and non eligible product.
  • 2.4.2. Implementation of operator's quality assurance program applicable to age determination.

2.5. Transit of ovine or caprine meat products

Ovine or caprine meat products must meet all the APHIS VS, 9CFR 94.18 eligibility requirements for export to the United States. See requirements on applicable annex. Annex A-8 must be used.

These requirements described below concern over-land transit in the United States of meat products derived from ovine and caprine:

  • 2.5.1. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) have established conditions under which meat products derived from ovine and caprine, will be allowed to transit through the United States.
  • 2.5.2. The products that will be allowed to transit are those that would be accepted for import into the United States under APHIS supervision. These products will require a Transit Permit issued by APHIS to a United States entity.
  • 2.5.3. The National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) will accept applications for Transit Permits for products that are currently permitted for entry into the United States. The shipment will not be required to go to an Import Establishment or I-House.
  • 2.5.4.
    • (i) The shipment must be exported from the United States within seven (7) days of its entry.
    • (ii) The commodities are not trans-loaded while in the United States.
    • (iii) A copy of the import permit required is presented to the inspector at the port of arrival and the port of export in the United States.
  • 2.5.5. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will verify the following:
    • The shipment comes from a Canadian facility that is approved by USDA /Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to export to the United States. (Any shipper that is listed on a Veterinary Import Permit would meet this condition).
    • The Permittee or their agent presents the Import Permit, the corresponding supplementary attestation required by APHIS from the Canadian Government and other applicable documents to CBP.
    • If the Permittee or their agent is requesting "transportation and exportation" (T&E) of the shipment to a foreign country and has met all requirements of CBP for such movement then the shipment will be allowed to transit the United States without inspection at the FSIS I-House.
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