Operational guideline: Poultry and rabbit ante-mortem inspection

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1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspection staff on procedures for conducting ante-mortem inspection of poultry (except ratites and game animals) and rabbit as per section 139 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) in slaughter establishments.

This document is intended to be used in conjunction with other guidance documents as referenced in section 3.0 of this document.

2.0 Authorities

The inspection powers, control actions and enforcement actions authorized by the above legislation are identified and explained in the Operational guideline: Food regulatory response guidelines.

3.0 Reference documents

4.0 Definitions

Definitions are located in the documents listed below or as a defined word where it is intended to supersede the definitions within the glossary documents:

5.0 Acronyms

Acronyms are spelled out the first time they are used in this document and are consolidated in the Food business line acronyms list.

6.0 Operational guideline

As per paragraph 125(1)(b) of the SFCR, a licence holder may identify a meat product as edible only if the food animal, other than a game animal, from which the meat product is derived, or a sample from the shipment that the food animal is part of, is subjected to an ante-mortem inspection under section 139.

As per section 139 of the SFCR and the document incorporated by reference Ante-mortem Examination and Presentation Procedures for Food Animals, the licence holder must present to a veterinary inspector or inspector under the supervision of a veterinary inspector, for the purpose of an ante-mortem inspection and within 24 hours before the slaughter of the food animal:

For the purpose of the ante-mortem inspection, a veterinary inspector or an inspector under the supervision of a veterinary inspector must conduct the inspection within 24 hours before the slaughter of a food animal.

In case of the first lot in the morning, a trained CFIA inspector could be assigned to perform ante-mortem inspection without supervision of a veterinary inspector until the arrival and/or availability of a CFIA veterinary inspector. In case of any concern about this lot, the CFIA inspector should use established communication pathways to obtain guidance, for example contact the Regional Veterinary Officer (RVO).

Unless specified in sections below or required otherwise by an international requirement, in addition to a CFIA veterinary inspector, components of ante-mortem inspection can be completed by a CFIA inspector under the supervision of a CFIA veterinary inspector. Refer to Meat Electronic Export Certification (Ecert) for more details on the specific countries requirements.

Verifying licence holder's compliance

To verify the licence holder's compliance with regulatory requirements for ante-mortem examination (including the FAID examination for poultry), birds and rabbits presentation to CFIA (including the FAID for poultry), communication of the results of the FAID examination to CFIA (poultry only), preparation and retention of documents and facilities for ante-mortem inspection, perform the following tasks at the frequency described in Program Direction: Preventive control inspection frequencies for food (accessible only on the Government of Canada network):

When conducting ante-mortem inspection, inspector could come across observations that may require them to perform additional inspection tasks (for example, animal welfare issues, missing or incomplete FAID, time without feed and water / source of hydration exceeding the prescribed time/interval, unsafe access to conduct inspection, etc.). Refer to the following references for guidance when a potential non-compliance is observed:

6.1 Poultry ante-mortem inspection

CFIA staff must perform the following activities for ante-mortem inspection:

  • visual inspection of a representative sample of each shipment of birds
  • review of the FAID of each shipment of birds
  • review of the licence holder's results of the examination of the FAID
  • communication of the results of ante-mortem inspection to the licence holder
  • completion of ante-mortem inspection records

When inspecting live birds (for example, spent hens or culled breeders) from the United States (US) for immediate slaughter, verify that all the FAID information required by SFCR 165 has been obtained by the licence holder for each incoming shipment. Import restrictions and requirements may apply when slaughtering imported poultry for immediate slaughter: refer to the Animal Health District Office for more information on procedures.

6.1.1 Visual inspection of a sample of shipment of the birds

Biosecurity
CFIA inspectors should keep in mind that they may serve as vectors for hazards and inadvertently transfer these hazards within and to cleaner areas on clothing, footwear, or equipment while performing the ante-mortem inspection. Lairage for animals in crates or cages (includes live storage shed, live receiving, yard, and place(s) where trucks are parked, pending unloading), stunning, hanging, bleeding, scalding and defeathering areas, and the crate cleaning areas are potentially contaminated with microorganisms causing diseases of public health and animal health significance.

CFIA inspectors should take measures to reduce the risk of being a vector of hazards while conducting inspection activities. For more details on biosecurity measures, refer to Biosecurity for Inspection Activities (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 7500000). If licence holder's biosecurity protocols are more stringent than the applicable CFIA biosecurity level, then CFIA staff must comply with the higher level of biosecurity.

Inspector Toolkit
Review the list of equipment described in the Inspector Toolkit (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 11289973) and determine if any additional equipment is required for performing ante-mortem inspection. For example, the following equipment:

  • personal protective equipment (provides a barrier that protects people from direct and indirect contact with hazards)
  • inspection tags referred to in Operational guideline: Food regulatory response guidelines
  • Poultry Record of Ante-mortem (CFIA/ACIA 5476) or an equivalent
  • Ante-Mortem Veterinary Inspection Report Ante-Mortem Screening Record (CFIA/ACIA 1438)

Visual inspection
Visually inspect a sample that is representative of each shipment that the birds are a part of while the birds are in a crates, either on or off the conveyance or while the birds are in the shackles before stunning.

Observe the representative sample of birds for any deviation from normal physiology, behaviour or appearance. Refer to the Ante-mortem Examination Guidelines for more details on the signs that CFIA should look for.

Inspect 5 to 10% of the birds in each shipment. According to epidemiological principles for disease investigation, it is recommended that 290 birds be examined for a shipment of 5000 birds, allowing therefore for detection of a condition with 1% prevalence with a 95% confidence level. If needed, inspector or veterinary inspector may request a larger or different sample as deemed necessary.

If a CFIA inspector finds deviations from normal behaviour or appearance in the birds, the CFIA inspector must ask the licence holder to hold the shipment for a detailed veterinary inspection.

Refer to applicable disposition policy (section 19.7 Poultry Dispositions of Archived - Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 7598254), Meat Hygiene Training Module – Post Mortem Inspection of Ducks) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 18415039) for guidance on specific ante-mortem dispositions.

Refer to section 6.6 Histopathology of Operational guideline: sampling at slaughter when diagnosis is uncertain and histopathological examination is required to obtain diagnosis which can be used to determine disposition.

Foreign Animal Disease contingency plan

If the licence holder informs the CFIA veterinary inspector of suspect Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) following the ante-mortem examination or if the CFIA inspector suspects FAD following the ante-mortem inspection, the veterinary inspector should follow the established communication pathways and refer to the chapter 9, Meat Hygiene Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Animal Health Common Procedures Manual (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) for guidance on the appropriate response to FAD.

Refer to the chapter 9, Meat Hygiene Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Animal Health Common Procedures Manual (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) for guidance on the preparation of the CFIA and licence holder FAD contingency plans and other activities related to the preparedness (for example, review of the contingency plan and go-kit).

6.1.2 Review of the food animal information document (FAID)

CFIA staff must review the FAID for each shipment of birds (except for game animals).

The review of FAID should be done before the visual ante-mortem inspection of birds. If the FAID is not available before ante-mortem inspection, then review of FAID should be conducted before the slaughter of birds. Refer to section 6.1.2.1 of this document if all information is not received before the slaughter of birds.

Poultry industry has developed standardized FAID documents called "Flock Sheets". If the information required by the SFCR is not present in the FAID, additional documentation may be required. As per SFCR 165(1), it is the licence holder's responsibility to obtain documents that include all the information stated in this provision.

The licence holder may present the information required by SFCR 165(1) in either hard copy or electronic format. The licence holder must complete the examination before presenting FAID for CFIA inspection.

CFIA review of the advanced copy of the FAID for each scheduled lot is not a requirement to complete ante-mortem inspection. However, it is a good practice to review them when this procedure is put in place by the licence holder in order to quickly detect loss of control of chemical hazards (for example, withdrawal periods of drugs not met before slaughter). CFIA must review the final version of FAID, as the information in the advance copy is incomplete and may change in the final version.

When multiple shipments representing the same lot are transported to the same slaughter establishment, only one FAID is required, and it should accompany the first shipment.

When performing the review of the FAID, verify availability and accuracy of all information required by SFCR 165(1) for:

  • general information (for example, owner information, place of origin of the animals, animal identification, on-farm food safety program if any)
  • the time the first bird was placed into a crate, was last provided with access to a source of hydration, and to feed before being loaded
  • description of any physical or chemical hazards to which the food animal may have been exposed (for example, exposure to a mixture of compounds such as smoke from a fire)
  • mortality rate of the flock and name of any disease or syndrome that was diagnosed and the date of recovery
  • adequacy of dosage, method of administration and withdrawal period for medications and vaccinations
  • the presence of the prescription in case of Extra-label drug administration

Upon document review, CFIA may opt for further verification to ensure that the specified conditions do not lead to excessive product contamination, do not impede the detection and the removal of pathologies, and do not result in improper carcass dressing. For this, CFIA may conduct additional process control tests, including:

  • Evisceration Standard test
  • Presentation test
  • Detection Defect Standard test (applicable to establishment under Modernized Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP))
  • Finish product test (Carcass Dressing Standard test in MPIP establishment or sampling as per Poultry re-examination program)

Examples of conditions that may require additional verification include:

  • high mortality rate due to necrotic enteritis at farm level could lead to increased rate of evisceration accidents, the inspector could conduct additional evisceration standard and carcass dressing standards tests
  • high mortality rate due to hepatitis at farm level could lead to higher volume of carcasses removed from evisceration line for assessment by rejecter, the inspector could conduct additional defect detection standards tests and the veterinarian could conduct additional Poultry Rejection Program correlation tests  
  • inadequate feed withdrawal time could lead to increased rate of evisceration accidents, the inspector could conduct additional evisceration standard and carcass dressing standards tests  

Refer to section 6.0 of this document for more details on the task to perform to assess the licence holder compliance to SFCR and HAR.

Refer to section 6.1.2.2 of this document for guidance on the assessment of medication information on the FAID.

Refer to section 6.1 of Operational guideline: sampling at slaughter for guidance when there is potential exposure of a lot on farm to chemicals products.

6.1.2.1 Missing or incomplete FAID

It is up to the licence holder to decide what actions will be taken when the FAID or a supporting document is missing or is incomplete as long as these actions are included in the licence holder's Preventive Control Plan (PCP) and do not cause biological, chemical and physical hazards as well as animal welfare risks.

As per SFCR 165(2), the licence holder may slaughter birds without having first obtained the documents referred to in 165(1) if the licence holder notifies an inspector before slaughtering birds; and if, subsequent to the slaughter, the meat product derived from the birds

  • is held by the licence holder until they have obtained those documents, examined them and presented them to a veterinary inspector or to an inspector under the supervision of a veterinary inspector; or
  • is identified as inedible

The licence holder can also slaughter the flock subject to additional measures to assure control over the chemical and biological hazards for which information is incomplete due to the missing/incomplete FAID. Refer to section 5.0 of the Food animal information document for poultry for more details on correctives measures by the licence holder for missing or incomplete FAID.

The licence holder may choose to test flocks treated with an Extra-label drug that arrive at the slaughtering establishment without a copy of a veterinary prescription and the documentation on Extra-label drug withdrawal period. It is the licence holder's responsibility to identify suspected flock for possible drug residues, choose appropriate laboratory and take samples for testing drug residues. Refer to section 5.1 of the Food animal information document for poultry for more guidance on "Hold and Test" procedure.

If the licence holder implements the "Hold and Test" procedure, verify:

  • licence holder's actions for held shipment (refer to section 6.1.6 of this document for more details on held shipments)
  • licence holder's analysis for acceptability of laboratory results (refer to section 6.1.2.3 of this document for more details on the assessment of the laboratory results)

As mentioned in section 6.1.2 of this document, CFIA may opt for further verification to ensure the absence of information does not lead to uncontrolled hazards.

The veterinary inspector may, for various reasons (for example, based on past compliance of a producer, pathology visible after evisceration, or other information), require a licence holder to demonstrate the safety of the product (for example, require a flock be tested for specified drug residue). All associated costs are at the licence holder's expense.

In case the licence holder does not demonstrate the safety of the product, the CFIA inspector can take control actions, for example seizure and detention of the product and may take samples to verify acceptability of food safety of the product. Refer to Operational procedure: As required food sample collection to obtain  guidance when as required food sample collection  is to be used by CFIA inspection staff when there is a trigger for sample collection outside of the Food Sample Collection Plan (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

6.1.2.2 Assessment of medication information on the FAID

CFIA veterinarian must be able to identify if the veterinary drug declared on the FAID is a banned, approved, Extra-label or off-label used drug. Refer to the section 4.0 of the Food animal information document for poultry for more guidance on the assessment of drug information on the FAID, references and definitions.

It is the licence holder's responsibility to obtain information related to withdrawal times, to identify Extra-label drug use and to train their employees in identifying violative drug use.

When assessing the drug information declared on the FAID, verify if

  • the withdrawal period observed is acceptable
  • the veterinary drug product used is not a banned drug
  • the veterinary drug product was administered according to the label
  • the veterinary drug product that has been administered as Extra-label or off-label is accompanied by the following documents:
    • a copy of the valid prescription that was issued by a veterinarian with the withdrawal period and
    • an attestation by a competent person or body with respect to the withdrawal period for that administration, for example,
      • separate attestation from the prescribing veterinarian about the withdrawal period
      • report from Canadian Global Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (CgFARAD) (gFARAD number with the associated withdrawal time is acceptable)
      • reference table of the Canadian Association of Poultry Veterinarians
      • a copy of the Emergency Drug Release form issued by the Veterinary Drugs Directorate, Health Canada 
      • a copy of the import permit for the vaccine issued by the CFIA Canadian Centre for Veterinary Biologics and a copy of the label showing a withdrawal period

      Note: The producers, in consultation with their veterinarian, may test flocks treated with Extra-label drugs in advance of shipping the flock to the slaughter establishment. It is the licence holder's responsibility to identify a laboratory and to determine the tests to be performed on the flocks with suspected drug residues. The licence holder is also responsible to ensure that hazards are identified, and control measures are in place to ensure that the incoming inputs (birds) are free of drug residues that could result in contaminated meat product. Refer to section 4.5 of the Food animal information document for poultry for more guidance on the analysis requirement and refer to section 6.1.2.3 of this document for more details on the assessment of the laboratory results.

Prescribing veterinarians are professionals regulated by the provincial authority, and it is their responsibility that the withdrawal period for Extra-label or off-label drug use is based on a valid source.

The licence holder is responsible for obtaining the withdrawal period for Extra-label or off-label drug (from the prescribing veterinarian, from another competent person, if applicable, or from a competent body), deciding whether the chemical hazard is adequately controlled, and making information supporting withdrawal period available to the CFIA. It is the CFIA's responsibility to verify that the information required by the SFCR is made available and the licence holder has effectively controlled the chemical hazard. It is not the CFIA's responsibility to contact the competent person or body to obtain information about the withdrawal period used.

In cases of suspected or confirmed exposure to a chemical hazard, submit an electronic Request for Action Form (e-RAF) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) to the Operational Guidance and Expertise (OGE) for guidance on product evaluation and disposition.
Refer to section 6.1.6 of this document for more details on control over held shipments and their disposition.

6.1.2.3 Assessment of laboratory results

It is the licence holder's responsibility to determine the acceptability of the laboratory results.

When the licence holder presents laboratory results to the CFIA, a veterinary inspector may consider the results satisfactory if:

  • the report is issued by a laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) or a provincial or university laboratory using an internationally accepted method for the specific veterinary drug or its corresponding metabolite
  • samples from the treated flock submitted to the laboratory were collected, under the supervision of a provincially licensed veterinary poultry practitioner, from live birds representative of the flock
  • the laboratory report indicates compliance with the applicable List of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Veterinary Drugs in Foods or indicates that there was no detectable residue of the drug or applicable metabolite in case of Extra-label drug use

Some laboratory reports may need further food safety hazard evaluation by Health Canada in cases where there is no MRL established by Health Canada. For this situation, submit an electronic Request for Action Form (e-RAF) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) to the Operational Guidance and Expertise (OGE) for further assessment. Inform the licence holder that the results might be forwarded to Health Canada which might impact the time taken for CFIA assessment.

If the results do not meet the criteria mentioned above, the product cannot be identified as edible and is prohibited from sale as human food under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations as well as SFCA and SFCR. The CFIA veterinarian must condemn carcasses and their parts (including giblets), and the licence holder must dispose the condemned product in a manner described in SFCR 58(2), 66 and 155. The licence holder must comply with the applicable provisions of the Health of Animals Act and the Feeds Act and Regulations.

CFIA veterinary inspector must verify the method of disposal of the adulterated product proposed by the licence holder.

When assessing the proposed method of disposal of the adulterated product:

  • Note: Information required by the Animal Feed Program may include an accurate description of the affected product (for example, ingredients and volume), circumstances and magnitude of contamination, and proposed pathway to feed use (e.g., name of renderer, producer, transporter).

6.1.3 Review of the licence holder's results of the ante-mortem examination FAID

Document incorporated by reference titled Ante-Mortem Examination and Presentation Procedures for Food Animals requires a licence holder to present the results of FAID examination to the CFIA.

Refer to licence holder's PCP for the method of communication of the FAID examination results to CFIA.

When verifying the result of the FAID examination by the licence holder, verify that the licence holder has:

  • conducted the ante-mortem examination of the FAID within 24 hours prior to slaughter
  • reviewed the FAID for accuracy and completeness
  • assessed the information during FAID review and identified biological, chemical or physical hazards (for example, accidental exposure to chemical products following barn fire)
  • implemented appropriate corrective actions for the deviations in accuracy, completeness and hazards identified in the FAID

6.1.4 Communication of the results of ante-mortem inspection to the licence holder

A meat product can only be identified as edible if the food animal, other than a game animal, from which the meat product is derived, or a sample from the shipment that the food animal is part of, is subjected to an ante-mortem inspection under section 139 (SFCR 125 (1) (b)).

The CFIA veterinarian with supervisory authority and licence holder must agree on a reliable method for the CFIA to communicate the results of ante-mortem inspections to the licence holder at the appropriate time.

The method of communication should be included in the licence holder's PCP. This will ensure that all loads proceeding to slaughter have received ante-mortem inspection.

The following are some examples:

  • CFIA marking shipments as "Inspected" or other wording
  • CFIA signatures or initials on licence holder's records
  • any other reliable method of communication

Once ante-mortem inspection is complete, CFIA will communicate the results of ante-mortem inspection to the licence holder using the pre-determined method(s) of communication.

The licence holder is responsible for ensuring that the ante-mortem inspection is performed by the CFIA in a timely manner, meaning ensuring that the ante-mortem inspection was carried out before slaughtering the birds, using the agreed method of communication.

6.1.5 Completion of ante-mortem inspection records

Ante-mortem inspection
The information collected at ante-mortem inspection is to be recorded on form Poultry Record of Ante-mortem (CFIA/ACIA 5476) as per instructions in this form (record any relevant observations on the health status of birds, whether related to disease or for other reasons such as transportation conditions / humane handling).  

Veterinary ante-mortem inspection of held shipment
The information collected for shipments held for veterinary inspection is to be recorded on form Ante-Mortem Veterinary Inspection Report Ante-Mortem Screening Record (CFIA/ACIA 1438): enter full details, for example, flock identification, owner's name and address, reason for condemnation etc. Refer to Operational guideline: Red meat ante-mortem inspection for details on the information to be recorded on this form.

Record retention
Retain the completed CFIA poultry ante-mortem inspection forms (CFIA/ACIA 5476 and CFIA/ACIA 1438) for 1 year.

6.1.6 Control over suspect animals and their carcasses, segregated and held shipments

A licence holder who holds live animals must do so in accordance with the applicable animal welfare provisions of the SFCR and the HAR with respect to humane transport of animals.

6.1.6.1 Verification of segregation and identification of shipment of live birds

When the licence holder segregates shipment of live birds (including when requested by CFIA following their ante-mortem inspection) due to abnormalities in physiology, behaviour or appearance or suspected or confirmed exposure to biological or chemical hazards, verify that the licence holder has adequately:

  • segregated the shipments of birds
  • identified the shipments of birds
  • identified and segregated the suspect shipment throughout the slaughter, evisceration, chilling and post-chill processing

CFIA may use control actions if deemed necessary (for example, if licence holder's identification of the segregated shipment is inadequate). Refer to Operational guideline: Food regulatory response guidelines for more details on control actions.

6.1.6.2 Veterinary disposition of a held shipment

The disposition of a held shipment (in application of the provisions 138, 139 and 165 (2)a) of SFCR) can only be made by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector under supervision of a veterinary inspector. The disposition decisions may be one of the following:

  • release without further restrictions for slaughter or further processing
  • release with some restrictions for slaughter or further processing (for example, hold and test if a disease is suspected)
  • condemned and humanely killed:
    • condemned birds are identified as inedible
    • condemned birds are segregated with other condemned birds or isolated if their condition presents a risk to other birds or if they require protection from other birds
    • the carcass and any blood collected from the condemned bird are identified as inedible

6.2 Rabbit ante-mortem inspection

CFIA staff must perform the following activities for ante-mortem inspection:

  • visual inspection of a representative sample of shipment of rabbits
  • communication of the results of ante-mortem inspection to the licence holder
  • completion of ante-mortem inspection records

6.2.1 Visual inspection of a sample of shipment of rabbits

Generally, the rabbits arrive in the same crates as used in poultry. Visual inspection of sample of shipment of rabbits is conducted as described in section 6.1.1 of this document.

As with birds, visually inspect a sample that is representative of the each shipment that the rabbit is a part of while the rabbit is in a crate, either on or off the conveyance but before the rabbit stunning (shackling conscious rabbits is considered deliberate act of cruelty and is prohibited under SFCR 143(2)).

Refer to Module C-4: Rabbit slaughter (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 10712949) and CFIA Pathology Catalogue for guidance on specific ante-mortem dispositions. Refer to section 6.6 Histopathology of Operational guideline: sampling at slaughter when diagnosis is uncertain and histopathological examination is required to obtain diagnosis which can be used to determine disposition.

When suspecting immediately notifiable disease, such Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, refer to General Biosecurity Recommendations for Rabbits and Animal Health District Office for more information on procedures.

SFCR does not require the licence holder to obtain a FAID before slaughtering rabbit. However, the licence holder is responsible to ensure that hazards are identified, and control measures are in place to ensure that the incoming inputs (rabbits) are free of drug residues that could result in contaminated meat product. Refer to the section A. Ante-mortem examination of rabbit of the Appendix 1 – Poultry and Rabbit Slaughter PCI Operational Guidance (Food animal slaughter PCI operational guidance) for details on control measure to be implemented by the licence holder in order to prevent, eliminate or reduce the biological, chemical and physical hazards. 

6.2.2 Communication of the results of ante-mortem inspection to the licence holder

Communication of the results of ante-mortem inspection is conducted as described in section 6.1.4 of this document.

6.2.3 Completion of ante-mortem inspection records

The information collected at ante-mortem inspection, including for held shipments, is to be recorded on Ante-Mortem Veterinary Inspection Report Ante-Mortem Screening Record (CFIA/ACIA 1438) form.

Refer to Operational guideline: Red meat ante-mortem inspection for details on the information to be recorded on this form.

Record retention
Retain the completed Ante-Mortem Veterinary Inspection Report Ante-Mortem Screening Record (CFIA/ACIA 1438) for 1 year.

6.2.4 Control over suspect animals and their carcasses, segregated and held shipments

Verification of the control over suspect animals and their carcasses, segregated and held shipments is conducted as described in section 6.1.6 of this document.

For general inquiries related to this Operational Guidance Document, please follow established communication channels, including submitting an electronic Request for Action Form (e-RAF) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

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