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Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officials have identified
a number of considerations regarding the import of cattle
less than 30 months of age from Canada and Canadian beef
products from cattle of that age.
Establishments expecting to receive Canadian cattle need
to be authorized by APHIS and should hold an awareness meeting
with the appropriate FSIS inspection personnel. Plants should
also conduct a reassessment under 9 CFR 417.4 because there
is a new source of raw material. FSIS and APHIS officials
expect records to be the primary source for aging Canadian
cattle and there is a presumption that such records are
accurate and valid. Inspectors are not to substitute detention
checks as a cross check to verify the information provided
in the Canadian records. Plants also are to reassess their
written Specified Risk Material procedures under 9 CFR 310.22
and the agency will look for written procedures related
to slaughtering the lot of imported cattle as a group.
Plant employees should be instructed to look for the USDA
seal and what steps to take when a truck arrives bearing
the seal . Only USDA officials (either FSIS or APHIS) are
authorized to break a seal. If a seal is not intact, animals
will be unloaded and placed on hold until an APHIS representative
can determine the eligibility of the animals for import.
The plant is responsible for ensuring that the number of
animals on the truck corresponds with the shipping document.
Plants should plan for the arrival and offloading of imported
cattle so the animals can be offloaded humanely. An animal
ineligible for import is ineligible to receive the mark
of inspection.
Notice 15-05 remains the guiding document on the importation
of Canadian cattle. FSIS will verify that establishments
have reassessed their plans and protocols as indicated above.
A list of products approved for importation from Canada
with and without an import permit can be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/trade/Dear_Product_importer.pdf.
The NCIE can be reached for information at 866-644-1483.
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