Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1030X Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 August 11, 2022

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 5 

 Date Issued 02/01/08

 

USDA EXPORT VERIFICATION (EV) PROGRAM

SPECIFIED PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS FOR 

SPECIFIED RISK MATERIALS (SRM)-FREE BOVINE INEDIBLE RAW 

MATERIALS 

1 Purpose

This USDA Export Verification (EV) Program for SRM-Free Bovine Inedible Raw Materials sets forth 

the requirements to produce SRM-free bovine inedible raw materials intended for use as an ingredient 

in U.S. animal feed, pet food, and other products that are offered for export to countries requiring the 

product to be free of bovine SRM. 

2 Scope 

This Program may be used by U.S. companies that supply bovine inedible raw materials intended for 

use as an ingredient in U.S. animal feed, pet food, and other products. Companies must meet the 

specified product requirements of this EV Program through an approved USDA Quality System 

Assessment (QSA) Program. The requirements for the QSA Program are defined in QAD 1002 

Procedure: USDA Quality System Assessment Program. The QSA Program ensures that the specified 

product requirements are supported by a documented quality management system.

Inspections of rendering facilities that receive SRM-free bovine inedible raw materials produced under 

this Program are conducted by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 

Veterinary Services.

Note: For the purposes of this program, Bovine represents both beef and bison products.

3 Reference Documents

QAD 1000 Procedure: Quality Systems Verification Programs, General Policies and Procedures 

QAD 1002 Procedure: USDA Quality System Assessment Program 

Official Listing of Approved Companies to the EV Program 

4 Requirements

4.1 U.S. companies must meet all applicable policies and procedures outlined in this 

document, QAD 1000 Procedure, and QAD 1002 Procedure. 

4.2 Harvest facilities must implement a QSA-EV Program to meet the requirements of this 

document.

5 Specified Product Requirements for Live Animals (For European Union Only)

5.1 Production records must be maintained for a minimum of three years. 
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1030X Procedure

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5.2 The company must provide evidence of regular veterinary visits to the farm or ranch. 

The frequency of these visits should at minimum be annually. The supplier must 

provide the harvest facility with an affidavit indicating that this requirement is met.

5.3 The company must maintain an approved suppliers listing. The approved suppliers 

listing must:

a) Identify the supplier’s name, address, and approval date; and 

b) Be available to the USDA for review.

5.4 The company must also maintain the date that suppliers were removed from the 

suppliers listing.

6 Specified Product Requirements

6.1 For Canada - bovine SRMs must be removed from inedible raw materials. The 

following materials from cattle and bison are specified risk materials for Canada: the 

brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, vertebral column (excluding the 

vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and 

the wings of the sacrum), and dorsal root ganglia of cattle 30 months of age and older; 

the tonsils of all cattle and bison; and the distal ileum of all cattle and bison. (9 CFR 

310.22). In addition to the exclusion of SRMs, raw materials intended for production of 

bone-derived gelatin for export to Canada must be derived from carcasses that have 

passed FSIS post-mortem inspection.

6.2 For the European Union - product must be derived from carcasses that have passed 

FSIS post-mortem inspection. Bovine SRMs must be removed from inedible raw 

materials. For the purposes of this program, the following materials from cattle and 

bison are specified risk materials for the European Union: vertebral column (excluding 

the vertebrae of the tail, the spinous and transverse processes of the cervical, thoracic, 

and lumbar vertebrae, and the median sacral crest and wings of the sacrum) and the 

dorsal root ganglia of cattle and bison 30 months of age and older; and the skull

(excluding the mandible), brain, eyes, spinal cord, tonsils, the last four meters of the 

small intestine, the caecum, and mesentery of all cattle and bison. In addition, product 

must not be derived from mechanically separated meat. 

6.3 For bovine blood exported to Canada, product must be collected in a manner to ensure 

the blood is free of SRMs.

6.3.1 If a penetrating stunner is used, and if animals are 30 months of age or older, the 

knock hole must be plugged with edible (food grade) grease or a plastic screw. 
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1030X Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 August 11, 2022

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 3 of 5 

 Date Issued 02/01/08

 

6.3.2 If a penetrating stunner is used, and the age of the animals has been verified at 

the time of harvest, blood may be collected without plugging the knock hole. 

6.3.3 If the age of the animals is not known at the time of harvest, and the dentition 

process occurs after the point of sticking, all knock holes must be plugged on all 

animals to ensure conformance.

6.3.4 A corrective and preventive action plan must be in place to address 

contamination of blood with SRM material, in the event this occurs. 

Note 1: The faceplate of all animals, regardless of age, must be scraped clean of 

any obvious contamination. 

Note 2: If an animal has to be stunned two or more times, the entire head of the 

animal must be bagged. 

7 Shipping Documentation

7.1 Shipping documentation is not required when conforming product is delivered to an 

onsite rendering facility that is in conjunction with the harvest or processing facility. 

7.2 Shipping documentation is required when conforming product is delivered to an offsite 

rendering facility that is not in conjunction with the harvest or processing facility.

7.2.1 Identification of conforming product during shipment and delivery must be 

documented on the shipping documentation (bills of lading, shipping manifests, 

or letters of guarantee). The shipping documentation must: 

7.2.1.1 Clearly identify the product and product quantity; and 

7.2.1.2 Contain the following statement: “Product meets EV Program 

requirements for production of SRM-free bovine inedible raw materials.” 

The statement must identify the country. (For example: “Product meets 

EV Program requirements for production of SRM-free bovine inedible 

raw materials for Canada.”) 

7.3 Shipping documentation is required when conforming product is delivered to a facility 

for inclusion in animal feed, pet food, and/or other products. 

7.3.1 Identification of conforming product during shipment and delivery must be 

documented on the shipping documentation (bills of lading, shipping manifests, 

or letters of guarantee). The shipping documentation must: 

7.3.1.1 Clearly identify the product and product quantity; and
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1030X Procedure

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Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 4 of 5 

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7.3.1.2 Contain the following statement: “Product meets EV Program 

requirements for SRM-free bovine inedible raw materials.” The 

statement must identify the country. (For example: “Product meets EV 

Program requirements for production of SRM-free bovine inedible raw 

materials for Canada.”) 

8 Product Lists

8.1 Companies must maintain an SRM-Free product list. 

8.2 The product list must: 

8.2.1 Be in the approved Excel format.

8.2.2 Provide the following information for each item on the list. 

8.2.2.1 FSIS Establishment Number 

8.2.2.2 Establishment Name

8.2.2.3 Establishment Location (City and State)

8.2.2.4 Type of Facility (Slaughter, fabricator, processor); and

8.2.2.5 Description of product 

8.2.3 Be divided by country. 

8.2.4 The product list should be submitted to QAD.AuditService@usda.gov for initial 

review and approval and when changes are made.

9 Listing of Approved Programs 

Only U.S. companies that have an approved USDA QSA Program that meets the specified product 

requirements for SRM-free bovine inedible raw materials are listed on the Official Listing of Approved 

Companies to the EV Program for SRM-Free Bovine Inedible Raw Materials. 

___________________________________ 

Jeff Waite, Branch Chief 

Quality Assessment Division

Livestock and Poultry Program 
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1030X Procedure

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Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 5 of 5 

 Date Issued 02/01/08

 

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