Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1031 Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 March 26, 2020

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 3

Date Issued 06/23/04

Date Revised 03/26/20

USDA EXPORT VERIFICATION (EV) PROGRAM:

SPECIFIED PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS FOR OVINE AND CAPRINE

1 Purpose

This document provides the specified product requirements for marketing U.S. ovine and caprine 

items under the USDA Export Verification (EV) Program. This Program facilitates the international 

trade of U.S. ovine and caprine meat and meat products for those countries that require products to be 

derived from animals less than 12 months of age.

2 Scope

These requirements apply to U.S. suppliers (harvests, fabricators, and processors) of ovine and/or 

caprine items that are eligible for export as listed on the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) 

website. Suppliers who wish to label and sell product as meeting the specified product requirements 

for ovine and/or caprine under this Program must meet these requirements through an approved 

USDA Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program.

3 References 

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

QAD 1002 Procedure: Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program

USDA AMS: Auditing and Accreditation website

USDA FSIS: Exporting Products website

4 Responsibilities

U.S. suppliers must meet all policies and procedures outlined in this procedure, QAD 1000 

Procedure: Quality Systems Verification Programs General Policies and Procedures, and QAD 1002 

Procedure: Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program.

5 Listing of Approved Programs

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

requirements for this program will be listed on the Official Listing of Eligible Suppliers to the USDA 

Ovine and Caprine EV Program.

6 Specified Product Requirements

Ovine and caprine meat and meat products must be derived from animals that meet one of the 

following requirements:
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1031 Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 March 26, 2020

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 2 of 3

Date Issued 06/23/04

Date Revised 03/26/20

6.1 Animals are traceable to live production records which indicate they are less than 12 

months of age at the time of harvest; or

6.2 Carcasses do not exhibit the dental characteristic of the eruption of a permanent 

incisor through the gum, as determined during the harvest process.

6.3 Fresh/frozen sheep and goat meat and carcasses can originate from animals of any 

age for Mexico only.

6.4 Sheep and goat offal, including heads and feet, must be derived from animals less 

than 12 months of age and produced under an USDA EV Program for Mexico

only.

Note 1: Sheep and Goat casings can be produced from an animal of any age, and

do not require an USDA EV Program for Mexico.

6.5 Ovine and caprine casings from sheep and goats harvested in the United States 

must be derived from animals that are less than 12 months of age, and produced 

under an approved USDA EV program for export to Australia.

7 Shipping Documentation

7.1 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:

7.1.1 Clearly identify the product and product quantity; and

7.1.2 Contain the statement "Product meets EV Program requirements for ovine 

and caprine."
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1031 Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 March 26, 2020

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 3 of 3

Date Issued 06/23/04

Date Revised 03/26/20

___________________________________

Jeff Waite, Branch Chief

Quality Assessment Division

Livestock and Poultry Program

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