USDA 

iliiii 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

April 2., 2024 

Office of Field 

Operations Swiss Processing Plant Inc. ELECTRONIC MAIL on 04/02/2024 

Est. M2969+P2969+V2969 FEDEX TRACKING 7 57 8783 8368 Springdale District 

2056 Highway 19 South 

4700 S. Thompson Hermann Missouri 65041 

Suite 8-201 Sharon.fennewald@swissmeats.com 

Springdale, AR 72764 (573) 486-2086 Voice 479-751-8412 

Fax 479-751-9049 

Attention: Sharon Fennewald Plant Manager 

NOTICE OF SUSPE SION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

Dear Ms. Fennewald, 

On March 25, 2024, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS notified you of 

the suspension of the assignment of inspection personnel related to your Slaughter 

process at Est. M2969+P2969+V2969 (Swiss Processing Plant Inc. · Heimann, MO) 

as per Tit.le 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CPR) 500.3(b) (Rules of 

Practice). The Notice of Suspension (NOS) was based on your failure to prevent 

in.humane handling and slaughter of livestock at your facility as required by 9 CFR 

313 .1 S(a)(l) and 9 CFR 313.15(a)(3). 

On March 26 2024, you provided a written response (Action Plan) to the NOS via 

email beginning a dialog that ended with your final updates to the Action Plan on 

March 29 2024. FSIS analyzed the corrective and preventive measures provided in 

your Action Plan and determined they represented compliance or the intent to 

comply with all applicable regulations. Therefore FSIS will hold the suspension in 

abeyance pending verification by FSIS personnel that your Action Plan is effectively 

implemented. You were verbally notified of the suspension being held in abeyance 

on March 29, 2024, and this letter serves as formal, written notification of the same. 

An abeyance is a moratorium on the effect of a suspension. Once a suspension is 

imposed, the Agency may put it into abeyance if the establishment undertakes 

corrective and preventive actions that the Agency finds will ensure that the 

conditions that were the basis for the suspension will be eliminated, and the Action 

Plan is effectively implemented. During the abeyance period, FSIS personnel will 

evaluate your corrective and preventive actions to ensure their effectiveness. 

A copy of the FSIS Verification Plan is being shared with you to assist in 

understanding the nature and imp01tance of the Agency's verification activities. This 

FSIS Verification Plan is designed to verify that your establishment fully implements 

the Action Plan identified in your proposal and subsequent clarifications and that 

measures proffered are effective in assuring ongoing regulatory compliance. It 

An Equal Opportuni ty Provider and Empl oyer 
Ms. Sharon Fennewald, Plant Manager Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Swiss Processing Plant, Est. M2969+2969+V2969 April 2, 2024 

identifies the regulatory noncompliance, your actions, and FSIS verification procedures. 

Please be advised that your failure to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, to 

implement the corrective actions identified in the Action Plan, and/or failure to notify this office 

in writing ofany changes to the Action Plan may result in us initiating further regulatory action 

as deemed necessary at the time. During this period of abeyance, any changes made to the 

Action Plan need to be submitted to this office for review and comment prior to you putting 

the changes into place. FSIS inspection program personnel will notify the Frontline Supervisor 

and District Office immediately when modifications are made to the Action Plan and your 

establishment fails to notify this office. 

Ifyou have any questions, please contact this office. 

Sincerely, 

/#/~

Jeffery Barham 

District Manager 

Page 2 of2 
FSIS Verific:;ation Plan 

Swiss Processing Plant Inc (M2969+P2969+V2969) 

- - Background that led to enforcemgnt action (l:Jkgd) 

Relgted Regulations (Reg) - Establishment A<;tion Plgn (AP) 

Related Establishment Rt;cords (Rec) 

FSIS Verification Activity (VA) 

Frequency ofVerification Activity (Freq) 

Related PHIS Task (PHIS} 

As in NR DEG4215031025N, IPP observed an est employee attempt to stun a caprine animal using a captive bolt 

stunning device. After the initial knock created a visible head wound, IPP observed the animal standing, tracking 

personnel (eyes open), & resisting an employee trying to force the animal to the ground. Despite signs of 

Bkgd consciousness, the employee stuck the animal, wounding the animal, & resulting in the animal vocalizing. The 

employee applied a second stun resulting in loss of consciousness. PM examination by IPP revealed both stun 

attempts entered the sinus cavity and failed to penetrate the brain. 

Reg 9 CFR 313 .lS(a)(l) and 9 CFR 313.1S(a)(3) 

The establishment determined the cause was due to poorly functioning hand held captive bolt device and failure 

AP to recognize signs of consciousness. The establishment retrained on signs of consciousness, proper positioning, 

VPl and implemented a Log of Animal Consciousness. 

Rec Log of Animal Consciousness 

Verify by review and observation that person performing the knock assesses for signs of consciousness prior to 

performing a safety knock and/or sticking. Verify by review and observation that another trained individual 

performs a direct observation of the knocking process and assesses for signs of consciousness prior to safety VA 

knock and/or sticking. Verify by record review that each animal slaughtered is assessed by the knocker and an 

individual performing direct observation for conscious and results documented on the log of animal conscious. 

Freq Daily (when slaughtering); Weekly (Record Review) 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling 

As in NR DEG4215031025N, IPP observed an est employee attempt to stun a caprine animal using a captive bolt 

stunning device. After the initial knock created a visible head wound, IPP observed the animal standing, tracking 

personnel (eyes open), & resisting an employee trying to force the animal to the ground. Despite signs of 

Bkgd consciousness, the employee stuck the animal, wounding the animal, & resulting in the animal vocalizing. The 

employee applied a second stun resulting in loss of consciousness. PM examination by IPP revealed both stun 

attempts entered the sinus cavity and failed to penetrate the brain. 

Reg 9 CFR 313 .lS(a)(l) and 9 CFR 313.1S(a)(3) 

The establishment determined the cause was due to poorly functioning hand held captive bolt device and failure 

VP2 to recognize signs of consciousness. The establishment purchased a second hand held captive bolt device, AP 

implemented a daily HHCB cleaning procedure, and implemented a direct observation procedure for the cleaning 

procedure. 

Rec Stunning Equipment Maintenance and Cleaning Record 

Verify by review and observation and record review that the Hand Held Captive Bolt device is cleaned each day 

VA prior to use. Verify by review and observation and record review that a directive observation of the cleaning 

procedure is conducted each slaughter day. 

Freq Daily (when slaughtering); Weekly (Record Review) 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling 
As in NR DEG4215031025N, IPP observed an est employee attempt to stun a caprine animal using a captive bolt 

stunning device. After the initial knock created a visible head wound, IPP observed the animal standing, tracking 

personnel (eyes open), & resisting an employee trying to force the animal to the ground. Despite signs of 

Bkgd consciousness, the employee stuck the animal, wounding the animal, & resulting in the animal vocalizing. The 

employee applied a second stun resulting in loss of consciousness. PM examination by IPP revealed both stun 

attempts entered the sinus cavity and failed to penetrate the brain. 

Reg 9 CFR 313.15(a){1) and 9 CFR 313.15(a){3) 

The establishment determined the cause was due to poorly functioning hand held captive bolt device and failure 

to recognize signs of consciousness. The establishment retrained on Humane Handling of Livestock, Captive Bolt 

Stunning Techniques for Cattle, How to Determine insensibility in Cattle, Pigs, and Sheep in Slaughter Plants, VP3 AP 

Humane Handling video series by Temple Grandin. The establishment implemented a knowledge assessment. 

Refresher training will be conducted every 3 months. All new employees will be trained prior to being released 

onto slaughter floor. 

Topic for Training Form; Humane Handling of Livestock; Captive Bolt Stunning Techniques for Cattle; and How to 

Rec 

Determine Insensibility (Unconsciousness) in Cattle, Pigs, and Sheep in Slaughter plants. 

Verify by record review once that all slaughter floor employees completed training (by signing the Topic for 

VA Training Form} and knowledge was assessed by an 8 question quiz. Verify by record review that any new slaughter 

employees are trained prior to being released onto slaughter floor. 

Freq Initially, and once every other week (if any new slaughter employees) 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling