Individual Sanitary Measure Equivalence Determinations 

A country eligible to export meat, poultry, or egg products to the United States must request an 

equivalence determination for an individual sanitary measure (ISM) from the U.S. Food Safety 

and Inspection Service (FSIS) before implementing an alternative procedure or a change in an 

inspection procedure for products intended for export to the United States. FSIS evaluates the 

alternative procedure or proposed change to ensure that the new procedure achieves an 

equivalent level of protection from identified food safety hazards. 

Table 1 below provides a record, by date of determination, of significant ISMs that are 

currently in place. Some ISMs, such as changes in laboratory methods are not listed on the 

ISM chart because FSIS considers these ISMs routine, and method changes can be frequent. 

For additional information, please e-mail InternationalCoordination@usda.gov. 

Table 1: Current Individual Sanitary Measures (ISM) Equivalence Determinations (by date) 

Date Country ISM Determination 

07/07/2022 United 

Kingdom 

Visual Post-Mortem Inspection Procedures of Lamb Carcasses and 

Alternative Post-Mortem Inspection Procedures of Sheep Carcasses. 

The United Kingdom has met FSIS equivalence criteria for the use 

of visual post-mortem inspection procedures for lamb carcasses 

and alternative post-mortem inspection procedures for sheep 

carcasses and demonstrated the following: 

• Implementation of on-farm practices and the ways in which those 

practices are managed in support of visual and alternative postmortem inspection procedures. 

• Implementation of visual and alternative post-mortem inspection 

procedures, systems verification by government inspection 

personnel, and enforcement of any requirements necessary for 

an establishment to operate under visual and alternative postmortem inspection procedures within its food safety inspection 

systems. 

• Implementation of specific rearing practices at the farm level that 

support visual and alternative post-mortem inspection 

procedures. 

• Controls to ensure that lambs eligible for visual post-mortem 

inspection and sheep eligible for alternative post-mortem 

inspection originate from within the country or have been 

imported from a country that has an equivalence determination 

from FSIS for visual and alternative post-mortem inspection 

procedures. 

• Visual and alternative post-mortem inspection procedures 

allow for the identification and condemnation of pathological 

conditions that are considered unwholesome/unfit for human 

consumption (e.g., parasites (e.g., tapeworms (Taenia ovis), 
 

 

 

cysticercosis (Cysticercus ovis), liver flukes (distoma)), caseous 

lymphadentitis). 

• Visual and alternative post-mortem inspection procedures 

provide equivalent reduction in the incidence of foodborne 

pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, Toxoplasma gondii, Shiga toxinproducing Escherichia coli (STEC)), documented incidence of 

pathogenic organisms (e.g., certain organisms of the genus 

Mycobacterium) when implemented on lamb and sheep 

carcasses. 

05/18/2022 France Visual Post-Mortem Inspection Procedures of Market Hog Carcasses. 

France has met FSIS equivalence criteria for the use of visual postmortem inspection procedures for hog carcasses and demonstrated 

the following: 

• Implementation of on-farm practices and the ways in which those 

practices are managed in support of visual post-mortem 

inspection procedures. 

• Implementation of visual post-mortem inspection procedures, 

systems verification by government inspection personnel, and 

enforcement of any requirements necessary for an establishment 

to operate under visual post-mortem inspection procedures 

within its food safety inspection systems. 

• Implementation of controlled rearing practices at the farm level 

(indoor or outdoor rearing environments) that support a visual 

post-mortem inspection system. 

• Controls to ensure that market hogs eligible for visual postmortem inspection originate from within the country or have 

been imported from a country that has an equivalence 

determination from FSIS for visual post-mortem inspection. 

• An equivalent reduction in the incidence of foodborne pathogens 

(e.g., Salmonella, Yersinia, Trichinella), documented incidence of 

pathogenic organisms (e.g., certain organisms of the genus 

Mycobacterium) in market hogs carcasses presented for 

inspection, and verification of requirements for mitigating 

controls for those pathogenic organisms. 

01/03/2022 United 

Kingdom 

Alternative Post-Mortem Inspection Procedure of Sheep Heads. The 

United Kingdom has met FSIS equivalence criteria for the use of an 

alternative post-mortem inspection procedure of sheep where the 

heads would not be inspected if the heads are not intended for human 

consumption and demonstrated the following: 

• Ante-mortem inspection of sheep identifies and passes for human 

consumption only those animals showing no signs of any disease 

or condition that would require a detailed examination of the 

carcass and parts; 

• Heads and tongues are discarded and not saved for human 

consumption; 

• Post-mortem inspection of the carcass and the viscera provides 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for detection of diseases or conditions that may affect public 

health; and 

• The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs 

provide adequate control to prevent meat from diseased and 

suspected diseased sheep from entering the consumer market. In 

addition, the Central Competent Authority (CCA) provides 

adequate government oversight to ensure satisfactory 

implementation of HACCP programs by establishments. 

01/03/2022 Ireland Alternative Post-Mortem Inspection Procedure of Sheep Heads. Ireland 

has met FSIS equivalence criteria for the use of an alternative postmortem inspection procedure of sheep where the heads would not be 

inspected if the heads are not intended for human consumption and 

demonstrated the following: 

• Ante-mortem inspection of sheep identifies and passes for human 

consumption only those animals showing no signs of any disease 

or condition that would require a detailed examination of the 

carcass and parts; 

• Heads and tongues are discarded and not saved for human 

consumption; 

• Post-mortem inspection of the carcass and the viscera provides 

for detection of diseases or conditions that may affect public 

health; and 

• The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs 

provide adequate control to prevent meat from diseased and 

suspected diseased sheep from entering the consumer market. In 

addition, the Central Competent Authority (CCA) provides 

adequate government oversight to ensure satisfactory 

implementation of HACCP programs by establishments. 

09/17/2020 Costa Rica Use of Trained Contract Employees, Who are Not Under Direct 

Government Supervision, to Perform Inspection Activities at 

Certified Establishments: Costa Rica has met FSIS equivalence 

criteria for the use of contract employees and licensees not under 

direct government supervision and demonstrated the following: 

• The Central Competent Authority (CCA) has formally delegated 

to contract employees the authority to conduct inspection 

activities and to take enforcement measures as necessary; 

• The CCA maintains ultimate control and supervision of all 

contract employees or licensees by means of ongoing 

monitoring and formal assessment of the contract employees 

or licensees; 

• Contract employees or licensees have appropriate educational 

credentials, disciplinary backgrounds, and training to perform 

effective inspection activities; 

• The CCA maintains controls, including an effective 

enforcement program, to remove contract employees or 

licensees who do not meet the written performance standards 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

03/06/2020 United 

Kingdom 

or who violate codes of conduct; 

• The CCA prohibits conflicts of interest between contract 

employees or licensees and the regulated industry; and 

• Contract employees or licensees are not paid directly by the 

establishment. 

Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the United Kingdom Cover the 

Associated Costs of Government Sampling and Testing for Shiga toxinproducing E. coli (STEC) in Raw Beef Products Intended for Export to the 

United States: The United Kingdom has met the following criterion and 

demonstrated that its alternative procedure provides an equivalent 

level of public health protection as achieved domestically by FSIS: 

• The CCA ensures that the official government microbiological 

sampling and testing programs for STEC provides independent 

testing and reporting with fully validated and verified test results 

when the cost of the sampling and testing is provided by FBOs. 

06/12/2019 Australia Use of Government Approved Establishment Employees to Perform 

Certain Export Certification Activities at Certified Establishments Under 

Government Oversight: The Department of Agriculture and Water 

Resources (DAWR) (now known as the Department of Agriculture, 

Water and the Environment) submitted documentation demonstrating 

that the DAWR maintains adequate oversight over the establishment 

employees performing export certification activities. Trained 

establishment employees perform “load-out” inspection and validate 

requests for export permits. The establishment employees are 

required to maintain documentation of all export certification 

activities performed for a minimum of two (2) years; and the DAWR 

reviews these records during government verification activities. In 

addition, the DAWR issues the final export permit and export 

certificate after verifying compliance with all requirements. The DAWR 

requires employee training, implements an integrated set of controls, 

and performs several verification activities to ensure products 

intended for export meet U.S. requirements. 

05/30/2019 United 

Kingdom 

Use of Trained Contract Employees, Who are Not Under Direct 

Government Supervision, to Perform Inspection Activities at Certified 

Establishments: The United Kingdom (UK) has met FSIS equivalence 

criteria for the use of contract employees and licensees not under 

direct government supervision and demonstrated the following: 

• The Central Competent Authority (CCA) has formally delegated to 

contract employees the authority to conduct inspection activities 

and to take enforcement measures as necessary; 

• The CCA maintains ultimate control and supervision of all 

contract employees or licensees by means of ongoing monitoring 

and formal assessment of the contract employees or licensees; 

• Contract employees or licensees have appropriate educational 

credentials, disciplinary backgrounds, and training to perform 

effective inspection activities; 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

03/26/2019 The 

Netherlands 

• The CCA maintains controls, including an effective enforcement 

program, to remove contract employees or licensees who do not 

meet the written performance standards or who violate codes of 

conduct; 

• The CCA prohibits conflicts of interest between contract 

employees or licensees and the regulated industry; and 

• Contract employees or licensees are not paid directly by the 

establishment. 

Use of Trained Establishment Employees to Perform Certain Export 

Certification Activities at Certified Establishments: The Netherlands 

Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVMA) submitted 

documentation demonstrating that NVMA maintains adequate 

oversight over the establishment employees performing export 

certification activities. Trained establishment employees assemble 

NVMA-inspected and passed product into an export lot and enter the 

export lot information in an electronic export database. The electronic 

system reviews the submitted information for accuracy and suitability. 

In addition, NVMA reviews the electronic export application to ensure 

U.S. requirements are met and then issues the export certificate and 

veterinary health certificates. NVMA requires employee training, 

implements an integrated set of controls, and performs several 

verification activities to ensure products meet U.S. requirements. 

06/14/2018 The 

Netherlands 

Visual Post-mortem Inspection system for Veal Calves Raised under an 

Integrated Quality Control Program: FSIS has verified that the 

Netherlands has implemented a Supply Chain Inspection system that 

allows inspection of veal calves raised under an integrated quality 

control program. The Supply Chain Inspection system includes onfarm testing, and onsite verification at slaughter establishments. 

Under this system, inspectors verify the accuracy of visually inspected 

carcasses and organs. The information in this system includes details 

of the herd from birth to slaughter and the management conditions 

under which calves are reared and includes information for on-farm 

testing, and slaughter verification to prevent or reduce residues, 

Salmonella, and pathological conditions. This information, along with 

the results of serological and microbiological monitoring of animals is 

available to the Official Veterinarian at the slaughter establishment at 

least 24 hours in advance, who determines whether veal calves 

undergo visual inspection. An important aspect of this system is the 

reduction of Salmonella cross-contamination due to the 

handling/palpation of lymph nodes and carcasses. 

The Netherlands has been officially free of bovine tuberculosis since 

1999, and veal calves are reared in controlled housing andintegrated 

production systems to reduce the incidence of disease exposure. Only 

veal calves raised in the Netherlands are eligible for visualinspection. 

10/27/2015 Argentina Exemption from Removing all Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) from 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cattle Carcasses: Argentina is considered negligible risk for Bovine 

Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by the World Organization for 

Animal Health (OIE) and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS). 

10/07/2015 Denmark Visual Post-Mortem Inspection, Omitting Palpation of Lungs, Liver, 

and Associated Lymph Nodes of Whole Carcasses for Market-Age 

Hogs: This individual sanitary measure applies to market hogs 

raised indoors and under the Supply Chain Inspection system. The 

Supply Chain Inspection system uses a combination of pre-slaughter 

data collection and post-mortem inspection to identify and remove 

diseased animals, carcasses and parts from the food supply. The 

veterinary inspector has the discretion to subject a carcass to 

traditional inspection on suspicion of disease conditions. 

04/24/2013 

01/12/2012 

10/24/2011 

Chile 

Denmark 

New Zealand 

Visual inspection only applies to market hogs that are 220-240 lb, and 

are in the six-month age range. This does not apply to sows, boars or 

roaster pigs. An important aspect of this system is the reduction of 

Salmonella cross-contamination due to the handling/palpation of 

lymph nodes and carcasses. 

Exemption from Removing all Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) from 

Cattle Carcasses: Chile is considered negligible risk for bovine 

spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) by the World Organization for 

Animal Health (OIE). Chile submitted documentation to FSIS 

detailing 1) all the information provided by the country to the OIE, 

including results of any onsite OIE audit, and 2) the OIE resolution 

that presents the BSE risk category assigned by the OIE. 

Visual Post-Mortem Inspection, Omitting Palpation, of Mesenteric 

Lymph Nodes in Market Hogs: This alternative inspection 

procedure applies to finisher pigs of Danish origin from indoor 

herds raised under the integrated quality control program coupled 

with onsite verification at slaughter establishments. This visual 

inspection system reduces the amount of handling that occurs with 

a traditional inspection system, thereby reducing the risk of the 

cross-contamination of Salmonella. A risk assessment found 

negligible risk from visually inspecting the stomach and intestines 

of slaughtered pigs instead of inspecting and palpating intestinal 

lymph nodes. Denmark has been declared free of Mycobacterium 

bovis (tuberculosis) since 1980. 

Alternative Post-Mortem Inspection System (APMIS) Involving the Use 

of Trained Establishment Employees to perform ovine, caprine and 

bovine carcass, head and viscera post-mortem examination 

procedures: New Zealand’s trial study demonstrated no difference in 

the performance between establishment employees performing other 

consumer protection (OCP) verification activities and government 

inspectors performing OCP verification activities. Contamination on 

heads, viscera, and carcasses is identified and removed by 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

establishment employees. A government inspector and government 

veterinarian perform verification activities during each shift to assess 

the adequacy of the establishment employees’ post-mortem (PM) 

examination procedures. Furthermore, a government inspector 

inspects each and every carcass prior to the detain rail for food safety 

related conditions. Heads and viscera identified with a food safety 

related condition are removed from the chain and inspected by a 

government inspector. 

Slaughter establishments may operate under APMIS (i.e., the 

modernized inspection system utilizing establishment employees for 

certain PM examination procedures) or the traditional government 

only PM inspection program. In addition, both modernized and 

traditional slaughter establishments may elect to implement the 

following: 

• Conduct the modernized PM program on a single species or 

multiple species slaughtered in the establishment (e.g., if there 

were both ovine and bovine slaughter lines, one slaughter line 

could be under the modernized PM program and the other 

slaughter line under the traditional PM program); and 

• Conduct the modernized PM program on a single or multiple shift 

basis (e.g., if there were a day and night ovine slaughter 

operation, one of these could be under the modernized PM 

program and the other under the traditional PM program). 

03/03/2011 Australia Australian Export Meat Inspection System (AEMIS): Under AEMIS, Food 

Safety Meat Assessors (FSMAs) (i.e., government inspectors) or 

government-authorized officers (AAOs) (i.e., qualified and competent 

non-government inspectors) perform post-mortem examination 

activities on livestock carcasses, heads, and viscera. The official 

government veterinarian maintains oversight over the AAOs. Official 

government veterinarians are responsible for performing ante-mortem 

inspection, verifying the adequacy of post-mortem examination 

activities, and providing final disposition on carcasses/heads/viscera 

where there is evidence of disease. In addition, a FSMA is at the end of 

the slaughter chain to verify that each and every carcass is free from 

contamination and condemnable pathology. This system was deemed 

equivalent to FSIS’ inspection system based on data submitted by 

Australia. Three Federal Register Notices, 64 FR 2621, 64 FR 30299, 

and 76 FR 11752 document the equivalence process. 

08/19/2010 Canada Modernized Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP): MPIP is very similar to 

FSIS’ HACCP-based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) approach. 

Canada has a special requirement for establishments operating under 

MPIP that want eligibility for U.S. export that requires establishments 

to provide an inspection station for government inspection personnel 

on the slaughter line prior to the carcasses entering the chiller when 

producing poultry for export to the U.S. The government inspector at 

this station verifies that each and every poultry carcass is free from 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

visible fecal contamination before the poultry carcass enters the 

chiller. Canada also requires that establishments interested in U.S. 

export eligibility adopt Salmonella performance standards that are the 

same as FSIS’ Salmonella performance standards. 

04/19/2010 Australia Alternative Inspection of Lymph Nodes in Head and Thorax of Cattle 

without Routine Incision to Detect Bovine Tuberculosis: This system 

allows for visual inspection and palpation of the medial 

retropharyngeal, parotid, mandibular, mediastinal and bronchial 

lymph nodes in cattle. The lymph nodes will be incised if an 

abnormality is observed. The Animal Health Council of Australia 

demonstrated in December 1979 that Australia met World 

Organization for Animal Health (OIE) criteria for being tuberculosis 

(TB) free. Australianongoingsurveillance detected 

one TB case in cattle in the year 2000, and none since then. 

03/27/2009 New Zealand Visual Inspection of Bobby Veal Calf Carcasses: This system allows 

for visual inspection of bobby veal calves. Process controls prevent 

fecal contamination. Carcasses and parts are sampled for chemical 

residues, E. coli and Salmonella. The incidence of diseases of 

public health significance in bobby veal calves is very low. 

12/20/2008 Denmark Alternative Post-Mortem Visual Inspection for Supply Chain 

Inspection in Market Hogs by Omission of Mandibular Lymph Node 

Incision: An important objective of visual inspection is the reduction 

of Salmonella cross-contamination due to the handling/palpation of 

lymph nodes and carcasses. Denmark’s Supply Chain Inspection 

system of pre-slaughter data collection and post-mortem 

inspection effectively identifies and removes unhealthy animals and 

adulterated carcasses, parts and resulting products from the supply 

chain. Only swine born in Denmark and raised indoors are eligible. 

Prerequisite programs reduce the incidence of foodborne 

pathogens in market hogs presented for slaughter. Denmark has 

been declared free of Mycobacterium bovis (tuberculosis) since 

1980. 

08/05/2008 Australia Exemption from Removing all Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) from 

Cattle Carcasses: Australia is considered negligible risk for Bovine 

Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by the World Organization for 

Animal Health (OIE). Australia submitted documentation to FSIS 

detailing 1) all the information provided by the country to the OIE, 

including results of any onsite OIE audit, and 2) the OIE resolution 

that presents the BSE risk category assigned by the OIE. 

08/05/2008 New Zealand Exemption from Removing all Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) from 

Cattle Carcasses: New Zealand is considered negligible risk for BSE 

by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). New Zealand 

submitted documentation to FSIS detailing 1) all the information 

provided by the country to the OIE, including results of any onsite 

OIE audit, and 2) the OIE resolution that presents the BSE risk 

category assigned by the OIE. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07/09/2008 The 

Netherlands 

Visual Inspection of Market Hogs, born in the Netherlands and raised 

on Farms Designated as Neutral or Low Risk by Ongoing Serological 

Testing: The objective is to omit/reduce handling, palpation and 

incision of viscera, lymph nodes and organs to reduce crosscontamination of carcasses by Salmonella, which is deemed a greater 

food safety risk than diseases that are rare in the Netherlands. The 

Netherlands has implemented the Supply Chain Inspection system 

featuring an integrated quality assurance program with 

comprehensive controls over the production process. Diseases, such as 

tuberculosis, which produce lesions in the mesenteric lymph nodes, 

are very rare in the Netherlands. 

08/30/2007 New Zealand Removal of Sheep and Goat Heads from the Carcasses Prior to 

Veterinary Disposition: Sheep and goat heads are discarded and not 

saved for human consumption. Diseases and conditions are looked for 

during ante-mortem inspection and post-mortem inspection of the 

carcasses and viscera. Sheep and goats presenting with diseases at 

ante-mortem inspection are slaughtered separately and the head and 

tongue are retained for inspection and held for veterinary disposition. 

08/29/2007 

04/18/2007 

Australia 

New Zealand 

New Zealand is free of many of the infectious diseases of sheep and 

goats found in other countries. None of the sheep and goat diseases 

notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) are 

present, and New Zealand is free of the 25 "foreign" diseases ranked 

by USDA as being economically important. 

Visual Inspection of Atlantal (lateral retropharyngeal) Lymph Nodes 

in Cattle: This alternative post-mortem inspection procedure of not 

incising atlantal lymph nodes reduces the risk of crosscontamination of carcasses by Salmonella due to unnecessary 

handling of carcasses. Incision of the lateral retropharyngeal lymph 

node is the sanitary measure used by FSIS to detect tuberculosis, 

abscesses, cysticercosis, actinobacillosis, and epithelioma. A 2006 

post-mortem survey in Australia of 10,504 slaughtered cattle 

examined for pathology by palpation found only one case of 

change in the atlantal lymph node without macroscopic changes in 

other lymph nodes in the head. Cysticercosis is the only disease of 

public health concern associated with these lymph nodes, and 

cysticercosis is rare in Australia. Incision of atlantal lymph nodes is 

not necessary to make decisions on condemnation. All other 

condemnations in the survey were made on the basis of multiple/ 

generalized lesions of the carcass. 

Sanitary Procedure Affecting Sheep Carcass Separation during the 

Slaughter and Dressing Process in Establishments Exporting Sheep 

Meat to the U.S.: This alternative sanitary procedure permits the 

clean surfaces of carcasses to touch prior to the inspection of 

internal cavities of the carcass and the official final inspection. New 

Zealand has controls in place to ensure that, in the event carcass 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

separation is compromised, mitigating procedures will continue to 

ensure the production of safe, non-contaminated product. If the 

internal cavities were found to have pathology that poses a risk of 

cross-contamination to those carcasses that are on either side of it, 

all three carcasses would be the subject of an appropriate 

disposition. 

11/17/2006 Netherlands Visual Inspection of the Mesenteric Lymph Nodes, without Palpation, in 

Market Hogs raised under an Integrated Quality Control Program: FSIS 

regulations require that the mesenteric lymph nodes be observed and 

palpated to detect tuberculosis, mycotic granulomas, and other 

macroscopic lesions and abscesses. These conditions can generally be 

first detected by post-mortem examination of the head and incising 

the mandibular lymph nodes. Pork production is limited to hogs raised 

and slaughtered in the Netherlands. Diseases, such as tuberculosis, 

which cause lesions in mesenteric lymph nodes, are very rare in the 

Netherlands, and handling of viscera can cause Salmonella 

cross-contamination of carcasses. 

08/30/2006 New Zealand Visual Post-Mortem Inspection of Lamb Carcasses, Except for 

Palpation of the Inner Surface of the Ventro-Lateral Abdomen: 

Veterinary inspectors will identify contagious and septic disease 

conditions during ante-mortem inspection and visual post-mortem 

inspection of carcasses. A government veterinary inspector will 

determine whether animals with the appearance of illness at antemortem be condemned or slaughtered separately, and undergo a 

thorough post-mortem inspection. An important aspect of this 

system is the reduction of cross-contamination due to the 

handling/palpation of lymph nodes and carcasses. 

03/02/2006 Canada High Line Speed Inspection System (HLIS) for Beef and HACCP-Based 

Inspection Program (HIP) for Pork: HLIS and HIP are modernized 

slaughter inspection systems that utilize statistical process controls 

throughout the slaughter processes to ensure that meat and meat 

products are safe and not adulterated. The Canadian Food Safety 

Inspection Agency (CFIA) uses a multitiered systems approach to 

ensure that carcasses and parts are free from visible fecal material, 

ingesta, and milk contamination; and carcasses and parts with 

condemnable pathology receive proper product disposition. CFIA 

government inspectors verify process control through ongoing 

monitoring including daily records review and daily correlation 

testing with the establishment. In addition, a CFIA government 

inspector inspects every carcass for condemnable pathology. 

02/21/2006 Australia FSIS Reassessment of September 28, 2005 ISM for the Removal of 

Adult Sheep and Swine Heads Prior to Post-Mortem Inspection: FSIS 

reassessed this ISM to determine whether FSIS’ reclassification of 

animal diseases as either public health risks or “other consumer 

concerns” affected the 2005 ISM equivalence determination. FSIS 

reaffirmed that Australia’s post-mortem inspection procedure of 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

not examining the heads and tongues of sheep and swine prior to 

discarding the heads (and not saving them for human 

consumption) is equivalent to FSIS’ post-mortem inspection 

procedures. 

02/11/2006 Australia Use of establishment employees to perform export certification 

activities in cold storage facilities: Australia provided 

documentation demonstrating that its alternative export 

certification process in cold storage facilities is equivalent to FSIS’ 

export certification process. Australia implements the following 

requirements: 

• Before containers of inspected and passed product are 

transferred from a boning or processing establishment to a 

cold store for freezing and holding, an Australian Quarantine 

and Inspection Service (AQIS) (now known as the Department 

of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) generated 

computer sticker (export stamp) is applied to each carton 

designated for export under the direct supervision of an AQIS 

inspector. In addition, an AQIS inspector visually examines 

each export-designated production lot for accuracy of labeling 

and, when applicable, specific export certification 

requirements. 

• When a shipment is staged for export at a cold store, 

warehouse personnel physically examine each shipment and 

remove damaged cartons and any product showing signs of 

improper handling and storage. In addition, warehouse 

personnel perform verification checks of each shipment for 

product integrity and security. 

12/14/2005 Iceland 

AQIS inspection personnel perform quarterly audits to ensure 

compliance with these requirements and increase audit frequency 

as necessary. 

Removal of Lamb Heads from the Carcasses Prior to Veterinary 

Disposition: Lamb heads are removed and saved for use in 

domestic (Icelandic) product. No lamb heads or products from 

heads are exported from Iceland to the U.S. Diseases and 

conditions are looked for during ante-mortem inspection and postmortem inspection of the carcasses and viscera. Lambs presenting 

with diseases at ante-mortem inspection are either condemned or 

slaughtered separately. Lamb carcasses or parts presenting with 

diseases at post-mortem inspection are held for veterinary 

disposition. 

09/28/2005 Australia 

Sheep (lamb) diseases found in Iceland are either completely 

absent or very rare in occurrence. Iceland is free of many of the 

infectious diseases of sheep (lamb) found in other countries. 

Removal of Adult Sheep and Swine Heads Prior to Post-Mortem 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspection: Adult sheep and swine heads are discarded and not 

saved for human consumption. Diseases and conditions are looked 

for during ante-mortem inspection and post-mortem inspection of 

the carcasses and viscera. Swine or sheep presenting with diseases 

at ante-mortem inspection are slaughtered separately and the 

head and tongue are retained for inspection and held for veterinary 

disposition. Australian studies demonstrate that pathology in 

sheep and swine can be detected during post-mortem inspection of 

the carcass and viscera. 

In addition, FSIS concurs with Australia’s assertion that neoplasms, 

actinobacillosis, actinomycosis, cysticercosis, caseous 

lymphadenitis, and sarcocysts are not of public health concern; 

sheep with contagious ecthyma are normally identified and 

controlled at the farm level and these disease conditions are also 

readily visible during ante-mortem inspections. Further, FSIS 

concurs with Australia’s assertion that the eradication in Australia 

of tuberculosis, brucellosis, and other parasitic diseases 

transmissible to consumers has eliminated public health concerns 

from eating pork, and there is no evidence to support the role of 

mycobacteriosis as a meatborne zoonosis. 

10/06/2003 Denmark Visual inspection with Palpation of Hepatic Lymph Nodes in Swine, 

with Incisions when Suspect: FSIS requires routine incision of 

hepatic lymph nodes during post-mortem examination inspection 

of swine, primarily to detect tuberculosis. Denmark proposed the 

visual inspection of lymph nodes with palpation, and incision by an 

inspector or veterinarian only in cases of apparent diseased 

conditions. 

05/21/2003 New Zealand Alternative Post-Mortem Inspection Procedures for the Heads of Adult 

Cattle and Young Calves (5-10 days old): FSIS has determined that New 

Zealand's proposed alternative sanitary measures demonstrated that 

the applicable disease conditions could be readily detected during 

ante-mortem inspection, partial examination of the head, or during 

post-mortem inspection of other parts of the carcass. Therefore, the 

alternative post-mortem inspection procedures are equivalent to the 

FSIS method of post-mortem inspection for adult cattle and young 

calves. 

New Zealand’s alternative post-mortem inspection procedure for 

examining the heads of adult cattle include: (a) View head, eyes and 

surrounding tissue, oral cavity and tonsils (as part of viewing the 

mucous membranes, pharyngeal cavity and associated areas of the 

head); (b) Incise the parotid, retropharyngeal and submaxillary lymph 

nodes; (c) View and palpate the tongue if either the tongue, masseter 

or pterygoid muscles are being saved as edible; and (d) View and 

palpate the masseter and the pterygoid muscles only if either is saved 

as edible. New Zealand’s alternative post-mortem inspection 
 

 

 

 

procedure for examining the heads of young cattle (5-10 days old) 

include: (a) If the head is saved for human consumption, view buccal 

cavity and pharynx (no lymph node incisions); (b) If only the tongue is 

saved for human consumption, just view the cleaned tongue; and (c) 

No head examination is required if only the brain is being saved. Adult 

cattle or young calves presenting with specified diseases at antemortem inspection are slaughtered separately and the head and 

tongue are retained for inspection and held for veterinary disposition. 

The equivalent post-mortem inspection procedures also allow the use 

of different presentation standards for dressing of the heads of both 

adult cattle and young calves (e.g., skin-on versus skinned heads). No 

parts of the head are routinely required to be presented for inspection 

if head tissues are not saved for human consumption. 

06/03/1999 Australia Meat Safety Enhancement Program (MSEP): FSIS published 64 FR 

30299, which stated that AQIS’s MSEP for slaughter inspection in 

establishments that slaughter meat for export to the United States: (1) 

meets all requirements of U.S. law for the import of product to the 

United States; (2) provides the same level of public health protection 

as U.S. domestic slaughter inspection; and, (3) is, therefore, 

equivalent. 

02/11/1984 Australia Cattle inspection procedures for visual examination of rumino-reticular 

junction, portal lymph nodes and kidneys: Australia’s submitted 

documentation demonstrated that its proposed procedures provided 

an equivalent level of protection to palpation.