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United States Department of Agriculture 

September 11, 2023 

Carteret Abattoir 

M639+V639 ELECTRONIC MAIL on September 11, 2023 

2 Roosevelt Avenue 

@gmail.com 

717-379-2273 

Carteret, NJ 07008 

(b) (6)

Attention: 

(b) (6)

Establishment Administrator 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION 

This letter serves as official notification by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of our 

decision to withhold the federal marks of inspection and suspend the assignment of Inspection 

Program Personnel (IPP) at Carteret Abattoir, M639, located at 2 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 

(b) (6) (b) (6)

07008. This letter follows verbal notification of the suspension action, provided by 

Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspector (SCSI) to (Establishment Administrator) and 

Jerome Kabore (Plant Manager) at approximately 1139 hours on September 11, 2023. This action 

includes your Slaughter Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) processes employed at 

your establishment. 

The decision to institute this enforcement action is in accordance with Title 9 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR), Rules of Practice 500.3(b), based on the determination that your 

establishment did not handle or slaughter animals humanely. The evidence demonstrates failure to 

comply with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 603), the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act (HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), and the regulatory requirements (9 CFR Part 313). 

Background/Authority 

The FMIA (21 USC 601 et seq.) provides it is essential to the public interest that the health and 

welfare of consumers be protected, by assuring meat products distributed to them are wholesome, 

not adulterated, and properly marked, and labeled. The Act gives FSIS the authority, as designated 

by the Secretary of Agriculture, to prescribe rules and regulations describing sanitation 

requirements for inspected establishments and provide FSIS program personnel the authority to 

refuse to allow meat/meat food products to be marked, labeled, stamped, or tagged as inspected 

and passed, to prevent the entry of adulterated products into commerce. Furthermore, the FMIA 

provides FSIS the authority to appoint inspectors to examine and inspect the method by which 

livestock are slaughtered and handled at slaughtering establishments. 

The HMSA provides that Congress finds that the use of humane methods in the slaughter of 

livestock prevents needless suffering; results in safer and better working conditions for persons 

engaged in the slaughtering industry; brings about improvement of products and economies in 

slaughtering operations; and produces other benefits for producers, processors, and consumers 

which tend to expedite an orderly flow of livestock and livestock products in interstate and foreign 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Carteret Abattoir, M639 

(b) (6)

Establishment Administrator Notice of Suspension 

September 11, 2023 

commerce. It is therefore declared to be the policy of the United States that the slaughtering of 

livestock and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter shall be carried out only by 

humane methods. 

Under the authority of the Acts, FSIS has prescribed rules and regulations required for 

establishments slaughtering and handling livestock, as required by 9 CFR Part 313. FSIS has also 

developed the Rules of Practice regarding administrative enforcement, 9 CFR Part 500. The Rules 

of Practice describe the types of enforcement actions that FSIS may take and include procedures 

for taking a withholding action and/or suspension, with or without prior notification, and for filing 

a complaint to withdraw a grant of inspection. Specifically, 9 CFR 500.3(b) states that FSIS may 

impose a suspension without providing prior notification due to handling or slaughtering of 

animals inhumanely. 

Findings/Basis for Action 

On September 8, 2023, at approximately 1446 hours, the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) 

observed an employee driving lambs to the pens. During his observation, he saw the employee 

hitting a lamb on the back with a crowbar. The employee raised the crowbar above his head before 

striking the animal. When the crowbar struck the animal, the CSI could hear the impact of the 

strike; however, the CSI did not see the employee strike another animal. The lamb did not cry out 

or make any noise. The CSI immediately stopped the employee from further using the crowbar 

and then stopped production and took regulatory control. The CSI informed the Plant Manager of 

the incident, and stated that, due to the forceful striking of the animal, he would be documenting a 

noncompliance for a humane handling violation. 

This incident is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states, in part, “Driving of livestock 

from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall 

be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals.”. There is also 

noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(b) which states, in part, “Electric prods, canvas slappers, or 

other implements employed to drive animals shall be used as little as possible in order to minimize 

excitement and injury. Any use of such implements which, in the opinion of the inspector, is 

excessive, is prohibited.” The incident is considered egregious because the employee beat an 

ambulatory animal. 

On September 9, 2004, FSIS published "Humane Handling and Slaughter Requirements and the 

Merits of a Systematic Approach to Meet Such Requirements" in the Federal Register (69 FR 

54625). On September 24, 2020, FSIS released FSIS Directive 6900.2 Revision 3, entitled, 

"Humane Handling and Slaughter of Livestock." Additionally, on October 23, 2013, FSIS 

introduced new guidance, titled "FSIS Compliance Guide for a Systematic Approach to the 

Humane Handling of Livestock." Within the guidance material is information intended to better 

ensure the humane treatment of livestock presented for slaughter. The guidance material provides 

a set of practices designed to minimize excitement, discomfort, and accidental injury regarding the 

humane handling of livestock to include the four components of a robust systematic approach to 

humane handling. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Carteret Abattoir, M639 

(b) (6)

Establishment Administrator Notice of Suspension 

September 11, 2023 

When an establishment maintains a robust humane handling program, FSIS can exercise regulatory 

discretion when an inhumane handling or slaughter incident is observed. You do not currently 

maintain a written humane handing program for consideration. 

Summary and Conclusion 

Provisions of the FMIA outline FSIS’ ability to refuse to render inspection and indefinitely 

withdraw inspection from an establishment, provided the establishment is afforded the right to an 

administrative hearing, when conditions exist where the slaughter and/or handling of livestock 

was not by a method in accordance with the Act(s). Evidence demonstrates your failure to meet 

regulatory requirements addressed in 9 CFR 313.2(c), which states, “Pipes, sharp or pointed 

objects, and other items which, in the opinion of the inspector, would cause injury or 

unnecessary pain to the animal shall not be used to drive livestock.” and 313.5, constituting a 

violation of the humane slaughter requirements, and supporting the conclusion that your 

handling of livestock violated the provisions of the FMIA and HMSA. 

Please provide a written response, inclusive of written corrective action and preventative measures, 

by addressing the following: 

Evaluate and identify the nature, cause of the incident. 

Describe the specific actions taken to eliminate the cause of the incident and prevent 

future recurrences. 

Describe specific monitoring activities planned to ensure future compliance. 

Provide any supporting documentation and records maintained and/or associated with the 

proposed corrective actions and preventative measures. 

A determination of further administrative action will be made upon receipt and review of your 

submitted corrective actions and preventative measures. You are reminded that, as an operator of 

a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to comply with FSIS regulations and to 

take appropriate corrective actions to prevent the production of or adulterated products at your 

establishment. Please be advised that your failure to respond adequately to these issues may 

result in our initiating action to withdraw inspection from your establishment. 

Appeal and Hearing Rights 

You have the right to appeal this matter and can do so by contacting: 

Sherri Johnson 

Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations 

Office of Field Operations 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

United States Department of Agriculture 

SB, Room 3154 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20250 

Email: sherri.johnson@usda.gov 

Phone: 202-379-6196 
- Establishment Administrator Notice ofSuspension 

Carteret Abattoir, M639 September 11, 2023 

Pursuant to 9 CFR 500.5(d), you may also request a hearing regarding this detennination. Should 

you request a hearing, FSIS will file a complaint that will include a request for an expedited hearing. 

Ifyou wish to request a hearing regarding this determination, please contact: 

Scott C. Safian, Director 

Enforcement Operations Staff(EOS) 

Office ofInvestigation, Enforcement and Audit (OIEA) 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

United States Department ofAgriculture 

Stop Code 3753, SB - Room 2148 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20250 

Telephone: (202) 418-8872 

Facsimile: (202) 245-5097 

E-mail: AEBC01Tespondence@usda.gov 

Ifyou have any questions, please contact Todd Furey via telephone at 919-326-5281 or via 

electronic mail at todd.furey2@usda.gov. Additionally, you can contact Raleigh Disti·ict Office 

at 919-844-8400 or by fax at 844-839-6359. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed by ROGER 

ROGER MURPHY ~~~:3.09.1201:29:44 

-04'00' 

Todd Furey 

District Manager 
- Establishment Administrator 

Carteret Abattoir, M639 

cc: S. Johnson, EARO/FO 

, HHEC/FO 

T. Fmey, D 

R. Mmp hy, DDMIRDO/FO 

M. Roling, DDMIRDO/FO 

A. Thompson, DDMIRDO/FO 

DCS/RDO/FO 

DVMS/RDO/FO 

, SEIAO/RDO/FO 

F S/RDO/FO 

, SPHV/RDO/FO 

CSI/RDO/FO 

, CSI/RDO/FO 

Qmui erly Enforcement Report 

Establishment File (Est. M639) 

Notice ofSuspension 

September 11, 2023