iliiii1 United States Department of Agriculture 

Salem, NJ 08079 

862-755-6583 

(b) (6)

February 29, 2024 

Puro Alentejano Iberian Pork Corp. 

M47945 ELECTRONIC MAIL on February 29, 2024 

31 Jerico Road 

@HOTMAIL.COM 

Attention: Rodrigo Duarte, Owner 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION 

This letter confirms the verbal notification given on February 29, 2024, at approximately 1058 

hours, by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) of 

the suspension of the assignment of inspectors for slaughter operations at Puro Alentejano Iberian 

Pork Corp., Est. M47945, herein after referred to as “your establishment.” This action was initiated 

in accordance with Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) 500.3, after FSIS 

determined that your establishment failed to slaughter and handle animals humanely. 

Background/Authority 

The Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (Title 21 of the United States Code {21 U.S.C.} 603 et 

seq.) provides that for the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of livestock, the 

Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and 

inspection of the methods by which cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines are 

slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in the slaughtering establishments inspected 

under this Act. The Secretary may refuse to provide inspection to a new slaughtering establishment 

or may cause slaughtering to be temporarily suspended at a slaughtering establishment if the 

Secretary finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines have been 

slaughtered or handled in connection with slaughter at such establishments by any method not in 

accordance with sections 1901 to 1906 of Title 7 until the establishment furnishes assurances, 

satisfactory to the Secretary, that all slaughtering and handling in connection with slaughter of 

livestock shall be in accordance with such a method. 

The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) 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 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. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rodrigo Duarte, Owner Notice of Suspension 

Puro Alentejano Iberian Pork Corp., M47945 February 29, 2024 

Findings/Basis for Suspension 

At approximately 0815 hours on Thursday, February 29, 2024, IPP identified an egregious humane 

handling non-compliance in which a roaster pig regained consciousness after being stunned. Ten 

(10) roaster piglets were positioned in the knock box and were stunned using an Electrical Stunning 

Device (ESD) using the head-thorax stunning technique. After all the piglets had been stunned, 

one piglet began showing signs of consciousness with slow, rhythmic breathing, blinking, and 

tracking eye movement. The employee reapplied the ESD to the piglet and the piglet gave a short 

squeal when the ESD was applied to its head. After a head and heart stun, the piglet was rendered 

unconscious. After being shackled and hung, the same piglet again exhibited signs of 

consciousness by paddling its front legs in a motion to try to walk away. IPP notified the employee 

of the conscious animal, and the employee lowered the piglet to the ground. The piglet then 

immediately stood up and took approximately two (2) steps on the kill floor. The employee then 

applied a third stun using the ESD on the head and thorax and rendered the piglet unconscious, 

and it remained unconscious through the remainder of the shackling, hoisting, sticking, and 

bleeding step. IPP applied US Retain/Reject Tag # B40490289 to the knock box to prevent further 

slaughter of livestock; this is in accordance with 9 CFR 313.50(c). The Frontline Supervisor (FLS) 

notified establishment management of the recommendation for further enforcement action at 

approximately 1058 hours. 

This incident represents a violation of 9 CFR 313.30(a)(4) which says in part “The stunned animal 

shall remain in a state of surgical anesthesia through shackling, sticking, and bleeding.” The 

incident is considered egregious because the animal regained consciousness after being stunned. 

The establishment has a partially documented Systematic Approach for Humane Handling; 

however, the program is not considered robust, and this Suspension action is being initiated. 

The suspension action will remain in effect until you provide the Raleigh District Office with 

adequate written assurances, including corrective actions and further planned preventive measures, 

to assure that livestock at your establishment are slaughtered humanely. In order to resume 

inspected operations, you must submit corrective actions to my attention at the District Office. 

These corrective actions should include at a minimum the following: 

1. Identify the assessment process used to determine the nature and cause of the 

noncompliances. 

2. Identify what the assessment revealed as the likely cause of the system failure. 

3. Describe the specific actions that will be taken to eliminate the cause of the failures. 

4. Describe the future monitoring activities you will use to ensure that changes are 

implemented and are effective. 

You are reminded that, as an operator of a federally inspected plant, you are expected to comply 

with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate corrective actions to prevent inhumane handling of 

livestock 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. Please 

also be advised that you have the right to appeal this matter. 
Rodrigo Duarte, Owner Notice ofSuspension 

Puro Alentejano Iberian Pork Corp., M47945 Febmaiy 29, 2024 

ill accordance with 9 CFR 500.5(a)(5), you may appeal this action by contacting: 

Sheni Johnson 

Executive Associate for Regulato1y Operations 

Office ofField Operations 

Food Safety and illSpection Service 

United States Department ofAgriculture 

1400 illdependence Avenue, SW 

South Building, Room 3154 

Washington, DC 20250 

Phone: 

ill addition, you may also request a hearing regarding this determination pursuant to FSIS' Rules 

of Practice (9 CFR 500.). The mles of Practice were published in the Federal Register, Vol. 64, 

No. 228, on November 29, 1999. As specified in Section 500.5(d), should you request a hearing, 

FSIS will file a complaint that will include a request for an expedited heai·ing. If you wish to 

request a heai·ing regai·ding this detennination, you should contact: 

Scott C. Safian, Branch Chief 

Enforcement Operations Branch 

Office ofillvestigation, Enforcement and Audit 

Food Safety and illSpection Service 

Stop Code 3753, PP3, Cubicle 9-235-A 

1400 illdependence Avenue, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20250 

Voice: (202) 418-8872 

Fax: (202) 245-5097 

It is our hope that this matter can be resolved quickly. If you have any questions, please contact 

me via telephone at 919-326-5281 or via electronic mail at todd.furey2@usda.gov Additionally, 

you can contact the Raleigh District Office at 919-844-8400 or by fax at 844-839-6359. 

Sincerely, 

CAROL Digitally signed by 

CAROL FORD 

FORD Date: 2024.02.29 

12:04:06 -05'00' 

Todd Furey 

District Manager 
Rodrigo Duarte, Owner 

Puro Alentejano Iberian Pork Corp., M47945 

cc: S. Johnson, EARO/FO 

L Ho1ie11 RD/CID/OIEA 

, HHEC/FO 

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-R. Mmp hy, DDM/RDO/FO 

A. Gu ton, DDM/RDO/FO 

DCS/RDO/FO 

DVMS/RDO/FO 

, SEIAO/RDO/FO 

, FLS/RDO/FO 

SPHV/RDO/FO 

, CSI/RDO/FO 

Quaiierly Enforcement Repo11 

Establishment File (Est. M47945) 

Notice of Suspension 

Febmaiy 29, 2024