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Food Safety and 

Inspection Service

Office of Field 

Operations

Atlanta District Office 

100 Alabama St., SW. 

Suite 3R90

Atlanta, GA. 30303

Phone: 404-562-5900

Fax: 404-562-5877

Toll Free:

800-282-7005

October 27, 2023

Nettles Beef Processing, Inc. 

M44200

147 S.W. County Road 240 

Lake City, FL 32025 

nettlesbeef@yahoo.com

(368) 397-5053

CERTIFIED MAIL

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE

Dear Mr. William J. Nettles:

On October 26, 2023, the Food Safety, and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a 

Notice of Reinstatement of Suspension (NOROS) withholding the marks of 

inspection and suspending the assignment of slaughter inspection program 

personnel for livestock slaughter at Nettles Beef Processing, Inc., Est. M4420, 

located at 147 S.W. County Road 240, Lake City, FL 32025. This action was 

based on your establishment’s failure to handle livestock humanely according 

to 9 CFR Part 313. 

On October 26, 2023, you submitted written corrective actions and preventive 

measures to meet the requirements of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. 

Your corrective actions and preventive measures included: suspending the 

slaughter of rams, removing the .22-long rifle and using only the .22-magnum 

rifle, retraining employees on proper lamb stunning procedures, and making 

backup firearms available at all times during slaughter.

On October 27, 2023, FSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions and 

preventive measures submitted were not adequate to properly address the 

inhumane handling incident and clarification was requested. Specifically, FSIS 

requested clarification regarding: whether lambs and she-goats will still be 

accepted and what firearm would be used on them, a record of employee 

training, how the presence of backup firearms will be monitored, and how it

will be determined if or when rams will be accepted for slaughter again. 
Mr. William J. Nettles, Owner

Nettles Beef Processing, Inc., M44200

Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

October 27, 2023

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On October 27, 2023, you submitted your second response to provide clarification to

your proffered corrective actions. Your response included: clarification that lambs and 

she-goats would be slaughtered using the .22-magnum rifle; updated training logs would 

be made available once enough lamb and goat heads were procured for stunning 

placement training; an updated daily stunning log to include verification of a backup 

firearm availability; and clarification that the plant would contact the district office before 

slaughtering rams again. 

On October 27, 2023, you were verbally notified by FSIS that the corrective actions and 

preventive measures met the requirements to place Nettles Beef Processing, LLC, Est. 

M44200, in Abeyance and that a Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance (NOSHA) and 

Verification Plan (VP) would be issued. You are hereby being provided written 

notification of the Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance. 

Please be further advised that the suspension of inspection at your establishment will 

remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS that your proposed corrective actions 

and preventive measures have been implemented and are effective in ensuring future 

regulatory compliance and preventing the inhumane treatment of animals. Agency 

personnel will begin immediate verification of your corrective actions and preventive 

measures.

A copy of the FSIS Verification Plan is attached to assist you in understanding the nature 

and importance of the agency’s verification activities. The FSIS Verification Plan is 

designed to verify that your establishment fully implements the revisions to its humane 

handling of animals and other corrective actions stated in your responses, and that these 

revisions and corrective actions are effective in ensuring future regulatory compliance. 

The FSIS Verification Plan identifies your proposed corrective actions, the regulatory 

requirement(s), and the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will verify the 

implementation and effectiveness of your proposed action plan. 

Please be reminded that as a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to 

comply with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate actions to prevent the inhumane 

handling of animals. It is important for you to understand that FSIS has the

responsibility to initiate action if your establishment fails to operate in accordance with 

the regulations, or conditions occur that do not comply with the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act. Please be advised that failure to comply with these regulatory 

requirements or failure to effectively implement your proposed corrective actions and 

preventive measures could result in the immediate suspension of inspection at your 

establishment or other appropriate action. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Atlanta District Office at 404-562-5900.

Mr. William J. Nettles, Owner

Nettles Beef Processing, Inc., M44200

Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

October 27, 2023

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cc: Karen Hunter, EARO 

Phyllis Adams, DM 

, Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator 

Larry Hortert, OIEA Regional Director

Edward Hepburn, DDM 

Barney Welch, DDM 

Tracy Bryant, DDM 

SEIAO 

DCS 

DVMS 

FLS

SPHV 

FO/Quarterly Reports 

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