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USDA 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Des Moines 

District Office 

Neal Smith 

Federal Building 

210 Walnut Street 

Room 985 

Des Moines, IA 

50309-2123 

Voice 

515.727.8960 

Fax 515.727.8991 

March 7, 2024 

Electronically mailed on March 7, 2024 

Jason Bahls, Plant Manger 

North Dakota State University Meat Laboratory, Est. M7627 

P.O. Box 6050, Dept 7630 

Fargo, ND 58105 

Jason.Bahls@ndsu.edu 

701-231-8107 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

Attention: Mr. Bahls 

This letter serves as official notification by the Food Safety and Inspection Se1vice 

(FSIS) of om decision to place the Notice of Suspension (NOS), initiated on Febmaiy 

28, 2024, at No11h Dakota State University Meat Laborat01y, Establishment M7627, 

located at 1350 Albrecht Blvd, Fargo, North Dakota 58102 into abe ance (NOSA). 

This letter follows verbal notification, rovided b , District 

Veterina1y Medical Specialist (DVMS), to , Animal Science Supe1visor 

on March 6, 2024, at approximately 1630 hours. 

On March 3-6, 2024, you provided FSIS, via emails, written cotTective actions and 

preventive measures, in response to the regulato1y noncompliance detailed in the NOS. 

The response outlined actions adequate to address the noncompliance regarding 

humane handling of livestock requirements, including a plan to maintain compliance 

with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) Title 21 of the United States Code (21 

U.S.C. 603), the Humane Methods ofSlaughter Act of 1978 (HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 

et seq), and federal regulations {Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) 

Pait 313}. The following documents were included, detailing actions immediately 

implemented and further proposed at your establishment: 

Specifically: 

• NOS Response Letter, provided March 6, 2024 at 1447 homs (16 pages) 

o Checklist for captive bolt and ammunition maintenance, completed 

March 1, 2024 

o Cattle Captive Bolt Stunning training records 

o Compliance log for captive bolt application of effective stunning, 

Janua1y and Februa1y completed 

o Updated Compliance log for captive bolt application of effective 

stunning record 

o ' Obse1vations on Stunning Placement in Cattle' training 

Page 1 of2 
Jason Bahls, Plant Manger Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

North Dakota State University Meat Laborato1y, Est. M7627 March 6, 2024 

Based on your written response, you were info1med verbally, that the suspension of the 

assignment of IPP, for slaughter operations, at your establishment is held in abeyance effective 

the sta1t of operations on March 7, 2024. 

The suspension will remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS personnel that your 

proposed coITective actions and preventive measures have been effectively implemented and 

are adequate to maintain compliance. Establishment personnel should monitor operations to 

prevent violations of humane handling and slaughter from reoccmTing. It is also impo1tant for 

you to understand the responsibility of PSIS to initiate action when there is a failure to operate 

in accordance with 9 CFR Pait 313 of the regulations. 

During the abeyance period verification activities will be conducted by IPP and results will 

be reported to the Des Moines District Office on a weekly basis. The decision to hold the 

suspension action in abeyance is based on the proffered actions. Any modifications to your 

submitted coITective actions and preventive measures made during the abeyance period need 

to be submitted, in writing, to the Des Moines District Office for review prior to 

implementation by your establishment. 

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

with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate coITective action to prevent inhumane handling 

of livestock at your establishment. Your failure to comply with these requirements or to 

implement the measures in your action plan could result in reinstatement of the suspension of 

inspection at your establishment or other appropriate administrative or legal action. 

If you have questions regarding this matter lease feel free to contact the Des Moines District 

Office at 515-727-8960 or DVMS 

Sincerely, Digitally signed byMARK MARK JOHNSON 

Date: 2024.03.07 09:51:43 JOHNSON -06'00' (for) 

Mr. Jeffe1y Jacobsen 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Des Moines District 

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