The National tribune., 1906-08-02
MEAT INSPECTION.
Secretary Wilson Pfomulgates R1lei
G0vcrning the Same.

Secretary Wilson PtomnIgates Rnles
Governing the Same.
july 81 Secretary Wilson made pub
lie the regulations of the new law gov
erning the Inspection of meat products
for Interstate and foreign trade.
The regulations are 4s in number.
drastic in tone, and with the exception
OF the subject of Interstate transporta-
tion and microscopic inspection of pork.
which will be issued later, they cover
every detail of the meat business. from
the inspection of the animal before
slaughter to the affixing of the tax by
the Governments representative.
The general regulations provide that
the scope of the inspection shall cover
all slaughtering, packing. meat canning,
sailing, rendering or similar establish
ments whose meats or meat-food prod
ucts, in whole or In part, enter into In
terstate or foreign commerce. unless ex-
empted from inspection by the Secre-
tary of Agriculture. Under the law the
only esta blishmeuts which may be ex-
empted by the Secretary ere retail
butchers and retail dealers supplying
their customers in Interstate or foreign
trade. but even these exempted classes
are required to submit an application
for exemption.
Sanitation Regulations.
The sanitation regulations require
the establishments in which animals are
slaughtered, or meat and meat-food
products are prepared. cured. packed,
stored or handled. to be suitably lighted
and ventilated, and to be maintained in
q sanitary condition. All work in such
establishments must be performed in d
cleanly and sanitary manner
Employees of the establishments must
wear outer clothing of material that
Is easily cleansed and made sanitary,
and all toilet and dressing rooms are re-
quired to be entirely separate from
apartments in which csrcasses are
dressed or meats and meat-food prod
ucts are prepared. Employees who are
unclean and careless of person will not
be allowed to handle meats.
All portions of the buildings must be
whitewashed or painted. or. where this
is impracticable, they must be washed.
scraped or otherwise rendered sanitary.
Meats for Export Trade.
No meat or meat-food product for In
terstate commerce shall contain any
substance which lessons its wholesome
ness. nor any drug. chemical or dye. un-
less specifically provided for by a Fed
eral statute. or any preservative other
than common salt, sugar, wood smoke,
vinegar. pure spices, and. pending fur
ther inquiry. saltpeter. Meats and meat
food products for export may contain
preservatives In proportions which do
not conflict with the laws of the for
eign country to which they are export
ed. but all meats or meatfood products
so prepared for export must be treated
and kept IN compartments of the estab-
lishment separate and apart from those
in which meats and meat-food products
are prepared for Interstate commerce.
specially labeled and certified. and
stamped with the word Special" Such
meats may not enter domestic trade un-
der any circumstances.
Running through the regulations is a
carefully-prepared scheme which will
effectually prevent the entrance into
| sausage. curing, canning and other
chopped-meat establishments Of any
| carcasses which were not inspected and
passed by Federal Inspectors at the
| time of slaughter.
Destruction of Carcasses.
Special provision Is made for the de-
struction for food purposes of all car
casses and parts Of carcasse3 and meat
food products, which, upon inspection
or reinspection, prove to be unclean.
| unsound. unhealthful, unwholesome or
otherwise unfit for human food. All
such meat Will be placed In O. tank Il:
the presence of Government Inspec-
| tor. and all openings to the tank will be
sealed with a Government seal by the
Inspector. Steam will be turned on.
Before the carcasses are placed in the
| tank sufficient coloring matter will be
added to render 1t impossible that the
! tankase ran be used for lard or other
edible product.
Each establishment at which inspec-
| ton is maintained will be given num-
ber by which all its meats and meat
| food products Will be known. Estab-
lishments having one or more branches
| in connection with the number to diff
| ferentiate the products of the different
branches.
Each employe of the Department en-
gagged in meat inspection will wear q
numbered badge for Identification pur-
poses.
To Prevent Bribery.
The regulations direct attention to
| the fact that 1t Is a felony. punishable
by fine or Imprisonment, for any firm
| or corporation, or any agent or employe
thereof, to give )r offer, directly or in
directly. to any Department employe en-
gagged in meat inspection any money or
other thing of value with intent to in
fiuence the employe in the discharge of
his duty. 1t is also felony for any
Department employe engaged in meat
inspection to receive or accept from any
| person, firm or corporation engaged In
Interstate or foreign commerce any
gift, money or other thing of value.
given for any purpose or intent what
soever.
For the purpose of enforcing the law
and the regulations, Inspectors and 9TH
er Government employees under the d.
rection of the Inspector must have ac-
| cess to establishments at all times, by
day or night, whether the establishment
be operated OF not.