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Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:57:25+00:00

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For the purpose of preventing the use in commerce of meat and meat food products which are adulterated, the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and inspection of all amenable species before they shall be allowed to enter into any slaughtering, packing, meat-canning, rendering, or similar establishment, in which they are to be slaughtered and the meat and meat food products thereof are to be used in commerce; and all amenable species found on such inspection to show symptoms of disease shall be set apart and slaughtered separately from all other cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, and when so slaughtered the carcasses of said cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines shall be subject to a careful examination and inspection, all as provided by the rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary, as provided for in this subchapter.
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 method by which amenable species are slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in the slaughtering establishments inspected under this chapter. The Secretary may refuse to provide inspection to a new slaughtering establishment or may cause inspection 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 establishment by any method not in accordance with the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 862; 7 U.S.C. 1901–1906) 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.
Act of August 27, 1958, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 85–765, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 862, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 48 (§1901 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Sections 1903 and 1905 of Title 7, included within reference to Act of August 27, 1958, were repealed by Pub. L. 95–445, §5(b), Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1069, effective as set forth in section 7 of Pub. L. 95–445, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note below.
2005—Pub. L. 109–97 substituted "amenable species" for "cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines" wherever appearing.
1978—Pub. L. 95–445 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3, 12(a), (b), struck out "interstate or foreign" before "commerce" in two places, substituted "Secretary shall" for "Secretary, at his discretion, may", and struck out "of Agriculture" after "Secretary", included horses, mules, and other equines, and horses, mules, or other equines in the list of animals, and substituted "adulterated" for "unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food", respectively.
Pub. L. 95–445, §7, Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1070, provided that: "The provisions of this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 601 of this title] shall become effective one year after the date of enactment [Oct. 10, 1978]. However, such provisions shall not apply to a person, firm, or corporation for such additional period of time, not to exceed eighteen months, as may be determined by the Secretary, if the Secretary, upon application, finds that compliance with the provisions of this Act on its effective date would cause undue hardship on such person, firm, or corporation."
Pub. L. 95–445, §6, Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1070, provided that: "Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 601 of this title] shall be construed to prohibit, abridge, or in any way hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in order to protect freedom of religion, ritual slaughter and the handling or other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are exempted from the terms of this Act. For the purposes of this section the term &apos;ritual slaughter&apos; means slaughter in accordance with section 2(b) of the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 862; 7 U.S.C. 1902(b))."
For the purposes hereinbefore set forth the Secretary shall cause to be made by inspectors appointed for that purpose a post mortem examination and inspection of the carcasses and parts thereof of all amenable species to be prepared at any slaughtering, meat-canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment in any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia as articles of commerce which are capable of use as human food; and the carcasses and parts thereof of all such animals found to be not adulterated shall be marked, stamped, tagged, or labeled as "Inspected and passed"; and said inspectors shall label, mark, stamp, or tag as "Inspected and condemned" all carcasses and parts thereof of animals found to be adulterated; and all carcasses and parts thereof thus inspected and condemned shall be destroyed for food purposes by the said establishment in the presence of an inspector, and the Secretary may remove inspectors from any such establishment which fails to so destroy any such condemned carcass or part thereof, and said inspectors, after said first inspection, shall, when they deem it necessary, reinspect said carcasses or parts thereof to determine whether since the first inspection the same have become adulterated, and if any carcass or any part thereof shall, upon examination and inspection subsequent to the first examination and inspection, be found to be adulterated, it shall be destroyed for food purposes by the said establishment in the presence of an inspector, and the Secretary may remove inspectors from any establishment which fails to so destroy any such condemned carcass or part thereof.
2005—Pub. L. 109–97 substituted "amenable species" for "cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines".
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3, 4, 12(a)–(d), struck out "interstate or foreign" before "commerce" and "of Agriculture" after "Secretary" in three places; struck out "for human consumption" before "at any slaughtering" and "for transportation or sale" after "District of Columbia" and inserted "which are capable of use as human food" after "commerce"; included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals; substituted "adulterated" for "unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food" after " &apos;Inspected and condemned,&apos; all carcasses and parts thereof of animals found to be" and before ", it shall be destroyed"; substituted "not adulterated" for "sound, healthful, wholesome, and fit for human food"; and substituted "adulterated" for "unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or in any way unfit for human food" before "and if any carcass", respectively.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§5, 12(a), limited entry of articles into establishments under such prescribed conditions as would be consistent with the purpose of this chapter and included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals, respectively.
In the case of an examination and inspection under subsection (a) of a meat food product derived from any fish described in section 601(w)(2) of this title, the Secretary shall take into account the conditions under which the fish is raised and transported to a processing establishment.
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), probably should have been a reference to this Act in the original, meaning the Federal Meat Inspection Act, titles I to V of act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, as added Dec. 15, 1967, Pub. L. 90–201, 81 Stat. 584, which are classified generally to subchapters I to IV–A of this chapter.
Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections and repealed former section 6 of act Mar. 4, 1907. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
A prior section 606, acts Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, §6, formerly 4th par., 34 Stat. 1261; renumbered §6 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§1, 3, 12(e), Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592; Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, §403(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3567, was formerly classified to section 74 of this title and was repealed by Pub. L. 110–234, title XI, §11016(b)(1)(B), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1369, and Pub. L. 110–246, §4(a), title XI, §11016(b)(1)(B), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2131. Prior to repeal, section read as follows: "For the purposes hereinbefore set forth the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and inspection of all meat food products prepared for commerce in any slaughtering, meat-canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment, and for the purposes of any examination and inspection and inspectors shall have access at all times, by day or night, whether the establishment be operated or not, to every part of said establishment; and said inspectors shall mark, stamp, tag, or label as &apos;Inspected and passed&apos; all such products found to be not adulterated; and said inspectors shall label, mark, stamp, or tag as &apos;Inspected and condemned&apos; all such products found adulterated, and all such condemned meat food products shall be destroyed for food purposes, as hereinbefore provided, and the Secretary may remove inspectors from any establishment which fails to so destroy such condemned meat food products: Provided, That subject to the rules and regulations of the Secretary the provisions of this section in regard to preservatives shall not apply to meat food products for export to any foreign country and which are prepared or packed according to the specifications or directions of the foreign purchaser, when no substance is used in the preparation or packing thereof in conflict with the laws of the foreign country to which said article is to be exported; but if said article shall be in fact sold or offered for sale for domestic use or consumption then this proviso shall not exempt said article from the operation of all the other provisions of this chapter."
2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–79 added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In the case of an examination and inspection under subsection (a) of a meat food product derived from catfish, the Secretary shall take into account the conditions under which the catfish is raised and transported to a processing establishment."
Amendment by Pub. L. 113–79 effective as if enacted as part of section 11016(b) of Pub. L. 110–246, see section 12106(c) of Pub. L. 113–79, set out as a note under section 601 of this title.
Enactment of this section and repeal of former section 6 of act Mar. 4, 1907, and Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.
When any meat or meat food product prepared for commerce which has been inspected as hereinbefore provided and marked "Inspected and passed" shall be placed or packed in any can, pot, tin, canvas, or other receptacle or covering in any establishment where inspection under the provisions of this chapter is maintained, the person, firm, or corporation preparing said product shall cause a label to be attached to said can, pot, tin, canvas, or other receptacle or covering, under the supervision of an inspector, which label shall state that the contents thereof have been "inspected and passed" under the provisions of this chapter; and no inspection and examination of meat or meat food products deposited or inclosed in cans, tins, pots, canvas, or other receptacle or covering in any establishment where inspection under the provisions of this chapter is maintained shall be deemed to be complete until such meat or meat food products have been sealed or inclosed in said can, tin, pot, canvas, or other receptacle or covering under the supervision of an inspector.
The Secretary, whenever he determines such action is necessary for the protection of the public, may prescribe: (1) the styles and sizes of type to be used with respect to material required to be incorporated in labeling to avoid false or misleading labeling in marketing and labeling any articles or animals subject to this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter; (2) definitions and standards of identity or composition for articles subject to this subchapter and standards of fill of container for such articles not inconsistent with any such standards established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], and there shall be consultation between the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services prior to the issuance of such standards under either Act relating to articles subject to this chapter to avoid inconsistency in such standards and possible impairment of the coordinated effective administration of these Acts. There shall also be consultation between the Secretary and an appropriate advisory committee provided for in section 661 of this title, prior to the issuance of such standards under this chapter, to avoid, insofar as feasible, inconsistency between Federal and State standards.
The Secretary, consistent with United States international obligations, shall establish standards for the labeling of sheep carcasses, parts of sheep carcasses, sheepmeat, and sheepmeat food products.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 301 of this title and Tables.
Either Act and these Acts, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), mean the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Federal Meat Inspection Act is titles I to V of act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, as added Pub. L. 90–201, Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, and Pub. L. 110–246, title XI, §11015(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 2124, which are classified generally to subchapters I to IV–A (§601 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note under section 601 of this title and Tables.
1996—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–127 added subsec. (f).
1967—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–201, §§3(a), 6(a), (b), struck out "interstate or foreign" before "commerce" and provisions prohibiting sales of meat or meat food products in interstate or foreign commerce under any false or deceptive names and permitting trade names or names which are usual to such products and are not false and deceptive and are approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, now incorporated in subsec. (d), and designated remaining provisions as subsecs. (a), respectively.
Subsecs. (b) to (e). Pub. L. 90–201, §6(c), added subsecs. (b) to (e).
"Secretary of Health and Human Services" substituted for "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare" in subsec. (c)(2) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
The Secretary shall cause to be made, by experts in sanitation or by other competent inspectors, such inspection of all slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishments in which amenable species are slaughtered and the meat and meat food products thereof are prepared for commerce as may be necessary to inform himself concerning the sanitary conditions of the same, and to prescribe the rules and regulations of sanitation under which such establishments shall be maintained; and where the sanitary conditions of any such establishment are such that the meat or meat food products are rendered adulterated, he shall refuse to allow said meat or meat food products to be labeled, marked, stamped or tagged as "inspected and passed."
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3, 12(a), (f), struck out "interstate or foreign" before "commerce" and "of Agriculture" after "Secretary", included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals, and substituted "adulterated" for "unclean, unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food", respectively.
The Secretary shall cause an examination and inspection of all amenable species, and the food products thereof, slaughtered and prepared in the establishments hereinbefore described for the purposes of commerce to be made during the nighttime as well as during the daytime when the slaughtering of said amenable species, or the preparation of said food products is conducted during the nighttime.
2005—Pub. L. 109–97 substituted "amenable species" for "cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines" in two places.
1986—Pub. L. 99–641 temporarily inserted ", except as provided in section 606 of this title," after first reference to "other equines, and". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment note below.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3, 12(a), struck out "interstate or foreign" before "commerce" and "of Agriculture" after "Secretary" and included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals, respectively.
Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, §403(d)(1), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3570, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective only during the 6-year period beginning Nov. 10, 1986.
"(a) General Effective Date.—Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this title and the amendments made by this title [amending this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title] shall become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1986].
"(b) Temporary Application of Existing Law.—Sections 6, 9, and 21 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 606, 609, and 621), as in effect immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1986], shall apply with respect to establishments until the Secretary of Agriculture first issues rules and regulations to implement the amendments made by section 403(a) [amending section 606 of this title]."
Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, §404, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3571, provided that: "The expiration date provisions of section 403 [enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title] shall not have the effect of releasing or extinguishing any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as amended by section 403 [amending this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title], or under the rules or regulations issued under such Act."
Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, §403(e), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3570, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title] shall not be construed to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to refuse to provide inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) at an establishment solely because such establishment does not participate in a total plant quality-control program."
Sections 1903 and 1905 of Title 7, included within reference to Act of August 27, 1958, were repealed by Pub. L. 95–445, §5(b), Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1069, effective as set forth in section 7 of Pub. L. 95–445, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under section 603 of this title.
1978—Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 95–445 added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d), respectively.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §7, included the list of animals and prohibited, except in compliance with requirements of this chapter, slaughtering animals or preparation of articles capable of use as human food, sales, transportation, and other transactions, and acts of adulteration or misbranding, incorporating in subsec. (b)(2) existing prohibition on distributions in interstate or foreign commerce of noninspected articles.
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–445 effective one year after Oct. 10, 1978, and an additional eighteen month period thereafter in hardship cases, see section 7 of Pub. L. 95–445, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under section 603 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 90–201 effective Dec. 15, 1967, except that subsecs. (b)(1) and (c) of this section effective upon expiration of sixty days after Dec. 15, 1967, see section 20(a) of Pub. L. 90–201, set out as an Effective Date note under section 601 of this title.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §8, clarified application to brand manufacturers and printers of existing prohibition against counterfeiting official marks, labels or certificates, the provisions with respect to forgery, unauthorized use or failure to use official marks, or similar items, and similar offenses, and existing prohibitions with respect to false statements in official or nonofficial certificates, and added restriction upon possession of official devices, or devices, labels, meat, or other articles bearing counterfeit official marks, counterfeit official certificates, or similar items, and prohibition against false representations.
A prior section 612, acts Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, §12, formerly 10th par., 34 Stat. 1263; renumbered §12 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§1, 3(b), 12(a), Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592, related to inspection of animals for export, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–171, title X, §10418(a)(19), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 508. Section was formerly classified to section 80 of this title.
A prior section 613, acts Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, §13, formerly 11th par., 34 Stat. 1263; renumbered §13 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§1, 3(b), 12(a), Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592, related to inspectors of animals for export and certificates of condition, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–171, title X, §10418(a)(19), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 508. Section was formerly classified to section 81 of this title.
Section, acts Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, §14, formerly 12th par., 34 Stat. 1263; renumbered §14 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§1, 3(b), 12(a), Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592, prohibited clearance to vessel carrying animals for export without inspector's certificate. Section was formerly classified to section 82 of this title.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3(b), 12(a), struck out "of Agriculture" after "Secretary" and included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals, respectively.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3(b), 12(a), struck out "of Agriculture" after "Secretary", and included horses, mules, or other equines in the list of animals.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3(b), 12(a), (g), struck out "of Agriculture" after "Secretary", included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals, and substituted "goat or equine meat" for "or goat meat, being the meat of animals killed after March 4, 1907, or except as hereinbefore provided", respectively.
The inspectors provided for under this subchapter shall be authorized to give official certificates of the condition of the carcasses and products of amenable species; and one copy of every certificate granted under the provisions of this chapter shall be filed in the Department of Agriculture, another copy shall be delivered to the owner or shipper, and when the amenable species, or their carcasses and products are sent abroad, a third copy shall be delivered to the chief officer of the vessel on which the shipment shall be made.
"Provided for under this subchapter" was in the original "provided for herein".
2002—Pub. L. 107–171 substituted "of the carcasses and products of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines" for "of the cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines, their carcasses and products as described in this subchapter".
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §12(a), (h), included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals and struck out "sound and wholesome" before "conditions", respectively.
2005—Pub. L. 109–97 substituted "species designated by regulations in effect on the day before November 10, 2005," for "horses, mules, or other equines" and "other amenable species" for "cattle, sheep, swine, or goats".
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §9, substituted provisions for marking, labeling, or other identification of kinds of animals whence the articles are derived and for separate establishments for preparation and slaughtering activities for prohibition against transportation or sale of meat or meat food products without complying with inspection provisions. See section 610(b) of this title.
Act of August 27, 1958, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 85–765, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 862, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 48 (§1901 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. Sections 1903 and 1905 of Title 7, included within reference to Act of August 27, 1958, were repealed by Pub. L. 95–445, §5(b), Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1069, effective as set forth in section 7 of Pub. L. 95–445, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under section 603 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this act to the Code, see section 301 of this title and Tables.
2005—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 109–97 substituted "amenable species" for "cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines" in two places.
1994—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted "Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry" for "Agriculture and Forestry" in introductory provisions.
1993—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–182, §361(f)(1), substituted "not be limited to the following:" for "not be limited to—" in introductory provisions.
1988—Subsec. (e)(6). Pub. L. 100–418, §4604(b), added par. (6).
1985—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–198, §1702(a), struck out provision which had made this subsection effective six months after Dec. 22, 1981, and inserted provisions requiring that each foreign country from which meat articles are offered for importation into the United States obtain a certification issued by the Secretary stating that the country maintains a program using reliable analytical methods to ensure compliance with the United States standards for residues in such meat articles, that no meat article be permitted entry into the United States from a country for which the Secretary has not issued such certification, that the Secretary periodically review such certifications and revoke any certification if the Secretary determines that the country involved is not maintaining a program that uses reliable analytical methods to ensure compliance with United States standards for residues in such meat articles, and that the consideration of any application for a certification under this subsection and the review of any such certification, by the Secretary, include the inspection of individual establishments to ensure that the inspection program of the foreign country involved is meeting such United States standards.
1981—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–98 added subsec. (f).
1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–445 prohibited imports which do not comply with humane methods of slaughter.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §10, substituted imported articles provisions for penalty provisions deeming offenses as misdemeanors and punishable by fine of $10,000 or imprisonment for two years or both. See section 676(a) of this title.
The Secretary shall appoint from time to time inspectors to make examination and inspection of all amenable species, inspection of which is hereby provided for and of all carcasses and parts thereof, and of all meats and meat food products thereof, and of the sanitary conditions of all establishments in which such meat and meat food products hereinbefore described are prepared; and said inspectors shall refuse to stamp, mark, tag, or label any carcass or any part thereof, or meat food product therefrom, prepared in any establishment hereinbefore mentioned, until the same shall have actually been inspected and found to be not adulterated; and shall perform such other duties as are provided by this chapter and by the rules and regulations to be prescribed by said Secretary; and said Secretary shall, from time to time, make such rules and regulations as are necessary for the efficient execution of the provisions of this chapter, and all inspections and examinations made under this chapter, shall be such and made in such manner as described in the rules and regulations prescribed by said Secretary not inconsistent with provisions of this chapter.
1986—Pub. L. 99–641 temporarily substituted "thereof, and of meat food products" for "and meat food products", which substitution was made for the first such reference as the probable intent of Congress. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment note below.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3(b), 12(a), (i), struck out "of Agriculture" after "Secretary" in four places, included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals, and substituted "not adulterated" for "sound, healthful, wholesome, and fit for human food, and to contain no dyes, chemicals, preservatives, or ingredients which render such meat food product unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or unfit for human food; and to have been prepared under proper sanitary conditions, hereinbefore provided for", respectively.
Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, §403(d)(2), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3570, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective only during the 6-year period beginning on Nov. 10, 1986.
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–641 effective Nov. 10, 1986, except that this section as in effect immediately before Nov. 10, 1986, applies with respect to establishments until the Secretary of Agriculture first issues rules and regulations to implement the amendments made by section 403(a) of Pub. L. 99–641 to section 606 of this title, see section 408 of Pub. L. 99–641, set out as a note under section 609 of this title.
For provisions relating to construction and effect of temporary amendments by section 403 of Pub. L. 99–641, see sections 403(e) and 404 of Pub. L. 99–641, set out as notes entitled "Inspection Services for Establishments Not Participating in Total Plant Quality-Control Program" and "Savings Provision", respectively, under section 609 of this title.
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §3, struck out "interstate or foreign" before "commerce" and "of Agriculture" after "Secretary".
The provisions of this subchapter requiring inspection of the slaughter of animals and the preparation of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products at establishments conducting such operations for commerce shall not apply to the slaughtering by any person of animals of his own raising, and the preparation by him and transportation in commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products of such animals exclusively for use by him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees; nor to the custom slaughter by any person, firm, or corporation of cattle, sheep, swine or goats delivered by the owner thereof for such slaughter, and the preparation by such slaughterer and transportation in commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products of such animals, exclusively for use, in the household of such owner, by him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees; nor to the custom preparation by any person, firm, or corporation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat or meat food products, derived from the slaughter by any person of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats of his own raising, or from game animals, delivered by the owner thereof for such custom preparation, and transportation in commerce of such custom prepared articles, exclusively for use in the household of such owner, by him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees: Provided, That in cases where such person, firm, or corporation engages in such custom operations at an establishment at which inspection under this subchapter is maintained, the Secretary may exempt from such inspection at such establishment any animals slaughtered or any meat or meat food products otherwise prepared on such custom basis: Provided further, That custom operations at any establishment shall be exempt from inspection requirements as provided by this section only if the establishment complies with regulations which the Secretary is hereby authorized to promulgate to assure that any carcasses, parts thereof, meat or meat food products wherever handled on a custom basis, or any containers or packages containing such articles, are separated at all times from carcasses, parts thereof, meat or meat food products prepared for sale, and that all such articles prepared on a custom basis, or any containers or packages containing such articles, are plainly marked "Not for Sale" immediately after being prepared and kept so identified until delivered to the owner and that the establishment conducting the custom operation is maintained and operated in a sanitary manner.
Section was formerly classified to sections 91 and 92 of this title.
1991—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 102–237 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).
1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–342 changed proviso so as to permit custom slaughterers to conduct a separate inspected meat business, continued the exemption for owners to slaughter and process their own animals for their own use, authorized the Secretary to exempt custom slaughtering and processing performed by an inspected establishment, and required that custom slaughtered articles be clearly marked "not for sale".
1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §11, substituted provisions for personal, custom, and territorial slaughtering exemptions and for application of adulteration and misbranding provisions to inspection-free articles for farmer definition and retail butcher and retail dealer exemption provisions.
1938—Act June 29, 1948, amended section generally.
Amendment by Pub. L. 90–201 effective upon expiration of sixty days after Dec. 15, 1967, see section 20(c) of Pub. L. 90–201, set out as an Effective Date note under section 601 of this title.
Secretary to issue final rules no later than Aug. 1, 1992, to implement exemption authorized by subsec. (c) of this section, see section 1016(c) of Pub. L. 102–237, set out as a note under section 464 of this title.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the requirements of sections 603, 604, 605, 610(b), and 623 of this title shall not apply to any fish described in section 601(w)(2) of this title.
2014—Pub. L. 113–79 substituted "not apply to any fish described in section 601(w)(2) of this title." for "not apply to catfish."
The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to expend appropriations for meat inspection for the purchase of printed tags, labels, stamps, and certificates without regard to existing laws applicable to public printing.
Section was formerly classified to section 431 of Title 7, Agriculture, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
Section was enacted as part of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944, and not as part of the Federal Meat Inspection Act which is classified to subchapters I to IV–A of this chapter.
Authorization of appropriation of sums necessary for the purposes of this section, see note under section 395 of Title 7, Agriculture.

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