California Code of Regulations › Title 3 - Food and Agriculture › Division 2 - Animal Industry › Chapter 5 - Poultry Inspection › Subchapter 1 - General Provisions › Article 14 - Humane Slaughter of Poultry › Section 1246.14 - Tagging of Equipment, Cages, Pens or Compartments to Prevent Inhumane Slaughter or Handling in Connection with Slaughter

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
					 When a PMI or Department inspector observes an incident of inhumane slaughter
					 or handling in connection with slaughter, they shall notify the poultry
					 slaughter establishment management, or his or her designated representative, of
					 the incident and request immediate corrective action. If the establishment
					 management fails to promptly take corrective action, the inspector shall follow
					 the procedures specified in subsections (b), (c), or (d) of this section, as
					 appropriate.
(b) If the cause of
					 inhumane treatment is the result of facility deficiencies, disrepair, or
					 equipment breakdown, the inspector shall discontinue slaughter operations until
					 the deficiencies have been corrected. The inspector shall attach a tag
					 rejecting the equipment (State of California Rejected/Retained Tag) thereto. No
					 equipment, cage, pen or compartment so tagged shall be used until such
					 equipment is made acceptable to the PMI or Department-inspector. All poultry
					 slaughtered prior to such tagging may be dressed, processed, or prepared under
					 inspection. Upon correcting the deficiency, the establishment may request
					 reinspection of the equipment for release. If corrected deficiencies are
					 satisfactory to the inspector, slaughter operations may be commenced. If
					 release is denied on reinspection, the poultry slaughter establishment may
					 appeal to the Branch Chief, Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch, for resolution
					 of the matter.
(c) If the cause of
					 inhumane treatment is the result of establishment employee actions in the
					 handling or moving of poultry, the PMI or Department inspector shall attach a
					 "State of California Rejected/Retained Tag" to the cage or cages in the
					 stunning or killing area. After tagging, no more poultry shall be stunned or
					 killed until the problem has been corrected. Establishment management shall be
					 informed immediately by the PMI or Department inspector. The tag shall not be
					 removed by anyone other than a PMI or Department inspector. All corrective
					 actions shall be immediate. All poultry slaughtered prior to the tagging may be
					 dressed, processed, or prepared under inspection.
(d) If the cause of inhumane treatment is the
					 result of improper stunning, the PMI or Department inspector shall attach a
					 "State of California Rejected/Retained Tag" to the stunning area. All slaughter
					 operations shall be discontinued until the appropriate corrective actions have
					 been taken. Upon satisfactory completion of corrective actions, the PMI or
					 Department inspector shall remove the "State of California Rejected/Retained
					 Tag" allowing the plant to resume operations. Management is responsible for
					 ensuring that such infractions do not recur. The tag shall not be removed by
					 anyone other than a PMI or Department inspector. All poultry slaughtered prior
					 to such tagging may be dressed, processed, or prepared under inspection. Upon
					 correcting the deficiency, the establishment may request reinspection of the
					 equipment for release. If release is denied on reinspection, the poultry
					 slaughter establishment may appeal to the Branch Chief, Meat, Poultry and Egg
					 Safety Branch, for resolution of the matter.
(e) Failure to comply with these regulations
					 shall provide grounds for suspension, revocation of the PMI license, or
					 suspension, or revocation of plant license and withdrawal of inspection by the
					 Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture or his representative after
					 notice and opportunity for hearing.
1.
						Renumbering of former section
						1245.15 to new section
						1246.14, including amendment of
						section and NOTE, filed 3-19-2009; operative 4-18-2009 (Register 2009, No.
						12).
2. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (b)
						and (d) filed 4-2-2012 pursuant to section
						100, title 1, California Code of
						Regulations (Register 2012, No. 14).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						  407
						  and
						  19501.5,
						  Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections
						  19501
						  and
						  19501.5,
						  Food and Agricultural Code.