Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 35 - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry › Chapter 37 - Food Safety › Subchapter 9 - Oklahoma Rabbit and Rabbit Products Inspection Regulations › Part 7 - INSPECTION PROCEDURES: ANTE-MORTEM INSPECTIONS › Section 35:37-9-28 - Ante-mortem inspection

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a) An ante-mortem
				  inspection of rabbits shall, where and to the extent considered necessary by
				  the Department and under instructions as the inspector may issue from time to
				  time, be made of rabbits on the day of slaughter in any official plant
				  processing rabbits under inspection pursuant to the regulations in this
				  Part.
(b) All rabbits held on
				  official premises shall be held in a manner as to be adequately protected from
				  extremes of heat, cold or drafty or insanitary conditions.
(c) No rabbits shall be held overnight on any
				  official premises without being provided adequate clean potable
				  water.
(d) All rabbits on official
				  premises will be handled and stunned in a humane manner. When an inspector
				  observes an incident of inhumane slaughter or handling in connection with
				  slaughter, he/she shall inform the establishment operator of the incident and
				  request that the operator take the necessary steps to prevent recurrence. If
				  the establishment operator fails to take action or fails to promptly provide
				  the inspector with satisfactory assurances that action will be taken, the
				  inspector shall follow the procedures specified in Paragraph (1), (2), or (3)
				  of this Subsection as appropriate.
(1) If the
				  cause of inhumane treatment is the result of facility deficiencies, disrepair,
				  or equipment breakdown, the inspector shall attach an Oklahoma Rejected tag. No
				  equipment, alleyway, pen or compartment tagged shall be used until made
				  acceptable to the inspector. The tag shall not be removed by anyone other than
				  an inspector. All rabbits slaughtered prior to tagging may be dressed,
				  processed, or prepared under inspection.
(2) If the cause of inhumane treatment is the
				  result of establishment employee actions in the handling or moving of rabbits,
				  the inspector shall attach an Oklahoma Rejected tag to the alleyways leading to
				  the stunning area. After the tagging of the alleyway, no more rabbits shall be
				  moved to the stunning area until the inspector receives satisfactory assurances
				  from the establishment operator that there will not be a recurrence. The tag
				  shall not be removed by anyone other than an inspector. All rabbits slaughtered
				  prior to the tagging may be dressed, processed, or prepared under
				  inspection.
(3) If the cause of
				  inhumane treatment is the result of improper stunning, the inspector shall
				  attach an Oklahoma Rejected tag to the stunning area. Stunning procedures shall
				  not be resumed until the inspector receives satisfactory assurances from the
				  establishment operator that there will not be a recurrence. The tag shall not
				  be removed by anyone other than an inspector. All rabbits slaughtered prior to
				  tagging may be dressed, processed, or prepared under inspection.