Part 9: Inedible materials

Reference No.: C9.09.01.01 Procedures for inedible materials that are handled in inedible materials room or area

Element: Procedures for inedible materials that are handled in inedible materials room or area
Factor: Procedures and handling
Area: Inedible materials
Component: Food safety
Revision date: January 1, 2014
Last version: March 1, 2009

Authoritative source:

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001; O. Reg. 31/05 s. 1 (1), 85 (1)(3), 86, 87 (1)(2), 88 (1)(3)

1. (1) “inedible material” means a carcass, a part of a carcass or a product derived from a food animal that is not intended, or not permitted under this Regulation, to be sold or distributed for use as food, whether or not the material is condemned material,
   
   “denature” means to treat inedible material by giving it an appearance or character so that it cannot be mistaken for food.

85. (1) The operator of a meat plant shall establish the following procedures to ensure that meat products at the plant are not contaminated by inedible material:
    1. Procedures for handling and storing all inedible material at the plant.
    2. Procedures for processing, packaging and labelling at the plant inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, animal food or pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research and therapeutic purposes.

    (3) The operator shall ensure that the procedures are implemented and complied with

85. (1) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that all inedible material, other than inedible material referred to in subsection (2.1), is promptly removed from any area of the plant where carcasses, parts of carcasses or meat products are handled or stored and dealt with as follows:

    (2) If a slaughter plant that does not have a inedible materials room in accordance with subsection 22 (2), the operator of the plant shall immediately convey all inedible material referred to in subsection (1) to a separate area of the plant referred to in subclause 22 (2) (a) (i) and store it there until it is removed or otherwise disposed of.

    (3) The operator of a meat plant shall not allow inedible materials to accumulate at the plant premises.

    (4) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that inedible material that is stored at the plant for more than 48 hours is stored at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius or less unless,

    (5) An inspector who gives a direction under subsection (4) may attach the conditions to the direction that are relevant to storage and that the inspector considers appropriate and the operator shall comply with the conditions.

    1. In the case of a slaughter plant, it shall be conveyed immediately to the inedible materials room, subject to subsection (2).
    2. In the case of a free-standing meat plant, it shall be
       1. conveyed immediately to the inedible materials room or to the separate area of the meat plant that is designated for such materials and referred to in paragraph 2 of subsection 22 (3), or
       2. if the plant has both an inedible materials room and a separate area referred to in subparagraph i, conveyed to either of those locations in accordance with the procedures established under section 85.
    3. an inspector is of the opinion that the inedible material will not deteriorate significantly or develop an objectionable odour if kept at a higher temperature; and
    4. the inspector directs that that the inedible material need not be kept at 10 degrees Celsius or less.
86. (1) No person shall allow an inedible material that has entered the inedible materials room of a meat plant to enter any room or area of the plant where meat products are handled or stored.
    
    (2) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that all inedible material that is not intended as, or for use in, pet food and is not intended for use in pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes is,
    1. shipped or otherwise removed from the plant in a manner that will prevent contamination of meat products at the plant; and
    2. in the case of a slaughter plant, if the material has entered the inedible materials room of the plant, shipped or otherwise removed from the plant only through the shipping door in that room.

88. (1) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that inedible material at the plant that could be mistaken for food, other than inedible material intended as, or for use in, animal food or pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes, is denatured.
    
    (3) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that only the substances and methods that a director has approved are used to denature inedible material at the plant.

Rationale:

This MPG relates to inedible material that is not intended as, or for use in, animal food or pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes (see MPG C9.09.02.01, C9.09.02.03). Inedible material is deemed unfit for human consumption and procedures must be in place to prevent contamination of meat or meat products with inedible material. The operator is required to establish procedures for handling and storing all inedible materials to reduce the risk of cross-contamination at the plant during collection, storage, processing, packaging and labelling. Prompt removal of inedible material from areas where carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat or meat products are stored or handled, and transfer to the inedible materials room or area, minimizes cross-contamination and reduces food safety risks. Inedible material kept at the plant for more than 48 hours must be stored at 10 degrees Celsius or less to reduce microbial growth and spoilage. An inspector may permit inedible material to be stored at greater than 10 degrees Celsius if in their opinion the material will not deteriorate or produce objectionable odours at higher temperatures. In plants that have an inedible materials room, all material that enters that room must not leave it, except through that room’s shipping door. Denaturing of inedible material is achieved by the addition of charcoal or another accepted denaturing agent (e.g. birkolene B) to the inedible material.

The regulatory requirements contained in this guideline will be met when:

(C9.09.01.01.01) established procedures are effective for handling and storing all inedible material to ensure meat products do not become contaminated.

(C9.09.01.01.02) inedible material is promptly removed from any area or room of the plant and conveyed to the inedible materials room or area.

(C9.09.01.01.03) inedible material stored at the plant for more than 48 hours is refrigerated or stored at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius or less, unless the inspector is of the opinion that the inedible material need not be kept at 10 degrees Celsius or less.

(C9.09.01.01.04) inedible material from the inedible materials room does not enter areas where meat or meat products are handled or stored.

(C9.09.01.01.05) inedible material from the inedible materials room is only shipped or otherwise removed from the plant through the shipping door in that room.

(C9.09.01.01.06) inedible materials from an inedible materials area is shipped or otherwise removed from that area of the plant in a manner that prevents contamination of meat and meat products.

(C9.09.01.01.07) if inedible material not intended as, or for use in, animal food, or pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes, is likely to be mistaken for a meat product, it is denatured with a substance and method that a director has approved.

Reference No.: C9.09.01.09 Methods of disposal of condemned materials

Element: Methods of disposal of condemned materials
Factor: Procedures and handling
Area: Inedible materials
Component: Food safety
Revision date: March 1, 2009
Last version: Not applicable

Authoritative source:

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001; O. Reg. 31/05 s. 91

91. (1) In this section,
    
    “high risk inedible material” means material that contains dangerous residues of chemicals, drugs or diseases that are difficult to destroy through the methods of disposal mentioned in subsection (3).
    
    (2) Subject to subsection (4), the operator of a meat plant shall use one of the methods described in subsection (3) to dispose of,
    1. all inedible material at the plant that is condemned material, other than,
       1. condemned material that is intended for use in animal food,
       2. condemned material that a regional veterinarian has identified as high risk inedible material, and
       3. condemned material that an inspector has detained or seized under the Act or has sent for laboratory examination; and
    2. all inedible material at the plant that the operator intends to dispose of as waste and that is not condemned material or inedible material that a regional veterinarian has identified as high risk inedible material.

    (3) The methods mentioned in subsection (2) are,

    1. transportation to a receiving plant or a rendering plant, to which the Dead Animal Disposal Act applies, for disposal in the same manner as that Act permits the disposal of dead animals at that plant;
    2. incineration;
    3. with the approval of a regional veterinarian, burial with a covering of at least 60 centimetres of earth; and
    4. any other method of disposal that a regional veterinarian has approved.

    (4) If a regional veterinarian has not identified the carcass of a food animal or a hunted game carcass as high risk inedible material, an inspector may authorize the operator to return the hide from the carcass to the owner of the carcass or to dispose of the hide to any other person whom the inspector approves.

    (5) The operator of a meat plant shall dispose of inedible material that a regional veterinarian has identified as high risk inedible material by any method of disposal that the regional veterinarian approves.

    (6) The operator of a meat plant shall notify an inspector before disposing of any inedible material under subsection (2) or (5).

Rationale:

Condemned meat products include carcasses and portions of carcasses which have been found on inspection to be affected by disease, contamination or abnormal condition which renders them unfit for human consumption. It also includes carcasses of animals that have died en route to the plant or in the holding areas of the plant. Of all the inedible products generated in processing of meat, condemned material requires the most careful handling, to ensure that such material does not contaminate approved products or be accidentally or fraudulently incorporated into products intended for human consumption.

The regulatory requirements contained in this guideline will be met when:

(C9.09.01.09.01) condemned materials are disposed of in accordance with O. Reg. s. 91 (3).

(C9.09.01.09.02) condemned material handling does not contaminate edible products.

Reference No.: C9.09.02.01 Processing, packaging and labelling of animal food

Element: Processing, packaging and labelling of animal food
Factor: Materials intended for animal food, pet food, pharmaceuticals, research and therapeutics
Area: Inedible materials
Component: Food safety
Revision date: January 1, 2014
Last version: March 1, 2009

Authoritative source:

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001; O. Reg. 31/05 s. 85 (1)2., 88 (2)(3), 89

85. (1) The operator of a meat plant shall establish the following procedures to ensure that meat products at the plant are not contaminated by inedible material:
    2. Procedures for processing, packaging and labelling at the plant inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, animal food or pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research and therapeutic purposes.

88. (2) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that inedible material at the plant that is intended as, or for use in, animal or pet food is denatured if it is likely to be mistaken for a meat product. O. Reg. 31/05, s. 88 (2).
    
    (3) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that only the substances and methods that a director has approved are used to denature inedible material at the plant.
89. (1) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that inedible material that is intended for use in animal food is not processed, packaged or labelled at the plant unless,
    1. a regional veterinarian has reviewed the procedures established by the operator under paragraph 2 of subsection 85 (1) and has given a written approval to the operator to process, package or label the material, as the case may be, in accordance with those procedures, for use as or in animal food; and
    2. the material is derived wholly from the carcass of a food animal that received a post mortem inspection at a plant.

    (2) The regional veterinarian may refuse to give an approval under (1) (b) only if of the opinion that the inedible material may create a risk to the health of any animal that is intended to consume it.

    (3) The operator of a slaughter plant shall ensure that inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, animal food is processed, packaged and labelled only in the inedible materials room of the plant.

    (4) The operator of a free-standing meat plant shall ensure that inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, animal food is processed, packaged and labelled only in,

    1. if the inedible material contains no condemned materials, the inedible materials room or the separate area of the plant referred to in paragraph 2 of subsection 22 (3); or
    2. if the inedible material contains condemned materials, the inedible room of the plant.

Rationale:

The processing, packaging and labelling of inedible material presents a potential food safety risk if handled improperly. Inedible material intended for use in animal food must originate only from carcasses of food animals that have received post mortem inspection. Procedures must be established by the operator for processing, packaging, labelling and where appropriate, denaturing, animal food must be approved in writing by a regional veterinarian. A regional veterinarian may refuse to give approval if they are of the opinion the material may create a health risk to the animal or animals intended to consume it. Where necessary to denature material intended as, or for use in animal food or pet food to ensure it cannot be mistaken for a meat product, it is achieved by the addition of charcoal or another accepted denaturing agent (e.g. birkolene B) to the inedible material. Animal food may be processed, packaged and labelled only in the inedible materials room of a slaughter plant. In free-standing meat plants, animal food which does not contain condemned material, may be processed, packaged and labelled in the inedible materials area.

The regulatory requirements contained in this guideline will be met when:

(C9.09.02.01.01) the inedible material that is intended for use as animal food is processed packaged and labelled in the inedible materials room or area in accordance with the written approval of a regional veterinarian.

(C9.09.02.01.02) removed

Reference No.: C9.09.02.03 Processing, packaging and labelling of materials intended as, or for use in pet food, pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes

Element: Processing, packaging and labelling of materials intended as, or for use in pet food, pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes
Factor: Materials intended for animal food, pet food, pharmaceuticals, research and therapeutics
Area: Inedible materials
Component: Food safety
Revision date: January 1, 2014
Last version: March 1, 2009

Authoritative source:

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001; O. Reg. 31/05 s. 85 (1)2., 87 (3), 88 (2)(3), 90 (1)(2)

85. (1) The operator of a meat plant shall establish the following procedures to ensure that meat products at the plant are not contaminated by inedible material:
    2. Procedures for processing, packaging and labelling at the plant inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, animal food or pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research and therapeutic purposes.

87. (3) Once inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, pet food or is intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes has been processed, packaged and labelled at a meat plant, the operator of the meat plant may allow the inedible material to be handled or stored for the purposes of refrigeration, freezing, storage or shipping in a room or area where meat products are handled or stored for such purposes if it has been packaged in a manner that will adequately protect the meat products at the plant from contamination.

88. (2) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that inedible material at the plant that is intended as, or for use in, animal or pet food is denatured if it is likely to be mistaken for a meat product.
    
    (3) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that only the substances and methods that a director has approved are used to denature inedible material at the plant.

90. (1) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, pet food or is intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes is not processed, packaged or labelled at the plant unless,
    1. a regional veterinarian has reviewed the procedures established by the operator under paragraph 2 of subsection 85 (1) and has given a written approval to the operator to process, package or label the material, as the case may be, in accordance with those procedures, for its intended use or purpose;
    2. the material is derived wholly from the carcass of a food animal that received a post mortem inspection at a plant; and
    3. the material does not contain any condemned material.

    (2) The operator of a meat plant shall ensure that inedible material that is intended as, or for use in, pet food or is intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes is processed, packaged and labelled in the pet food processing room of the plant if processing, packaging or labelling the material outside of that room is likely to contaminate meat products at the plant.

Rationale:

The processing, packaging and labelling of inedible material presents a potential food safety risk if handled improperly. Inedible material intended as, or for use in pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes must originate only from carcasses of food animals that have received post mortem inspection may not contain condemned material, including specified risk material (SRM). Pet food or material intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes may be processed, packaged and labelled only in the pet food processing room if conducting these activities outside such a room is likely to contaminate meat products at the plant. By regulation, the procedures established by the operator for processing, packaging, labelling and, where appropriate denaturing, material intended as, or for use in pet food or intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes, must be approved in writing by a regional veterinarian. Pet food or material intended for pharmaceutical, research or therapeutic purposes may be stored with meat and meat products if processed, packaged and labelled adequately to protect meat products from contamination. Where necessary to denature material intended as, or for use in animal food or pet food to ensure it cannot be mistaken for a meat product, it is achieved by the addition of charcoal or another accepted denaturing agent (e.g. birkolene B) to the inedible material.

The regulatory requirements contained in this guideline will be met when:

(C9.09.02.03.01) pet food and inedible materials intended for pharmaceutical, research and therapeutic purposes are processed, packaged and labelled in accordance with the written approval of a regional veterinarian.

(C9.09.02.03.02) pet food and inedible materials intended for pharmaceutical, research and therapeutic purposes is derived only from carcasses of food animals that have received post mortem inspection and does not contain any condemned material including specified risk material (SRM).

(S9.09.02.03.03) removed

(C9.09.02.03.04) pet food and inedible materials intended for pharmaceutical, research and therapeutic purposes that is likely to contaminate meat products is only processed, packaged and labelled in the pet food processing room.

(C9.09.02.03.05) pet food and inedible materials intended for pharmaceutical, research and therapeutic purposes are properly processed, packaged and labelled if stored where meat products are handled or stored.

Reference No.: C9.09.03.04 Specified Risk Materials (SRM) procedures

Element: Specified Risk Materials (SRM) procedures
Factor: Procedures for specified risk materials
Area: Inedible materials
Component: Food safety
Revision date: January 7, 2019
Last version: Not applicable

Authoritative source:

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 c. 20, s. 5 (4).

5. (4) A licence with respect to an activity is subject to whatever conditions the regulations prescribe or a director imposes in accordance with the regulations and a director may impose those conditions.

Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001; O. Reg. 31/05: s. 9

9. It is a condition of every licence issued under the Act, that the licensee,
   1. comply with the Act, this Regulation and every order or direction of a director or an inspector made under the Act; and
   2. ensure that the operation of the licensee’s meat plant is carried on in accordance with this Regulation and every order or direction of a director or inspector made under the Act.

For all plants which slaughter cattle the following condition is attached to the plant’s license:

This licence is subject to the condition that the operator comply with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Specified Risk Material (SRM) Policy adopted on November 9, 2009, as it may be amended from time to time.

This Meat Plant Guideline (MPG) is OMAFRA’s SRM policy.

Rationale:

1. Introduction

The goal of SRM procedures is to prevent the contamination of edible meat products, the clean inedible stream and the environment with SRM.

OMAFRA bases this policy on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) document titled “Inspection of Specified Risk Material (SRM) controls in non-federally registered cattle abattoirs”.

Over Thirty Month (OTM) are cattle that are thirty months of age and older.

Under Thirty Month (UTM) are cattle that are under thirty months of age.

The following tissues are SRM: the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, palatine tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of OTM cattle, as well as the distal ileum of cattle of all ages. The mandible and horns are not considered SRM.

For the purpose of SRM procedures cattle include members of the species Bos taurus and Bos indicus but does not include other large ruminant species such as bison, muskox, yak or water buffalo. Yak/cattle and bison/cattle hybrids are considered cattle.

2. Age determination

All cattle must be aged prior to or at the time of slaughter, unless the operator chooses to treat all cattle as OTM.

Methods of age determination include:

• reliable documentation that indicates the birth date of the animal, with verification through examination of dentition, or
• examining dentition of the animal

2.1 Aging by documentation

When available, reliable documentation is considered more accurate than teeth and shall be used as the primary means of determining the age of animals.

Reliable documentation includes original copies of registration papers issued by registered breed associations or age documents provided by the regulated databases of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) and Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ). Age documents provided by Bovitrace will also be accepted.

The registered breed associations include associations established under the Canadian Animal Pedigrees Act. A list of these associations can be found on the website of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Documentation shall be presented to the inspector for verification of accuracy prior to stunning. When age documentation is used the operator must still examine the dentition after stunning. Aging requires that the numbers of months are counted not the number of days so an animal born on January 15, 2016 became OTM on July 15, 2018.

2.2 Aging by dentition

The operator shall examine the incisor teeth of all cattle as soon as possible after stunning, or before stunning if the available restraint equipment allows for it.

Cattle are considered to be OTM when they have more than two permanent incisor teeth erupted. A permanent tooth is considered erupted when any part of the tooth is protruding through the gum.

An animal with three or four permanent incisor teeth erupted is considered to be UTM only if it is accompanied by reliable birth documentation. If a fifth permanent incisor has erupted then the birth documentation is considered unreliable. In such instances these cattle are deemed to be OTM and must be treated accordingly. In all instances, heads with more than two permanent incisor teeth erupted must be stained and disposed of in an SRM container.

2.3 Resolution of disagreement

If a disagreement occurs between an inspector and an operator or producer as to whether an animal is OTM or UTM (based on dentition or age documents), it is the authority of the Veterinary Scientist (VS) or Regional Veterinarian (RV) to make the final determination.

3. Removal and control of Specified Risk Materials during slaughter

3.1 Requirements at the beginning of a slaughter shift

For all plants which slaughter cattle of any age the following should be present on the kill floor before the start of every slaughter shift:

1. Effective 4 mm floor drain screens (see section 3.4.10)
2. Sanitizer for the split saw (3.4.8)
3. Material for plugging stun holes and nostrils (see section 3.4.2)
4. Edible blue ink in a suitable dispenser for carcass marking and for marking SRM in inedible containers (see sections 3.2 and 5.2)
5. Properly labelled SRM containers (see section 5.2.1)
6. Uniquely identified (i.e. colour coded or labelled) SRM knives and tools (see section 3.4.7)
7. Kill Floor Log or equivalent (see section 7.2)

3.2 OTM carcass identification/marking

On the kill floor, the identity of all cattle carcasses, their parts and their CCIA numbers must be maintained from the time of head separation until the final carcass disposition is known. Separation of OTM and UTM cattle and carcasses within the abattoir is considered a best practice.

To maintain identification of OTM carcass sides and heads the following shall be marked with blue edible ink (that is visible to the applicable kill floor employee):

1. The head at the time of head separation in a manner which is visible during head preparation and inspection.
2. The first cervical vertebra at the time of head separation.
3. The carpal bones (knuckles) when the front feet are removed.
4. The vertebral canal after the removal of the spinal cord and the final carcass wash. The feather bones (spinous processes) do not have to be marked but are considered SRM if stained with blue ink. The marking of the canal must be continuous from the first cervical vertebra to the distal end of the sacrum (the point at which the tail is removed).

Alternate procedures that ensure maintenance of the carcass identity and all its parts and OTM markings until the final carcass disposition is known may be used as long as they are acceptable to the RV. Alternate procedures must be clearly documented by the plant operator in a written protocol that requires RV approval.

3.3 SRM removal

3.3.1. Skull/brain/trigeminal ganglia/eyes

All heads must be properly prepared by the plant for inspection. Following inspection the OTM skull (which includes the brain, trigeminal ganglia, and eyes) is disposed of into an SRM inedible container. (See section 3.4, SRM Control, for more detail regarding stun hole plugging and the harvest of cheek meat and tongue.)

3.3.2. Palatine tonsils

All heads must have the palatine tonsils removed prior to head inspection. Palatine tonsils must be removed without being incised and palatine tonsils from OTM cattle shall be disposed of as SRM.

3.3.3. Distal ileum and ileocecal junction

To ensure complete distal ileum and ileocecal junction removal, the intestinal tract of all cattle (UTM and OTM) may be disposed of as SRM or the distal ileum and ileocecal junction may be separated from the intestinal tract and disposed of as SRM. Distal ileum separation must take place in the inedible room unless an alternate location and procedure has been approved by the RV.

The proper removal of the distal ileum requires the ileocecal junction to be included with the distal ileum and at least 200 cm (2 m) of the small intestine proximal to the ileocecal junction.

3.3.4 Spinal cord

All OTM carcasses must have the spinal cord completely removed prior to final carcass wash and approval. Spinal cords from OTM cattle must be disposed of as SRM. All OTM missplits must be corrected and the spinal cord completely removed prior to approval of the carcass. A missplit can occur during carcass splitting if the cut goes off the midline to the extent that the vertebral canal is not opened. Proper correction of a missplit requires that the section of the vertebra must be removed so that the vertebral canal is opened as wide as it would have been had the missplit not occurred.

UTM spinal cords no longer need to be removed unless the backbone will be used in the production of mechanically separated or finely textured meat.

3.4 SRM control

Separation of SRM should occur as soon as possible during dressing procedures and care should be taken to avoid gross contamination of meat products and the plant environment with SRM.

Slaughtering all OTM cattle as a group, preferably at the end of the day, instead of mixing with UTM animals during a slaughter shift will decrease the likelihood of cross-contamination of edible meat and clean inedible material and should be considered a best practice where possible.

Carcasses:

3.4.1 Stunning

Captive bolt stunners that inject air into the cranium and pithing rods are not permitted. A captive bolt is considered contaminated with SRM after it is used to stun an OTM bovine. If it is subsequently used to stun a UTM bovine or any other species then cross contamination with SRM will have occurred. In order to eliminate the risks created by this practice the first two heads stunned following the OTM head will be considered contaminated by SRM and will be disposed of as SRM. An operator may develop an alternative procedure to eliminate this risk and this procedure must be contained in a written protocol approved by an RV. Heads of UTM bovines or other species that are being disposed of as SRM for this reason do not have to have the stun hole plugged or the face plate treated as described below.

3.4.2 Captive bolt stun hole

After stunning, all OTM cattle must have the captive bolt stun hole plugged with a device that prevents blood and brain leakage if the cheek meat and tongue are to be salvaged.

In addition to protecting the cheek meat and tongue from contamination with SRM, head plugging prevents contamination of equipment used for head preparation, the employee performing head preparation, and the inspector performing head inspection. Therefore if a plant wishes to not plug the stun hole of OTM cattle they must have a plan to mitigate all of these contamination risks. Suggested methods for stun hole plugging include devices that are absorptive and expansive (such as tampons) or totally obstructive (such as wooden dowels or edible grease). Whatever method is used must reliably remain in place from the time of plugging until the head is placed in a designated SRM container for disposal.

When an OTM bovine is stunned more than once there is an increased likelihood that the sinuses and nasal passages have been contaminated with brain material therefore the nostrils must be plugged with paper towels or with some other effective material at the time of stun hole plugging.

3.4.3 Face plate

The face plate is the hide covering the forehead of a bovine.

Face plates are considered SRM in OTM cattle unless the stun hole has been properly plugged and any grossly visible brain material is removed from the face plate by trimming, washing, scraping, wiping (wipes are then SRM) or vacuuming. As an alternative, the complete hide from the OTM head may be disposed of as SRM.

As a best practice stun hole plugging and cleaning or trimming the face plate should occur prior to bleeding however where employee safety is a concern and in plants performing ritual slaughter bleeding may occur first. In this situation 4 mm floor drain screens must be in place on the kill floor and the blood is considered contaminated with SRM.

3.4.4 Head separation

A 2 knife process must be performed to remove OTM heads without contaminating the carcass or other meat products with SRM. The first (non-SRM) knife cuts through to the vertebral column, then the second (dedicated SRM) knife cuts through the spinal cord, and then the non-SRM knife cuts through the rest of the neck muscle.

3.4.5 Blood

Blood is not SRM however it can become contaminated by SRM if it comes in contact with SRM on the floor and must then be disposed of as SRM along with other floor waste. Dry landing areas and other methods of preventing the contamination of blood with SRM are permitted in provincial abattoirs but must be approved by the RV and the AM.

3.4.6 Hides

Hides must not be contaminated by SRM. Contamination can occur by hanging on or being dragged across the floor when the floor is contaminated with SRM.

Equipment:

3.4.7 Knives and other hand tools

Knives used for OTM head separation and knives and other tools used for OTM spinal cord removal must be dedicated exclusively for the handling of SRM and shall be uniquely identified and kept separate from equipment used for non-SRM contact. This rule also applies to hatchets, cleavers and other hand tools used to correct OTM missplits. Dedicated SRM tools should not be used on UTM carcasses.

Dedicated SRM knives and other hand tools must be rinsed and sanitized between each carcass.

Knives used for palatine tonsil removal and face plate trimming do not directly contact SRM if the procedure is performed correctly so they do not need to be dedicated SRM equipment. However in order to prevent inadvertent SRM contamination of edible meat products they must be rinsed and sanitized after each time they are used for these purposes.

The knife used for distal ileum removal within the inedible room must either be dedicated for SRM use or dedicated for inedible room use. If it’s not a dedicated SRM knife, it may be used for other procedures in the inedible room such as separating and emptying the paunch.

3.4.8 Split saws

Water used to rinse the split saw must be controlled and diverted away from carcasses, edible offal and clean inedible material when splitting an OTM carcass. Any material filtered out or trapped must be removed and treated as SRM inedible material and the trap/filter of the saw emptied and cleaned as necessary. Split saws must be rinsed of all visible organic debris and sanitized when moving from an OTM to a UTM carcass.

3.4.9 Mesh gloves

Mesh gloves are not suitable for use in removing OTM spinal cords due to the probability of cross-contamination and must be appropriately covered or removed prior to handling SRM.

3.4.10 Floor drain screens

4 mm floor drain screens are required when unaged or OTM carcasses are present on the kill floor. Once a floor is contaminated with SRM they must remain in place until all visible floor debris greater than 4 mm has been cleaned up and placed in SRM containers. The screening system consists of screens with apertures or a mesh size of no more than 4 mm in diameter. Screens must be tight fitting with no gaps of more than 4 mm. Organic material on the kill floor shall not be ground or macerated through the screens. SRM contaminated floor debris should be collected and placed in SRM containers as often as necessary to maintain the functionality of floor drains and to prevent contamination of edible meat products.

There are waste water screening systems available where solid material is separated from the waste water downstream from the kill floor drains. This is an allowable option as a method of eliminating 4 mm floor drain screens on the kill floor and still separating out SRM from waste water. Plans for this type of system must be approved by the RV and Area Manager (AM).

4 mm floor drain screens are not required in the inedible room.

3.4.11 Vacuums and other equipment

In addition to floor cleaning equipment such as brooms, squeegees and shovels, plants may use additional equipment such as vacuums. These pieces of equipment must be dedicated for SRM use and clearly identified for this purpose or the operator must demonstrate that the equipment can be effectively cleaned following contamination with SRM. In these cases the cleaning procedures should be documented in the plant’s written sanitation program. This rule would also apply to vacuums used for OTM face plate cleaning or OTM spinal cord removal.

4. DRG removal

The DRG are a collection of nerve cell bodies located on the dorsal nerve root of each spinal segment. They are located just lateral to the vertebral canal near each of the intervertebral foramen on both sides of the vertebral column (backbone). Spinal cord removal does not remove the DRG. The DRG of OTM cattle are SRM.

In order to ensure the complete removal of the DRG, the vertebral column of OTM cattle must be removed and disposed of as SRM. This requirement applies to all sections of the vertebral column including the sacrum but not the coccygeal vertebrae (tail). The cut separating the edible muscle from the vertebral column should be made 2.5 cm (1 inch) or more from the lateral aspect of the inside of the vertebral arch to ensure no DRG is inadvertently included with edible meat. The 1 inch rule applies equally when processing involves backbone removal by cutting with a band or split saw and when it is done by deboning.

As a best practice transverse cuts through the backbone should be made through the centre of the vertebral bodies in order to reduce the likelihood of contacting DRG with a saw. If the section of backbone is cut too thin then the proper correction is to make a second cut and remove the required thickness. Because this increases the risk of the saw blade contacting the DRG the frequency of multiple cuts should be minimized.

A plant may remove the DRG either on the kill floor or in the cutting room. If DRG removal is performed in the cutting room the plant does not require special sanitation procedures for the band saw or other equipment and they do not need to have 4 mm floor drain screens in place in the cutting room. Other options for the removal of the DRG may be available upon consultation with the Area Manager (AM).

The vertebral column of carcasses from OTM cattle must not be used as raw material in the preparation of mechanically separated meat or finely textured meat because this would lead to contamination of the product with SRM.

5. Disposal of SRM

SRM may be:

• transported from the plant premises, or
• buried or composted with RV permission.

Every individual or company who transports SRM must have a permit to do so from the CFIA.

5.1 Found dead or condemned on ante-mortem inspection

Cattle of any age that die from causes other than slaughter (i.e. found dead) or cattle that are condemned on ante-mortem inspection must be handled as SRM. These animals should not be processed in any manner on plant premises because of the contamination which could result. Therefore all of these carcasses should be disposed of by deadstock pickup, or composted or buried on site with RV approval. The exception would be small calves which can be placed intact into a dedicated SRM container. These calves may be disposed of with the regular SRM pickup.

For OTM cattle which are condemned or euthanized in the live animal receiving area with a captive bolt it is a best practice to plug the stun hole as the plant would normally do on the kill floor.

All bovine deadstock must be marked with blue ink on the forehead. This is unnecessary if all inedible material is buried or composted on the plant premises.

5.2 SRM Removed from a carcass during slaughter and dressing procedures

5.2.1 SRM inedible containers

All SRM and SRM contaminated debris must be contained within properly labelled, leak-proof, inedible containers. SRM containers must have tight fitting lids unless they are used to temporarily hold SRM only. Acceptable labelling is either "SRM/MRS" or "Specified Risk Material/Matériel à Risque Spécifié". Colour coding of SRM containers can provide an additional assurance of control but does not replace labelling.

5.2.2 SRM inedible staining

All pieces of SRM must be identified by blue ink. This is accomplished by the operator or designated plant employee staining each layer of SRM as it is placed in the SRM containers.

5.2.3 Head disposal

After inspection of an OTM head is complete, and where applicable the tongue and cheek meat have been harvested, the skull must be immediately placed in an SRM inedible container. Bovine heads which are UTM based on age documentation but have three or four permanent incisors must be stained with blue ink and disposed of as SRM after inspection and harvesting of cheek meat and tongue is complete. This is a control put in place to eliminate confusion or mistaken identity further down the processing chain (e.g. at a clean inedible material rendering plant). The return of OTM bovine trophy heads to the producer is permitted with Regional Veterinary (RV) approval and the producer must obtain a permit to transport SRM from the CFIA. For UTM trophy heads, only permission from the RV is required.

5.2.4 Floor waste

SRM should not accumulate in areas where it could result in contamination of edible meat products or clean inedible material. The SRM removed from the floor and any SRM debris collected from channels or drain covers/traps must be deposited into an SRM inedible container.

5.2.5 UTM spinal cords and palatine tonsils

UTM spinal cords and palatine tonsils are not SRM and they do not need to be disposed of as SRM. However the presence of these tissues in clean inedible material may cause confusion on the part of renderers and could affect the plant’s ability to access clean inedible pickup. Therefore as a best practice it is recommended that these tissues are disposed of as SRM.

5.2.6 Fetuses

Unborn fetuses do not contain SRM however the distal ileum is considered SRM as soon as a calf is born. To avoid confusion an unborn calf will be defined as one which is still inside the uterus for the purpose of this policy. The exception to this rule is fetuses that are obviously immature as evidenced by the absence of hair and these may be considered unborn even if outside the uterus. This exception will be at the discretion of the inspector. As a best practice uteruses should not be opened in provincial abattoirs for any reason.

6. Receiving emergency slaughtered cattle carcasses:

Plants which wish to receive emergency slaughtered (ES) cattle must obtain a Permit To Treat Specified Risk Material (SRM) Under The Health Of Animals Act from the CFIA. Any person who transports emergency slaughtered cattle carcasses must obtain a Permit To Remove And Transport Specified Risk Materials (SRM) Under The Health Of Animals Act. Information on these permits may be obtained by contacting the local CFIA district office. Additional information about Emergency Slaughter is contained in Meat Plant Guidelines S9.08.18.01 and C9.08.20.04.

7. Records for SRM

The following record keeping requirements apply to all plants which slaughter cattle or which receive carcasses containing SRM. All required SRM records will be available on the plant premises for 10 years except in the case of age certification documents which must be kept for 2 years.

7.1 Age certification documents

When available, operators will maintain age certification documentation. Documentation includes copies of birth date documents issued by registered breed associations or by the regulated databases of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) and Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ), or age documents provided by Bovitrace.

7.2 Slaughter documents

Operators will maintain a record of the date cattle are slaughtered, the number of UTM and OTM slaughtered, the CCIA/ATQ tag numbers, the name of the ink used to stain SRM and the person responsible for maintaining SRM records.

7.3 Receiving documents

Operators of plants which receive carcasses containing SRM will maintain records which include the date and number of carcasses shipped or received. (See section 6, Receiving emergency slaughtered cattle carcasses, for more detail.)

7.4 SRM weight documents

The operator will maintain a record of the actual weight of SRM produced and disposed of by the plant. Actual weights provided by a company which picks up SRM are acceptable. For the purpose of this record SRM will include all material which is disposed of in an SRM dedicated container (e.g. sheep heads, contaminated floor waste). This requirement does not apply to plants where all clean inedible material and SRM remain on plant premises in which case there is no requirement for actual weight. In these plants the record keeping requirements will be specified in the compost or burial approval signed by the RV.

Daily SRM weights and tracking SRM weights to specific carcasses is not required, however operators must be able to reconcile the amount of SRM produced with the date of SRM removal. This means that the real weight of SRM produced in a given time period (day, week, month, etc.) is required and the plant needs to have a reasonable estimate of how much of this weight was produced on slaughter days versus cutting days.

7.5 SRM and bovine deadstock disposal documents

SRM disposal records will include the name and address of the disposal company or site and the date of shipments. The operator will maintain a record of all cattle carcasses disposed of by deadstock collection and an estimate of the weight of these carcasses. Where applicable, the operator will maintain a record of compost or burial as required by the compost approval issued by an RV.

The regulatory requirements contained in this guideline will be met when:

(S9.09.03.04.01) All cattle are aged by a plant employee and are aged correctly.

(S9.09.03.04.02) OTM carcasses are distinguished from UTM carcasses on the kill floor according to OMAFRA’s policy.

(S9.09.03.04.03) 200 cm of distal ileum and the ileocecal junction or the entire intestinal tract is removed and treated as SRM from all cattle carcasses in the inedible room, or some other location approved by the RV.

(S9.09.03.04.04) Prior to final approval all OTM bovine carcasses have missplits corrected, have the entire spinal cord removed and have the vertebral canal marked with blue ink.

(S9.09.03.04.05) Heads and brains of any animal which are contaminated with SRM because the captive bolt was previously used to stun an OTM bovine are treated and disposed of as SRM according to OMAFRA policy.

(S9.09.03.04.06) Stun holes on OTM cattle are plugged effectively and for OTM cattle stunned more than once the nostrils are also effectively plugged.

(S9.09.03.04.07) Contamination of OTM faceplates with brain material is wiped, vacuumed or trimmed and disposed of as SRM, or all of the hide from the head is disposed of as SRM.

(S9.09.03.04.08) At the time of OTM head separation the proper 2 knife technique is used.

(S9.09.03.04.09) Hides from all species are handled and stored in a manner that prevents their contamination with SRM or they are disposed of as SRM.

(S9.09.03.04.10) Dedicated hand tools (e.g. knives or cleavers) are used for direct SRM contact in OTM cattle (i.e. spinal cord removal, head removal, correction of missplits) and are properly identified and stored separately from non-dedicated equipment.

(S9.09.03.04.11) Dedicated SRM tools and equipment which contact the carcass are rinsed and sanitized after each use and SRM tools and equipment which do not contact the carcass are rinsed of all organic debris after becoming contaminated with SRM.

(S9.09.03.04.12) When splitting an OTM carcass the water from the split saw is either turned off or diverted to prevent the contamination of the carcass being split, other carcasses and parts, and clean inedible materials.

(S9.09.03.04.13) After OTM carcass splitting, the saw is rinsed of all visible debris and then sanitized before UTM carcass splitting.

(S9.09.03.04.14) Where a mesh glove(s) is used for spinal cord removal from an OTM carcass it is effectively protected by an acceptable glove(s).

(S9.09.03.04.15) Effective 4 mm drain screens are in place when unaged or OTM carcasses are present on the kill floor, and are left in place until all visible debris has been removed from the floor.

(S9.09.03.04.16) All SRM protocols and procedures are verified and in place prior to the start of bovine slaughter.

(C9.09.03.04.17) The vertebral column of OTM cattle, including the DRG, are removed either in the cutting room or on the kill floor according to OMAFRA’s policy and in a manner that minimizes contamination of meat products with SRM.

(C9.09.03.04.18) All SRM and other material that has been contaminated with SRM such as blood and floor waste are disposed of in properly identified SRM dedicated containers.

(C9.09.03.04.19) All SRM inedible material disposed of in SRM dedicated containers is stained with blue ink in layers and bovine deadstock are marked with blue ink on the forehead.

(C9.09.03.04.20) SRM is disposed of on the premises with RV permission or is transported from the premise to another site by a transporter permitted by CFIA to transport SRM.

(C9.09.03.04.21) When ES cattle carcasses are received by the plant the approvals and records required by OMAFRA and CFIA are present and complied with.

(C9.09.03.04.22) All required SRM records (kill floor logs or equivalent, ES receiving, weights, disposal, deadstock) are complete, available for review and maintained on the plant premises for ten years except in the case of age certification documents which are maintained for two years.