The Florida Senate

585.93  Requests for inspection of nontraditional livestock.--

(1)  GENERAL.--An establishment that has a grant of inspection issued under s. 585.74 may request that the department inspect nontraditional livestock slaughtered at the establishment. Inspection must include antemortem and postmortem inspection as provided in this section. The cost of inspection shall be borne by the establishment as prescribed by rules of the department.

(2)  ANTEMORTEM INSPECTION.--Antemortem inspection of nontraditional livestock must comply with the applicable requirements of s. 585.76 and the rules of the department. Antemortem inspection may occur where the livestock is raised and may include, but need not be limited to, field observation of the nontraditional livestock in motion and at rest. Nontraditional livestock shall be bled immediately after stunning. The department inspector shall observe the transportation of each animal to a slaughtering establishment to ensure positive identification of the animal if the animal is not otherwise properly identified. Nontraditional livestock shall be transported promptly to a slaughtering establishment to maintain acceptable condition.

(3)  POSTMORTEM INSPECTION.--Postmortem inspection of nontraditional livestock must comply with the applicable requirements of s. 585.77 and the rules of the department. Postmortem inspection procedures for buffalo and cattalo are the same as those for cattle. Postmortem inspection procedures for deer are the same as those for sheep. The department may by rule prescribe specific postmortem inspection procedures for other nontraditional livestock as appropriate.

(4)  SANITARY SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING.--Nontraditional livestock shall be slaughtered in a sanitary manner. Meat and meat products obtained from nontraditional livestock shall be handled and processed in a sanitary manner. The slaughter and processing of nontraditional livestock must comply with the applicable sanitation requirements specified in ss. 585.76 and 585.79 and the rules of the department.

(5)  INSPECTION MARKS.--

(a)  A department inspector shall place a mark of inspection on each inspected carcass of nontraditional livestock that passed antemortem and postmortem inspection under this section. The mark of inspection must include the notation "Florida Inspected and Passed" and the department-assigned number of the slaughter establishment at which the animal was slaughtered. The notation and establishment number must be surrounded by a triangle as prescribed in rules of the department.

(b)  The primal parts, livers, hearts, and tongues of carcasses of nontraditional livestock that pass postmortem inspection must be marked as required in this section.

(c)  Inspection brands and labels must be approved by the department. Requests for approval must be submitted in writing to the department on forms furnished by the department. The department shall forward approved requests for brands to a brand manufacturer, who shall bill the requesting establishment directly. An inspection brand or label may be used only under the direct supervision of a departmental employee. When not in use, the inspection brand shall be kept locked in the inspection office in a properly equipped locker or compartment, the key to which must not leave the possession of a departmental employee.

(6)  CONDEMNED CARCASSES OR MEAT PRODUCTS.--Carcasses, parts, or meat products from nontraditional livestock which are inspected and found unfit for human consumption shall be slashed and denatured and marked or branded with the notation "Florida Inspected and Condemned."

(7)  LABELS.--

(a)  The label of any processed meat product consisting entirely of inspected-and-passed nontraditional livestock must include a mark of inspection as specified in this section, followed by the establishment number. The notation and establishment number must be surrounded by a triangle as described in subsection (5). The labeling of processed meat products must comply with the applicable requirements of s. 585.79 and the rules of the department.

(b)  The label for a processed meat product consisting of inspected-and-passed nontraditional livestock meat or other animal product such as beef, pork, goat, sheep, or poultry must include the triangular mark of inspection if:

1.  The animal product constitutes less than 3 percent of the product by weight; and

2.  The meat fat from animal product constitutes less than 30 percent of the product by weight.

(c)  The label for a processed meat product consisting of inspected-and-passed nontraditional livestock meat and other animal product such as beef, pork, goat, sheep, or poultry must include the mark of inspection specified in s. 585.79, in place of the mark of inspection specified in this section, if:

1.  The animal product constitutes 3 percent or more of the product by weight; and

2.  The meat fat from animal product constitutes 30 percent or more of the product by weight.

History.--s. 51, ch. 94-180.