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Chapter 17 - Ante and Post-mortem Procedures, Dispositions, Monitoring and Controls - Red Meat Species, Ostriches, Rheas and Emus

Annex F

Ante-mortem Examination and Ante-mortem Inspection

Table of Contents

F.1 Introduction and purpose

Ante-mortem examination (screening) and ante-mortem inspection serve the following purposes:

  • Identify animals showing clear evidence of being affected with a disease or condition that could render the carcass unfit for human consumption. This aspect is extremely important in that clinical signs detectable at ante-mortem examination/inspection may not be reflected in obvious macroscopic evidence at post-mortem examination/inspection, and therefore, the disease or condition could go undetected. It is also important because it permits the interception of diseased animals which, if permitted to enter the slaughter floor, could be responsible for contamination of facilities and equipment.
  • Identify animals which could pose a threat to the health of personnel handling them.
  • Identify animals which are suspected of being affected with a disease or condition that might render the carcass unfit for human consumption. Suspect animals can then be segregated and slaughtered separately. Ante-mortem examination (screening) and ante-mortem inspection also serve as an adjunct to post-mortem examination/inspection and enables the veterinarian to carry out his dispositions based on scientific information.
  • Identify animals which are suspected of having been treated with veterinary drugs such as antibiotics, or of containing chemical residues.
  • Identify diseased animals which may have been shipped for slaughter along with other members of the same herd. In this instance, it enables the personnel conducting post-mortem examination/inspection to be alerted to the possible existence of the same disease in other members of the herd.
  • Identify heavily contaminated animals. This enables early action to be taken by the operator to resolve potential problems associated with this contamination in the slaughtering and dressing processes.
  • Identify animals which are suspected of having a reportable or exotic disease.
  • Make a disposition regarding the suitability of animals for slaughter.
  • Identify animals requiring special handling for humane reasons.

It is the operator's responsibility to ensure that only those animals that have passed ante-mortem examination (screening) and ante-mortem inspection by the CFIA as required under the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 are permitted to proceed to the slaughter floor.

Ante-mortem examination (screening) and ante-mortem inspection findings can play an important part in influencing opinions and actions in later operations. In order for this to occur, it is essential that there be a good system of communication for relaying information obtained at ante-mortem examination (screening) and ante-mortem inspection to the inspection staff personnel conducting post-mortem inspection. This information is relayed by means of a properly completed CFIA/ACIA 1438 or equivalent form which is conveyed to the slaughter floor by a plant employee at the time the animals are brought for slaughter.

F.2 Facilities and manpower requirements

To enable adequate ante-mortem examination/inspection to be carried out, certain minimum requirements in respect of facilities must be provided by the operator (see Chapter 2 and the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990). In addition to the requirements of the facilities, adequate manpower assistance must be provided to move and identify animals as required.

It is the responsibility of the veterinarian to ensure that he has the necessary equipment to conduct an adequate ante-mortem inspection and to exercise control. Such equipment may include a stethoscope, thermometer, CFIA/ACIA form 1438, ear tags, pliers, held tags, glue and a flashlight.

F.2.1 Special requirements for ratites (ostrich, rhea, emu)

Adequate facilities and competent plant personnel must be available to ensure humane handling of live birds and to facilitate the performance of adequate ante-mortem inspection of the birds. Small and medium size beef and/or horse slaughter establishments are best suited to accommodate these animals.

An adequate suspect pen with sufficient restraint facilities for humane restraint of the birds shall be available to allow veterinary examination of the suspect birds.

Establishments wishing to export ratite meat products may require facility changes to comply with foreign standards.

Ante-mortem inspection procedures and facilities for ratites are the same as for red meat animals.

F.3 Humane treatment

In addition to performing ante-mortem inspection, inspectors are responsible for monitoring the humane handling of animals.

F.4 Procedures

F.4.1 Ante-mortem examination (screening)

The operator is responsible for an initial ante-mortem examination (screening) of all classes of food animals upon their arrival at the slaughter establishment. All red meat species of food animals, including ostriches, rheas and emus, must be examined by the operator within 24 hrs of slaughter. Each animal shall be observed in motion. The examination procedure shall allow anomalies to be detected whether they are on sides, head or rear. Control programs as prescribed in the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 must be established by the operator to ensure the proper delivery of these activities. Operators must ensure that hazards associated with food animals are properly identified and addressed in their HACCP system.

The operator is responsible for segregating food animals showing a deviation from normal behaviour or appearance and to place them in designated (suspect) pens upon their arrival at the plant. Plant employees performing ante-mortem examination (screening) shall record on form CFIA/ACIA 1438, or an equivalent in-house form, the following information for each lot or animals received at the slaughter establishment: the owner's name, address, number of animals screened and the number of suspect animals segregated from the lot.

Plant employees performing this function must have been trained to do the examination as per Annex A of Chapter 17: Introduction to ante-mortem for plant employees - A training guide.

In addition, the operator shall ensure potential hazards associated with exposure to chemical contaminates or the use of veterinary drugs are identified in FSEP Form 6 (or equivalent) and controlled in the company's HACCP system.

Equine sent to slaughter establishments for human consumption must be presented with an acceptable identification and historical information document(s). For additional details refer to Annex E of Chapter 17.

The operator shall review all submitted equine information documents (Equine Information Document (EID), Initial Equine Information Document (IEID) and Sub Lot Equine Information Document (SLEID)) to determine if they are complete and the animals they represent may be acceptable for slaughter. If the documents are accepted by the operator, the documents (or copies there of) are submitted to the CFIA for review and official authorization of slaughter prior to slaughtering the animals.

After operator and CFIA review and acceptance of the EID or SLEID, the CFIA veterinarian will sign the EID/ SLEID and document on the related CFIA/ACIA 1438 or the equivalent in-house form that the EID/ SLEID provided for the animal / lot has been reviewed and has been found to be complete and acceptable. In the case of SLEID submission, the operator shall ensure that the CFIA has the original or a copy of the relevant IEID for a correlation comparison.

Once ante-mortem inspection is completed and it is determined that the animals may proceed to slaughter, the CFIA veterinarian will sign the CFIA/ACIA 1438 or equivalent in-house form to authorize slaughter. No equine shall proceed to slaughter unless the associated CFIA/ACIA 1438 or equivalent in-house form is signed by the CFIA.

Any equine or lot of equine received at the establishment without the required information documents (EID, IEID and SLEID) or with an incomplete or inaccurate document shall not proceed to slaughter. In addition, based on the information available to the operator (e.g. the review of the EID), animals that appear to be in non compliance with the applicable requirements respecting the use of veterinary drugs shall not proceed to slaughter. In both the above situations, the equine or lot of animals shall be segregated, identified and held by the operator. The operator will immediately inform the CFIA of the details deficiency (ies). The operator shall submit proposed corrective actions in writing which include details of the potential disposition of the animals to the VIC for approval. It is strongly suggested that the operator develop contingency plans for holding animals in the event that animals are presented for slaughter, but are not able to be slaughtered because of non acceptability reasons. Operators are reminded that any related contingency plans must be developed in compliance with animal welfare requirements.

For all food animal species, operators of slaughter establishments should receive assurance from producers that animals presented for slaughter are acceptable for human consumption. This means that biological, chemical and physical hazards are identified and to the extent possible controlled at the farm level. Hazards that need to be managed at the slaughter establishment are identified to the operator (e.g. broken needles).

The means of information transfer, when not specified in this manual, shall be negotiated between the establishment operator and the producer. The transfer of animal health status information enables the operator to make appropriate operational adjustments such as order of production, segregation, line speed and/or personnel adjustment preparations necessary to enhance the operator's ability to process animals in a sanitary manner.

The CFIA suggests operators indicate in their HACCP plan that "Copies of completed information transfer documents are not to be made for distribution other than for internal use by the operator or the CFIA." Also, a paragraph worded in proper legal terms on the following is warranted; "The information gathered with information documents is to be used for the intended purposes. Any use other than the intended food safety or disease control issues can be considered breach of the right to confidentiality laws in Canada. Employees that use the information for other purposes can be prosecuted."

With respect to all food animal species, the operator is responsible for segregating animals or herds when it is brought to his attention that animals have received treatment prior to slaughter and a doubt exists whether or not the observed withdrawal time was sufficient to clear the medication from tissues. All animals with an history of having been treated with a veterinary drug or exposed to a chemical contamination in such a way that their tissues could be unfit for human food, must be held at ante-mortem examination (screening) and considered as suspect animals.

Animals signalled by the seller to the operator as being of an uncertain status regarding the absence of chemical contaminants or veterinary drug residues in their tissues should not be slaughtered unless their slaughtering is discussed beforehand with the Area Residue Program Specialist. All details of the testing needed to clarify their status will have to be set before the slaughter, including the number and size of the samples to be collected, tests required, methods of analysis, name of laboratory, and cost recovery issues.

Refer to Chapter 5 of this manual for more instructions on dealing with an animal or a lot suspected of having been exposed to chemical contaminants or veterinary drugs that may affect the disposition of the carcass or its parts, and also for the slaughter procedures of pre-test animals.

F.4.1.1 Additional ante-mortem procedures related to equine
  1. Equine owner responsibilities

    Information documents (EID, IEID and SLEID) found in Annex E, Chapter 17 of this manual represent the means of information transfer from the equine owner to the establishment operator and the CFIA.

    The equine owner is to ensure that:

    • Individual Equine Information Documents are submitted to the establishment operator with the equine animal or that the lot equine information documents, namely the Initial Equine Information Document (IEID) and Sub Lot Equine Information Document (SLEID) are submitted as outlined in Annex E of Chapter 17.
    • All equine information documents are complete, accurate and provide at least 180 days of history for the animal or animals presented for slaughter.
    • Equine animals with a historical record of non permitted drug usage shall not be presented for slaughter for human consumption.
    • Animals represented by equine information documents sent to slaughter have met all medication related withdrawal periods as shown in Chapter 17 Annex E sections E.6 and E.7, or the product label, and/or have met withdrawal periods provided via a licensed veterinarian, through a veterinary client patient relationship, who has enlisted and cited the aid of a body recognised by the veterinary community as being capable of determining medication related withdrawal periods such as gFARAD or a veterinary pharmaceutical department of an accredited Veterinary Medical College. In case of a withdrawal determination, the withdrawal period/interval information provided from the recognised veterinary body is attached to the EID. See Chapter 5 of this manual for cgFARAD information.
    • Refrain from transporting, or allowing to be transported, any compromised animal if the transportation will cause further injury, stress and/or suffering (Health of Animals Act and Regulations, Part XII section 138 (2) (a)).
    • Not entrust their animals to a transporter whose vehicle is not designed to transport equine animals or is in a state of questionable repair (Health of Animals Act and Regulations, Part XII section 143 (1) (a)).
  2. Operator's responsibilities

    Information document(s) provide the operator with the necessary level of confidence that identified potential biological, chemical and physical hazards associated with live equine animals have been recorded, and to the extent possible, prevented or controlled at the farm level and during transportation. CFIA oversight of equine information documents reviewed by the operator allows CFIA staff to judge if the operator is taking the necessary corrective actions and preventive measures when evaluating incoming animal information and ante-mortem screening information in accordance with the written specifications contained in the HACCP system.

    The operator is responsible for evaluating all submitted information documents (Individual EID, IEID and SLEID) as part of the ante-mortem screening process to ensure the forms are complete, all withdrawal periods have been met, and non permitted drug/substance usage is not indicated if the equine animal(s) represented by the form(s) are to be slaughtered for human consumption.

    If the EID, IEID or SLEID is incomplete the operator may contact the equine owner to obtain a complete information document.

    After the operator has completed the review of information documents (Individual EID, IEID, and SLEID) and found the animal(s) it represents acceptable for slaughter for human consumption, the information documents shall be provided to a CFIA Veterinarian for review. In the case of SLEID submission, the operator shall ensure that the CFIA has the original or a copy of the relevant IEID for a correlation comparison.

    After CFIA review, all information documents shall be filed by the operator and kept for a minimum of one year. Information document records shall be made available to the CFIA upon request.

    During the operator's ante-mortem examination (screening), the operator shall verify the identity of animal(s) represented by the information documents by comparing the animal description on information documents to the live animal presented for slaughter. In the case of animals presented with a SLEID, the operator shall also verify that the animal identification listed on the SLEID corresponds to previously submitted and accepted IEID.

  3. Missing or Incomplete Information Documents

    Operators may choose one of the following two options for equine that arrive at their establishment for slaughter without the requisite fully completed or acceptable information document:

    Option no. 1

    Slaughter the equine as a segregated lot and treat all derived meat products as inedible meat products (The operator shall ensure that potential chemical residues and veterinary drugs issues may not implicate and restrict the use of inedible material); or

    Option no. 2

    If assurances that a fully completed EID will arrive, hold the animal(s) with the approval of the VIC. Compliance with animal welfare requirements is the responsibility of the operator. (Note that live animals imported into Canada as "slaughter only" are subject to time restrictions under the Health of Animals Act and Regulations limiting the amount of time they may remain alive in Canada). The VIC has the option of allowing slaughter with a complete faxed/electronic copy of information documents as long as the resulting product is segregated and held until an original complete information document is received.

    In the instance of a missing or incomplete IEID or SLEID, the operator shall conduct an investigation to determine the root cause. A report, including follow-up action taken to avoid any reoccurrence, must be provided to the CFIA.

    Operators may have the option of producing "for Export Only" product based on specified importing country requirements. A CFIA approved written control program addressing identification and segregation procedures for "For Export Only" animals and product shall be developed, implemented and maintained by the operator.

  4. CFIA's role

    After the operator has verified that information documents are complete and acceptable they (or copies there of) shall be submitted to the CFIA. A CFIA veterinarian will review the equine information documents to ensure the necessary information is complete:

    • equine identification is listed;
    • non permitted substances are not declared;
    • any applicable withdrawal periods are listed, and compatible with label declarations or Chapter 17 Annex E sections E.6 and E.7 or with a provided withdrawal interval determination from a recognized veterinary body such as cgFARAD;
    • owner declaration is signed;
    • for Lot EIDs the previously accepted animal identification method is used; and
    • SLEID identity information correlates to a previously submitted IEID.

    If equine information documents are acceptable to the reviewing CFIA veterinarian, they shall be signed and returned to the operator to be filed. If the veterinary review determines that the animal is not acceptable for slaughter and/or the information document is not complete, the CFIA veterinarian will note the deficiency on the information document, make a copy of the document with comments and return the document to the plant operator. The animal or animals represented by the unacceptable document shall not proceed to slaughter without acceptable information documents. See Chapter 18 and 14 of the Manual of Procedures for other applicable CFIA procedures. The operator shall investigate and determine why an incomplete/unacceptable information document was submitted as acceptable to the CFIA and take preventative action.

    During ante-mortem inspection the CFIA veterinarian will compare the identification listed on the individual animal EIDs or SLEIDs to the animals presented for slaughter. A sufficient number of EIDs and/or SLEIDs are selected by the CFIA for identity verification purposes to establish comfort over the operator's ante-mortem identification check. A copy of the information document or the original may be used for identification verification purposes by the CFIA. Copies of information documents however shall be given to the operator once oversight functions related to animal identification are complete.

F.4.2 CFIA Ante-mortem Inspection

All red meat species of food animals, including ostriches, rheas and emus, shall be inspected by an inspector while they are at rest and 5 to 10% of such animals, from several lots, shall be examined on both sides while in motion.

Food animals that are identified for partial dressing shall receive 100% inspection on both sides while in motion. Any abnormality noted during ante-mortem inspection that may be related to a food safety concern (e.g. lumps-abscess etc.) will disqualify the animal from the partial dressing procedure. In the case of hogs, the provision for partial dressing shall only apply to normal healthy stock of market age or younger.

Records shall be kept indicating those lots examined in motions. This information could be indicated on the CFIA/ACIA 1438. During this phase of ante-mortem inspection, all animals seen to be exhibiting evidence of disease or deviation from normal must be segregated and set aside for detailed veterinary inspection. All identified reactors must be segregated at the time of arrival at the establishment.

Note: For establishments exporting to the European Union (E.U.), or to countries demanding inspection to E.U. requirements, a veterinarian must perform ante-mortem inspection on all animals, both normal and abnormal (subject) animals.

Lots which pass initial ante-mortem inspection must be identified by means of a lot card, drive card or form CFIA/ACIA 1438, all of which should record the following information:

  1. the number of animals in the lot;
  2. the time and date of inspection; and
  3. the signature or initials of the inspector who performed the ante-mortem screening.

All animals screened out by the operator or held by the inspector are to be subjected to a detailed veterinary inspection and, when judged necessary, are to be suitably restrained for this purpose. Based on his findings, the veterinarian will make one of the following dispositions:

  1. the animal is to be permitted to proceed for normal slaughter;
  2. the animal is to be set aside for rest and/or treatment, or to go through an appropriate withdrawal time if a veterinary medication residue is a cause of concern, prior to slaughter, and further ante-mortem inspection, as appropriate;
  3. the animal is to be deemed a suspect and is to be set aside for separate slaughter, along with other suspects, preferably at the end of normal slaughter;
  4. the animal is to be deemed a suspect but, for humane reasons, is to proceed for immediate slaughter; or
  5. the animal is to be condemned.

F.4.3 Suspects

  1. Identified reactors:

    Ante-mortem inspection shall be performed while these animals are held in segregation.

  2. Other suspect animals:

    Suspect animals include those that are held following the CFIA veterinary inspection and those signalled by the seller to the operator as being of an uncertain status regarding the absence of chemical contaminants or veterinary drug residues in their tissues.

    As a rule, animals suspected of harboring residues and contaminants should not be slaughtered unless their slaughtering is discussed beforehand with a residue program network specialist. All details of the testing needed to clarify their status will have to be set before the slaughter, including the number and size of the samples to be collected, tests required, methods of analysis, name of laboratory, and cost recovery issues. Exception to this rule: the slaughter procedures of pre-test animals for the purpose of the Sulfa-On-Site program are explicitly described in Chapter 5.

    Suspect animals are to be identified as "held" by eartag or tattoo following ante-mortem examination/inspection. An ante-mortem examination report (CFIA/ACIA 1438) is to be completed giving particulars such as description, identification of animal, details of findings, owner's name, address, etc.

    Facilities must be provided to enable crippled animals to be transported to the kill floor without undue suffering. In the case of severely crippled animals where even this is not practical, the veterinarian may give permission for an animal to be stunned in the yard prior to immediate rapid transfer for bleeding. From the time an animal is stunned in the yards until its delivery to the slaughter floor, it must always be under inspectional control.

    It is imperative that all suspects be properly identified throughout the slaughter process, i.e., from the yards or live animal receiving room to the final inspection station. Except for immediate slaughter for humane reasons, it is necessary to schedule suspects for separate slaughter, preferably at the end of the regular kill. This minimizes disruption of operations. Adequate cleaning and disinfection is required in all cases where the slaughter of a suspect animal may have caused contamination of the facility and equipment.

F.4.4 Animals condemned on ante-mortem inspection

All animals condemned on ante-mortem inspection shall be identified by a tag or other device showing the word CONDEMNED. In addition, full details (animal identification, owner's name and address, reason for condemnation), should be entered on the ante-mortem examination report (CFIA/ACIA 1438).

Following condemnation, animals are to be stunned or killed in the yards or live animal receiving room, and removed to the inedible section of the establishment. Stunned animals may be bled in the yards or live animal receiving room, provided there are adequate facilities to allow sanitary procedures (drain, washing facilities, etc.). Otherwise, such animals must be bled in the inedible section of the establishment.

All found deads are to be recorded and sent for rendering. Condemned animals, carcasses of such animals and found deads are not permitted to pass through the slaughter floor or other edible areas of the establishment.

F.5 Cleaning and disinfection

In addition to the slaughter floor, yards, driveways, etc., which have been used to hold or move suspect or condemned animals, are to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, where in the opinion of a veterinarian, this is necessary and practicable.

Previous page: Annex E

Date Modified: 2010-07-29

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