Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. If game
animals are received for sale or service they shall be:
1. Commercially raised for food and raised,
slaughtered, and processed under a voluntary inspection program that is
conducted by the state agency that has animal health jurisdiction or under a
voluntary inspection program administered by the USDA for game animals such as
exotic animals (i.e., reindeer, elk, deer, antelope, water buffalo, or bison)
that are "inspected and approved" in accordance with 9 CFR Part
352;P
2.
As allowed by law, for wild game animals that are live-caught:
a. Under a routine inspection program
conducted by a regulatory agency such as the agency that has animal health
jurisdiction;P
b. Slaughtered and processed according to:
(1) Laws governing meat and poultry as
determined by the agency that has animal health jurisdiction and the agency
that conducts the inspection program;P and
(2) Requirements that are developed by the
agency that has animal health jurisdiction and the agency that conducts the
inspection program with consideration of factors such as the need for
antemortem and postmortem examination by an approved veterinarian or
veterinarian's designee;P or
3. As allowed by law for
field-dressed wild game animals under a routine inspection program that ensures
the animals:
a. Receive a postmortem
examination by an approved veterinarian or veterinarian's designee;
P
b. Are field-dressed and transported
according to requirements specified by the agency that has animal health
jurisdiction and the agency that conducts the inspection
program;P and
c. Are processed according to laws governing
meat and poultry as determined by the agency that has animal health
jurisdiction and the agency that conducts the inspection
program.P
B. A game animal may not be received for sale
or service if it is a species of wildlife that is listed in 50 CFR Part
17.
C. The requirements of
subsection A of this section shall not apply to commercially slaughtered or
processed rabbits that are offered for sale or service.
D. Commercially slaughtered or processed
rabbits that are offered for sale or service shall be packaged with a label
that complies with
2VAC5-585-900 B and
includes the following information:
1.
Producer number;
2. Safe handling
instructions, as required by
9 CFR
317.2(l) and 9 CFR
381.125(b);
3. An identifying code
that is permanently visible to the naked eye to aid in traceback throughout
sale and distribution; and
4. The
statement: "WARNING: EXEMPT FROM CARCASS INSPECTION. PREPARED IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE VIRGINIA RABBIT PROGRAM." on the principal display
panel.
E. An entity
commercially slaughtering or processing rabbits that are offered for sale or
service may elect to participate in a voluntary inspection program that is
conducted by the state agency that has animal health jurisdiction or a
voluntary inspection program that is administered by USDA. The requirements of
subsection D of this section shall not apply to commercially slaughtered or
processed rabbits that are offered for sale or service that bear a mark of
inspection and that are under a voluntary inspection program that is conducted
by the state agency that has animal health jurisdiction or that is administered
by USDA.
Statutory Authority: §
3.2-5121
of the Code of Virginia.
