PART 96—RESTRICTION OF IMPORTATIONS OF FOREIGN ANIMAL CASINGS OFFERED FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. Source: 28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, unless otherwise noted. § 96.1 Definitions. Administrator. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Animal casings. APHIS representative. Authorized inspector. Department. Food and Drug Administration. Food Safety and Inspection Service. Import (imported, importation) into the United States. Region. (1) A national entity (country); (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.) (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single area. United States. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0579-0015) [57 FR 28082, June 24, 1992, as amended at 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992; 59 FR 67134, Dec. 29, 1994; 62 FR 56024, Oct. 28, 1997; 70 FR 553, Jan. 4, 2005; 72 FR 53379, Sept. 18, 2007] § 96.2 Prohibition of casings due to African swine fever and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. (a) Swine casings. (1) Origin of casings. (2) Shipping requirements. (3) Origin certificate. (4) Integrity of seals. (5) The processing establishment. 1 1 et seq. (6) Compliance agreement. (7) Cooperative service agreement. (8) Compliance agreement cancellation. (9) Export certification. (b) Casings from ovines or caprines. (1) The casings are accompanied by an original certificate that meets the requirements of § 96.3 and: (i) States that the casings meet the conditions of this section; (ii) Is written in English; (iii) Is signed by an individual eligible to issue the certificate required under § 96.3; and (iv) Is presented to an authorized inspector at the port of entry. (2) [Reserved] (c) Casings from bovines. (1) If the casings are derived from bovines from a region of negligible risk for BSE, as defined in § 92.1 of this subchapter, the certificate required under § 96.3 indicates the APHIS BSE risk classification of the region in which the bovines were slaughtered and the casings were collected. (2) If the casings are derived from bovines from a region of controlled risk for BSE or a region of undetermined risk for BSE, as defined in § 92.1 of this subchapter, the casings are not derived from the small intestine or, if the casings are derived from the small intestine, the casings are derived from that part of the small intestine that is eligible for use as human food in accordance with the requirements established by the Food Safety and Inspection Service at 9 CFR 310.22 and the Food and Drug Administration at 21 CFR 189.5. (3) The casings are accompanied by an original certificate that meets the requirements of § 96.3 and paragraph (b)(1) of this section. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0579-0015) [65 FR 1307, Jan. 10, 2000, as amended at 70 FR 553, Jan. 4, 2005; 72 FR 53379, Sept. 18, 2007; 77 FR 1395, Jan. 10, 2012; 78 FR 73007, Dec. 4, 2013; 86 FR 68862, Dec. 3, 2021] § 96.3 Certificate for animal casings. (a) No animal casings shall be imported into the United States from any foreign region unless they are accompanied by a certificate signed by either (1) a veterinarian salaried by the national government of the region in which the animals were slaughtered and the casings were collected, and who is authorized by the national government to conduct casings inspections and issue certificates, and who has inspected the casings before issuing the certificate and determined that the casings meet the criteria described in the Foreign Official Certificate for Animal Casings; or (2) a non-government veterinarian authorized to issue the certificate by the national government of the region in which the animals were slaughtered and the casings were collected, who has inspected the casings before issuing the certificate and determined that the casings meet the criteria described in the Foreign Official Certificate for Animal Casings. A certificate issued by a non-government veterinarian is valid only if the certificate is endorsed by a veterinarian salaried by the national government of the region in which the animals were slaughtered and the casings were collected. (b) All signatures on the certificate shall be original. (c) The certificate shall bear the insignia of the national government of the region in which the animals were slaughtered and the casings were collected, and shall be in the following form: foreign official certificate for animal casings Place (City) ____________________ (Region) ________ (Date) ________ I hereby certify that the animal casings herein described were derived from healthy animals (cattle, sheep, swine, or goats), which received, ante mortem and post mortem veterinary inspections at the time of slaughter, are clean and sound, and were prepared and handled only in a sanitary manner and were not subjected to contagion prior to exportation. Kind of casings Number of packages Weight Identification marks on the packages Consignor (Address) Consignee (Destination) Shipping marks Signature: Official issuing the certificate. (Non-government veterinarian authorized to issue the certificate by the national government of the region in which the animals were slaughtered and the casings were collected.) Official title: Signature: Official issuing the certificate. (Veterinarian salaried by the national government of the region in which the animals were slaughtered and the casings were collected.) Official title: (d) In addition to meeting the requirements of this section, the certificate accompanying sheep casings from Canada must state that the casings meet the requirements of § 96.2(b) and the certificate accompanying bovine casings must state that the casings meet the requirements of either § 96.2(c)(1) or (c)(2) as applicable. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0579-0015) [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 48 FR 57472, Dec. 30, 1983. Redesignated and amended at 57 FR 28082, June 24, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993, as amended at 62 FR 56024, Oct. 28, 1997; 70 FR 553, Jan. 4, 2005; 72 FR 53379, Sept. 18, 2007; 78 FR 73008, Dec. 4, 2013] § 96.4 Uncertified animal casings; disposition. Animal casings which are unaccompanied by the required certificate, those shipped in sheepskins or other skins as containers, and those found upon inspection to be unclean or unsound when offered for importation into the United States shall be kept in customs custody until exported or destroyed, or until disinfected and denaturated as prescribed by the Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in §§ 96.5 through 96.16. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963. Redesignated and amended at 57 FR 28082, 28083, June 24, 1992; 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.5 Instructions regarding handling certified animal casings. (a) Animal casings are not classed as meat product, therefore the certificate required for foreign meat product is not acceptable for animal casings offered for importation. (b) Casings offered for importation into the United States shall remain in customs custody at the port until released by an APHIS inspector for admission into the United States or otherwise disposed of as required by this part. (c) The provision that under certain conditions casings which have been offered for importation shall be exported, shall be construed to mean the removal of the casings from the United States or its possessions. (1) The provision that under certain conditions casings be destroyed shall be construed to mean the treatment or handling of the casings in a manner to take away completely the usefulness of them as by tanking or incineration. (2) The provision that under certain conditions casings shall be disinfected and denatured shall be construed to mean such treatment and handling as will be prescribed by the Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to free them from pathogenic substances or organisms, or to render such substances and organisms inert; and that the nature of the casings be changed to make them unfit for eating without destroying other useful properties. For instance, each casing may be split throughout its length and after disinfection, as above indicated, be released for industrial use. (d) Dried intestines offered for importation into the United States for use as gut strings or similar purpose are not regarded as animal casings within the meaning of this part. Such dried intestines are classed with tendons, sinews, and similar articles and are subject to the provisions of part 95. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963. Redesignated and amended at 57 FR 28082, 28083, June 24, 1992; 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.6 Certified foreign animal casings arriving at seaboard or border port. (a) Properly certified foreign animal casings arriving in the United States at a seaboard or border port where an APHIS inspector is stationed shall be released for entry by the inspector at the seaboard or border port. (b) Properly certified foreign animal casings arriving in the United States at a seaboard or border port where no APHIS inspector is stationed, which are destined to a point in the United States where an APHIS inspector is stationed, shall be shipped in United States Customs custody to destination for release. (c) Properly certified foreign animal casing arriving in the United States at a seaboard or border port where no APHIS inspector is stationed, which are destined to a point in the United States where no APHIS inspector is stationed, shall be transported in United States Customs custody to the nearest point where an APHIS inspector is stationed for release at that point. (d) Properly certified foreign animal casings forming a part of a foreign meat consignment routed through a border port to an interior point in the United States shall be transported to destination as though the entire consignment consisted of meat. In such cases the APHIS inspector who inspects the meat at destination shall supervise the release of the casings. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.7 Dried bladders, weasands, and casings. Dried animal bladders, dried weasands, and all other dried animal casings offered for importation into the United States as food containers unaccompanied by foreign certification which have been retained in the dry state continuously for not less than 90 days from the date of shipment shown on the consular invoice, may be released for entry as food containers without disinfection. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.8 Uncertified casings; disinfection at seaboard port. Uncertified foreign animal casings arriving at a seaboard port may be imported into the United States for use as food containers after they have been disinfected under the direct supervision of an APHIS inspector at the seaboard port. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.9 Casings admitted on disinfection; sealing; transfer and disinfection. Foreign animal casings offered for importation into the United States which are admitted upon disinfection shall be handled as follows: (a) The containers of such casings shall be sealed on the steamship pier or other place of first arrival. Four seals shall be affixed to both ends of each tierce, barrel, and similar container in the space where the ends of the container enter the staves, by means of red sealing wax imprinted with the No. 3 Veterinary Services brass brand from which “ insp'd & p's'd (b) Uncertified animal casings sealed as above indicated shall be transferred from the steamship pier or other place of first arrival to the premises of the importer or other designated place, where they shall be disinfected by the importer under the supervision of an APHIS inspector before they are offered for sale. The object of this ruling is to place full responsibility for disinfection of casings on the original importer and to prevent the sale of casings subject to disinfection by the purchaser. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.10 Uncertified casings; transportation for disinfection; original shipping containers; disposition of salt. (a) Foreign animal casings imported into the United States without certification may be forwarded in customs custody to a USDA-approved facility for disinfection under APHIS supervision and release by the United States Customs authorities, provided that, before being transported over land in the United States, each and every container of such casings shall be disinfected by the application of a solution of sodium hydroxide prepared as follows: (1) Sodium hydroxide (Lye) prepared in a fresh solution in the proportion of not less than 1 pound avoirdupois of sodium hydroxide of not less than 95 percent purity to 6 gallons of water, or one 13 1/2 2 2 (2) This solution shall be thoroughly applied to all exterior surfaces of the containers and be allowed to remain for at least thirty minutes to accomplish disinfection. The containers should then be washed with water to remove the caustic soda which otherwise might cause injury to the handlers of the packages. (b) When uncertified foreign casings are removed from the original shipping containers these containers shall be destroyed by burning or promptly and thoroughly disinfected both inside and out with the solution and in the manner above prescribed. If these containers are to be re-used it is important that they be thoroughly washed both inside and out with water after disinfection has been completed, and in order to insure against the injurious effect of caustic soda remaining in the wood it is advisable to allow the containers to stand for not less than six hours filled with water. (c) The salt removed from all original shipping containers of uncertified foreign animal casings shall be immediately dissolved in water and heated to boiling, or disposed of as provided in paragraph (c)(1) or (2) of this section as follows: (1) Dissolve the salt in the proportion of 90 pounds of salt to 100 gallons of water. Add 2 3/4 (2) Dissolve the salt in the proportion of 90 pounds of salt to 100 gallons of water. Add 20 pounds of 95 percent to 98 percent sodium hydroxide (commercial “76 percent caustic soda”) and stir until solution is complete; and allow it to stand for at least 30 minutes. (This solution may be utilized in the disinfection of casing containers as prescribed in paragraphs (a)(2) and (b) of this section. (3) It is best to employ flaked caustic soda and not the variety which is very finely powdered. The fine powder is irritating and injurious to workers if it becomes suspended in the air. Containers of caustic soda should be kept tightly closed as the product deteriorates from contact with the air. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 32 FR 19158, Dec. 20, 1967; 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993; 62 FR 56024, Oct. 28, 1997; 65 FR 1307, Jan. 10, 2000] § 96.11 Disinfecting plant and equipment for uncertified casings. Uncertified foreign animal casings shall be disinfected only at a plant whose sanitation and disinfecting equipment have been approved by an APHIS inspector. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.12 Uncertified casings not disinfected in 30 days; disposition. Foreign animal casings offered for importation without certification shall be disinfected as prescribed in § 96.13 within a period of 30 days after arrival in the United States, subject to the ability of Division inspectors to cover their respective districts. Otherwise such casings shall be exported or destroyed. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993] § 96.13 Uncertified casings; disinfection with hydrochloric acid. Foreign animal casings offered for importation into the United States without certification may be disinfected, as prescribed in this section, under the supervision of an APHIS inspector for use as food containers, as an alternative for foreign certification. (a) Disinfect the casings in a solution made as follows: Dissolve 90 pounds common salt in 100 gallons water and mix. Add 2 3/4 (b) Containers of the disinfectant solution may be either of wood or of metal, but the interior surfaces must be protected by means of an acid resistant coating. (c) Not more than 175 pounds casings shall be treated with each 100 gallons of the solution. After the treatment of 175 pounds of casings, or at the end of the day if less than 175 pounds of casings are disinfected in any one day, the solution shall be discarded unless means are provided for accurately determining the loss of strength. In event means for accurately determining loss of strength are provided it will be permissible to restore the strength of the solution with fresh acid and use it repeatedly. (d) Shake as much of the adherent salt as possible from the casings and weigh them. Bundles must be separated but individual hanks need not be untied. Place the casings in the disinfecting solution a few hanks at a time with vigorous agitation to insure the fullest possible contact of the solution with them. Then keep the casings completely submerged in the solution for not less than three-fourths of an hour. (e) Remove the casings from the solution, rinse them with water, and place them in a solution containing 8 1/2 (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0579-0015) [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993, as amended at 59 FR 67134, Dec. 29, 1994] § 96.14 Uncertified casings; disinfection with saturated brine solution. Foreign animal casings offered for importation into the United States upon disinfection, may either be disinfected with hydrochloric acid as at present or if preferred may be submerged in a saturated brine solution at a temperature not less than 127 °F. for at least 15 minutes. The time held as well as the temperature of such brine solution must be recorded on a one-hour dial of a recording thermometer and filed in the local APHIS office for official inspection at any time. In order that this required temperature may be more readily maintained, such casings must first be submerged in a brine solution at approximately 127 °F. for about five minutes immediately before the 15-minute recorded submersion period begins. This may be done either in the testing vat or a preliminary vat. By following this procedure the temperature will not vary unduly and thus cause unsatisfactory results. After removing the casings from the testing vat, it will be found advantageous to submerge them in another vat containing cold brine solution or cold water in order to remove the extra heat from the casings as promptly as possible, but of course this is optional with the importer. In order to obtain the most satisfactory results, the hanks, rings, and similar units must be separated as much as possible without untying, but “dolls” will not be permitted to be disinfected by this heating method. In order to keep the temperature of the brine in the testing vat of a uniform degree, it is necessary to agitate the solution occasionally by moving the casings. The tip of the recording thermometer should be located at a point which would be approximately at the bottom of the volume of casings being disinfected. [28 FR 5986, June 13, 1963, as amended at 57 FR 29785, July 7, 1992. Redesignated at 58 FR 47031, Sept. 7, 1993]