PART 352—EXOTIC ANIMALS; VOLUNTARY INSPECTION Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624; 7 CFR 2.17 (g) and (i), 2.55. Source: 50 FR 41847, Oct. 16, 1985, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A—Exotic Animals § 352.1 Definitions. The definitions in § 301.2, not otherwise defined in this part, are incorporated into this part. In addition to those definitions, the following definitions will be applicable to the regulations in this part. (a) Act et seq. (b) Acceptable (c) Antelope (d) Applicant (e) Bison (Bison bison), (f) Buffalo Bubalus bubalis) (Syncerus caffer (g) Catalo Cattalo Bison bison Bison bison Bos taurus (h) Condition (i) Condition and wholesomeness (j) Deer (k) Exotic animal (l) Elk Cervus canadensis (m) Exotic animal inspection service (n) Exotic animal producer (o) Field ante-mortem inspection (p) Field designated area (q) Identify (r) Inspection (s) Interested party (t) Official exotic animal establishment (u) Official device (v) Official identification (w) Program (x) Reindeer Rangifer tarandus (y) Transport vehicle (z) Veterinarian (aa) Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) (bb) Yak (Bos grunniens) [54 FR 1330, Jan. 13, 1989, as amended at 86 FR 37218, July 15, 2021] § 352.2 Type of service available. Upon application, in accordance with §§ 352.3, 352.4, and 352.5, the following type of service may be furnished under the regulations in this part: (a) Voluntary Inspection Service. An inspection and certification service for wholesomeness relating to the slaughter and processing of exotic animals and the processing of exotic animal products. All provisions of this part shall apply to the slaughter of exotic animals, and the preparation, labeling, and certification of the exotic animal meat and exotic animal products processed under this exotic animal inspection service. (b) Only exotic animals which have had ante-mortem inspection as described under this part and which are processed in official exotic animal establishments in accordance with this part may be marked inspected and passed. (c) Exotic animals, exotic animal meat and meat food products shall be handled in an official exotic animal establishment to ensure separation and identity of the exotic animal or exotic animal meat and meat food products until they are shipped from the official exotic animal establishment to prevent commingling with other species. [54 FR 1330, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.3 Application by official exotic animal establishment for inspection services. (a) Any person desiring to process an exotic animal, exotic animal carcasses, exotic animal meat and meat food products in an establishment under exotic animal inspection service must receive approval of such establishment and facilities as an official exotic animal establishment prior to the rendition of such service. An application for inspection service to be rendered in an official exotic animal establishment shall be approved in accordance with the provisions contained in §§ 304.1 and 304.2 of subchapter A of this chapter. (b) Initial survey. When an application has been filed for exotic animal inspection service, the Regional Director or designee, shall examine the establishment, premises, and facilities. [54 FR 1331, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.4 Application for ante-mortem inspection service in the field. Any exotic animal producer desiring field ante-mortem exotic animal inspection service must receive approval of the field ante-mortem designated area from the Regional Director or designee prior to the rendition of such service. An application seeking approval of the designated area for ante-mortem inspection shall be obtained from the Regional Director, and completed and submitted to the Regional Director. (a) An initial application for field ante-mortem exotic animal inspection service shall be made by an official exotic animal establishment to the Regional Director. Subsequent requests shall be made by the official exotic animal establishment on behalf of an exotic animal producer to the Regional Director in one of the following manners: (1) telephone, (2) telegraph, (3) mail, or (4) in person as determined by the Regional Director. (b) Upon receipt of the completed application, the Regional Director or designee shall examine the field ante-mortem designated area and facilities for approval of the designated area. (c) All fees involved for the approval of the designated area, including but not limited to any travel, per diem costs, and time required to perform such approval services, shall be paid directly by the applicant to the Regional Director. [54 FR 1331, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.5 Fees and charges. (a) Fees and charges for service under the regulations in this part shall be paid by the applicant for the service in accordance with this section. (b) The fees and charges provided for in this section shall be paid by check, draft, or money order payable to the “Treasurer of the United States” and shall be remitted promptly to the Regional Director upon furnishing to the applicant a statement as to the amount due. (c) The fees to be charged and collected for service under the regulations in this part shall be at the rates specified in §§ 391.2, 391.3, and 391.4 respectively for base time; for overtime including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; and for certain laboratory services which are not covered under the base time, overtime, and/or holiday costs. Such fees shall cover the costs of the service and shall be charged for the time required to render such service, including, but not limited to, the time required for the travel of the inspector or inspectors in connection therewith during the regularly scheduled administrative workweek. (d) Charges may also be made to cover other expenses incurred by the Service in connection with the furnishing of the service. (e) Fees and charges for any inspection pursuant to a cooperative agreement with any State shall be paid in accordance with the terms of such cooperative agreement. [50 FR 41847, Oct. 16, 1988, as amended at 53 FR 13398, Apr. 22, 1988; 54 FR 6390, Feb. 10, 1989] § 352.6 Denial or withdrawal of inspection service. (a) For miscellaneous reasons. (b) For disciplinary reasons Basis for denial or withdrawal. Provided, (c) Procedure. (2) The written notification specified in paragraph (c) of this section, which shall constitute the complaint in the proceeding, shall briefly set forth the reason for the denial or withdrawal of service, including allegations of fact which constitute a basis for the action. After the complaint is served upon the respondent, as provided in § 1.147(b) of Departmental rules of practice (7 CFR 1.147(b)), the proceeding shall thereafter be conducted in accordance with rules of practice which shall be adopted for the proceeding. [50 FR 41847, Oct. 16, 1985, as amended at 54 FR 1331, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.7 Marking and labeling of inspected products. Wording and form of inspection mark. This wording shall be contained within a triangle in the form and arrangement shown in this section. The establishment number of the official establishment shall be included in the triangle unless it appears elsewhere on the packaging material. Ordering and manufacture of the triangle brand shall be in accordance with the provisions in 9 CFR 317.3(c) of the Federal meat inspection regulations. The Administrator may approve the use of abbreviations of such inspection mark, and such approved abbreviations shall have the same force and effect as the inspection mark. The inspection mark or approved abbreviation shall be applied, under the supervision of the inspector, to the inspected and passed edible product, packaging material, immediate container or shipping container. When the inspection mark or approved abbreviation is used on packaging material, immediate container or shipping container, it shall be printed on such material or container or on a label to be affixed to the packaging material or container. The name and address of the packer or distributor of such product shall be printed on the packaging material or label. The inspection marks may be stenciled on the container, and when the inspection mark is so stenciled, the name and address of the packer or distributor may be applied by the use of a stencil or rubber stamp. The name and address of the packer or distributor, if prominently shown elsewhere on the packaging material or container, may be omitted from insert labels which bear an official identification if the applicable establishment number is shown. All labels intended for use on inspected and passed exotic animal products must be approved in accordance with Part 412 of this chapter. (a) The inspection mark to be applied to inspected and passed carcasses and parts of carcasses of an exotic animal, and products as therefrom approved by the Administrator, shall be in the form and arrangement as indicated in the example below. 1 1 (1) For application to exotic animal carcasses, primal parts and cuts therefrom, exotic animal livers, exotic animal tongues, and exotic animal hearts. (2) For application to exotic animal calf carcasses. (3) For application to exotic animal tails. (4) For application to burlap, muslin, cheesecloth, heavy paper, or other acceptable material that encloses carcasses or parts of carcasses. (b) The official inspection mark to be shown on all labels. 1 1 (2) This official mark shall be applied by mechanical means and shall not be applied by a hand stamp. (3) The official inspection legend described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall also be used on shipping containers, bond labels, artificial casings, and other articles with the approval of the Administrator. (c) Any brand, stamp, label or other device approved by the Administrator and bearing any official mark prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section shall be an official device for purposes of the Act. [50 FR 41847, Oct. 16, 1985, as amended at 54 FR 1331, Jan. 13, 1989; 88 FR 2811, Jan. 18, 2023] § 352.8 Time of inspection in the field and in an official exotic animal establishment. The official exotic animal establishment on behalf of the applicant shall notify the Regional Director or designee, in advance, of the hours when such inspection is desired. Inspection personnel shall have access at all times to every part of any field ante-mortem inspection area and/or official exotic animal establishment to which they are assigned. [54 FR 1332, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.9 Report of inspection work. Reports of the work of inspection carried on within the field ante-mortem inspection area of an exotic animal producer's premises and/or official exotic animal establishment shall be forwarded to the Administrator by the ante-mortem inspector. The applicant for such inspection shall furnish to the Administrator such information as may be required on forms provided by the Administrator. [54 FR 1333, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.10 Ante-mortem inspection. An ante-mortem inspection of an exotic animal shall, where and to the extent considered necessary by the Administrator and under such instructions as he may issue from time to time, be made on the day of slaughter of an exotic animal, in one of the following listed ways or as determined by the Administrator. Humane handling of an exotic animal during ante-mortem inspection shall be in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR 313.2. Immediately after the animal is stunned or killed, it shall be shackled, hoisted, stuck and bled. (a) To be performed on an exotic animal in the field in a designated area of an exotic animal producer's premises. (1) Reindeer, elk, deer, antelope, bison and water buffalo are eligible for field ante-mortem inspection. The field ante-mortem designated area must be approved by the Regional Director or designee prior to rendition of the service. (2) Any person who desires to receive field ante-mortem inspection must provide: (i) Notification from an official exotic animal establishment to the Regional Director or designee. (ii) A field ante-mortem designated area. (iii) A stunning/slaughtering area which is in a condition that minimizes the possibility of soiling the animal when stunned/slaughtered and bled as determined by the inspector. (iv) A transport vehicle that is as sanitary as practicable as determined by the inspector. (3) The ante-mortem inspector shall determine the acceptableness and safety of performing field ante-mortem inspection. If, in the opinion of the ante-mortem inspector, an unsafe circumstance exists at the time of field ante-mortem inspection, the service shall be denied. (4) An exotic animal that, in the ante-mortem inspector's opinion, does not pass ante-mortem inspection must be withheld from slaughter. (5) Stunning to render the animal unconscious shall be in accordance with 9 CFR 313.15 or 313.16. (6) All stunned/slaughtered and bled exotic animals shall be tagged with a “U.S. Suspect” tag in an ear by the ante-mortem inspector or designee prior to loading on the transport vehicle. (7) The transport of intact exotic animal carcasses to an official exotic animal establishment for post-mortem inspection shall be as expedient as possible, and must be within the same day as field slaughter. (8) Ante-mortem cards (Form MP 402-2) shall be filled out by the ante-mortem inspector. One copy is to be retained by the ante-mortem inspector. The other copy shall accompany the transport vehicle to the official exotic animal establishment and shall be delivered to the post-mortem veterinarian. (9) The ante-mortem inspector shall supervise all phases of field ante-mortem inspection. (b) To be performed on exotic animals that are inside of the transport vehicle at an official exotic animal establishment. (1) Reindeer, elk, deer, antelope, bison, and water buffalo are eligible for transport vehicle inspection. (2) The ante-mortem inspector shall remain outside the transport vehicle while performing ante-mortem inspection. (3) The person requesting transport vehicle inspection must provide a transport vehicle that is as sanitary as practicable and that would safely and thoroughly permit the inspection of an exotic animal from outside of the transport vehicle as determined by the inspector. (4) The ante-mortem inspector shall determine the adequacy and safety of performing ante-mortem inspection. If, in the ante-mortem inspector's opinion, the transport vehicle is not adequate or safe to perform ante-mortem inspection, the service shall be denied. (c) To be performed in pens at official exotic animal establishments. The inspection shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR part 309. [54 FR 1333, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.11 Post-mortem inspection. (a) Post-mortem inspection of reindeer, elk, deer, antelope, bison and water buffalo shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR part 310 or as determined by the Administrator. (b) The post-mortem examination of field ante-mortem-inspected exotic animals must occur in the shortest length of time practicable and on the day that field ante-mortem inspection is performed to minimize the changes in the carcass which can affect the post-mortem examination, disposition and wholesomeness of the carcass and its parts. (c) The post-mortem veterinarian shall inspect and make the disposition of all incoming “U.S. Suspect” tagged exotic animals. [54 FR 1333, Jan. 13, 1989] § 352.12 Disposal of diseased or otherwise adulterated carcasses and parts. This shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR part 311. § 352.13 Handling and disposal of condemned or other inedible exotic animal products at official exotic animal establishments. This shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR part 314. § 352.14 Entry into official establishments; reinspection and preparation of products. This shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR 318.1, 318.2, and 318.3. § 352.15 Records, registration, and reports. This shall be conducted or maintained in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR 320.1 through 320.7. § 352.16 Exports. This shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in 9 CFR 322.1 through 322.5. § 352.17 Transportation. This shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in §§ 325.1 through 325.21. § 352.18 Cooperation of States in Federal programs. Under the “Talmadge-Aiken Act” of September 28, 1962 (7 U.S.C. 450), the Administrator is authorized to utilize employees and facilities of States in carrying out Federal functions.