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USDA/FSIS RIN: 0583-AC88 Publication ID: Spring 2005 
Title: Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle 
Abstract: On January 12, 2004, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued an interim final rule to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to designate the brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of cattle 30 months of age and older, and the tonsils and distal ileum of the small intestine of all cattle, as “specified risk materials” (SRMs). The Agency declared that SRMs are inedible and prohibited their use for human food. In addition, as a result of the interim final rule, FSIS now requires that all non-ambulatory disabled cattle presented for slaughter be condemned. The Agency also requires that federally inspected establishments that slaughter cattle and federally inspected establishments that process the carcasses or parts of cattle develop, implement, and maintain written procedures for the removal, segregation, and disposition of SRMs. Establishments must incorporate these procedures into their HACCP plans or in their Sanitation SOPs or other prerequisite program. FSIS took this action in response to the diagnosis on December 23, 2003, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of a positive case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an adult Holstein cow in the State of Washington. This action is intended to minimize human exposure to materials that scientific studies have demonstrated as containing the BSE agent in cattle infected with the disease. Infectivity has never been demonstrated in the muscle tissue of cattle experimentally or naturally infected with BSE at any stage of the disease. 
Agency: Department of Agriculture(USDA)  Priority: Economically Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: Yes  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: Not Yet Determined     (To search for a specific CFR, visit the Code of Federal Regulations.)
Legal Authority: 21 USC 601 et seq   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Interim Final Rule  01/12/2004  69 FR 1862   
Interim Final Rule Comment Period End  04/12/2004    
Final Action  12/00/2005    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: Undetermined 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: Undetermined 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Dr. Daniel L Engeljohn
Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development
Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Room 402 Cotton Annex Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 349-E JWB,
Washington, DC 20250
Phone:202 205-0495
Fax:202 720-2025
Email: daniel.engeljohn@fsis.usda.gov