0583-AD54 201510 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0583 Food Safety and Inspection Service FSIS 0500 Department of Agriculture USDA Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves

Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is developing final regulations to amend the ante-mortem inspection regulations to remove a provision that permits establishments to set apart and hold for treatment veal calves that are unable to rise from a recumbent position and walk because they are tired or cold (9 CFR 309.13(b)). The regulations permit such calves to proceed to slaughter if they are able to rise and walk after being warmed or rested. FSIS proposed to require that non-ambulatory disabled (NAD) veal calves that are offered for slaughter be condemned and promptly euthanized. The existing regulations require that NAD mature cattle be condemned on ante-mortem inspection and that they be promptly euthanized (9 CFR 309.3(e)). FSIS believes that prohibiting the slaughter of all NAD veal calves would improve compliance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978 (HMSA), and the humane slaughter implementing regulations. It also would improve the Agency's inspection efficiency by eliminating the time that FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) spend re-inspecting non-ambulatory disabled veal calves.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 9 CFR 309 Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) Yes

Removing the provision from 9 CFR 309.13(b) would eliminate uncertainty as to what is to be done with veal calves that are non-ambulatory disabled because they are tired or cold, or because they are injured or sick, thereby ensuring the appropriate disposition of these animals. In addition, removing the provision in 9 CFR 309.13(b) would improve inspection efficiency by eliminating the time that FSIS IPP spend assessing the treatment of non-ambulatory disabled veal calves.

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21 U.S.C. 603 (a) and (b)

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The Agency considered two alternatives to the proposed amendment: the status quo and prohibiting the slaughter of non-ambulatory disabled "bob veal," which are calves generally less than one week old.

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If the rule is adopted, non-ambulatory disabled veal calves will not be re-inspected during ante-mortem inspection. The veal calves that are condemned during ante-mortem inspection will be euthanized. The estimated annual cost to the veal industry would range between $2,368 and $161,405. The expected benefits of this proposed rule are not quantifiable. However, the rule would ensure the humane disposition of the non-ambulatory disabled veal calves. It also would increase the efficiency and effective implementation of inspection and humane handling requirements at official establishments.

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]]> NPRM 05/13/2015 80 FR 27269 NPRM Comment Period End 08/12/2015 Final Action 03/00/2016 No None No No No No Daniel Engeljohn L Dr. Assistant Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Development 0583 Food Safety and Inspection Service FSIS 202 205-0495 202 720-2025 daniel.engeljohn@fsis.usda.gov Room 402 Cotton Annex Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 349-E JWB, Washington DC 20250