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Q1: Are the requirements outlined in clause 4.2.1 already required under the QSA Program for identification, traceability, and control of non-conforming product?
A: Yes, the requirements outlined in clause 4.2.1 are required under the QSA Program for identification, traceability, and control of non-conforming product.
Q2: What dedicated tools and sanitizers are required?
A: The first 2 bullets under clause 4.2.2 outline the required dedicated tools and sanitizers. Facilities must have the following tools:
a. A dedicated color-coded hand tool for the severing of the spinal cord of animals of all ages and separate sanitizer;
b. A dedicated color-coded hand tool for the removal of the spinal cord for animals younger than 30 months of age and separate sanitizer;
c. A dedicated hand tool for the removal of the spinal cord of animals aged 30 months or older and separate sanitizer; and
d. A dedicated splitting saw used on carcasses of animals aged 30 months or older.
Q3: Must carcasses of animals aged 30 months or older be segregated from carcasses under 30 months of age during the slaughter process?
A: No. However, carcasses must be segregated during the chilling and fabrication process, as outlined in the third bullet under clause 4.2.2.
Q4: How must a company address the cleaning and sanitizing of knives and saws requirement outlined in the last bullet under clause 4.2.2?
A: The company's QSA Program must address the cleaning and sanitizing of knives and saws following incidental incision of the designated tissues. The company's QSA Program does not need to address the normal activities that require cleaning and sanitizing of knives and saws that are covered by the facility's SSOPs and monitored by FSIS.
Q5: Must a company address the requirements outlined in clause 4.2.4?
A: No. The requirements outlined in clause 4.2.4 are monitored and verified by FSIS. This clause does not need to be addressed in the company's QSA Program.
Q6: How must a slaughter company address the requirements outlined in clause 4.4?
A: A slaughter company must maintain records that are sufficient to initiate a trace back to the previous location for all livestock included in the program. This must be addressed within the company's QSA Program. The remainder of the requirement outlined in clause 4.4 are conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and do not need to be addressed in the company's QSA Program.
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