ANNEX Z
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE EXPORTATION OF RUMINANT MEAT/MEAT PRODUCTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In order to meet the current import conditions of the USA, which are summarized below, the operator will have to develop and implement procedures to assure complete segregation of meat produced according to US requirements to the satisfaction of the CFIA when both eligible and non eligible products are present on premises. The written segregation procedures should clearly outline the controls that will be implemented to ensure that applicable requirements are met so that eligible products can be distinguished from non eligible products at all times. The procedures must be acceptable to the inspector in charge and must include monitoring, verification and record keeping activities, deviation procedures and be auditable and effective.

2.0 ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS AND SPECIFIC IMPORT REQUIREMENTS

Only meat product derived from animals less than 30 months of age is eligible.

N.B. The age restriction does not apply to bovine livers.

Any meat product derived from bovine (including veal) is considered eligible provided it is derived from bovine aged less than 30 months at slaughter and does not contain or is not derived from specified risk material (SRM - as defined by the USDA) or from mechanically separated beef. Annex A-1 must be used.

Notes:

1. Mechanically Separated beef (MSM - beef) is prohibited by FSIS.
2. Advanced Meat Recovery (AMR) must not include dorsal root ganglia, even when produced from meat derived from animals aged less than 30 months. The registered establishment wanting to export AMR must have a Quality Assurance program that ensures compliance with FSIS requirements. The FSIS requirements include such things as calcium content, iron content (as a measure of the presence of bone marrow), and the absence of CNS (Central Nervous System) and CNS-like tissue. The operator should consult the Federal Register Vol. 69, No 7, to include the requirements in their Quality Assurance program.

This product should not be referred to as Finely Textured Meat. If it is not labeled clearly as AMR, the export certificate should bear a mention stating that it is meat obtained from a Advanced Meat Recovery system.

The requirements described below are designed to meet the following objectives:

1. to prevent commingling between eligible and non eligible products during slaughter, cutting/boning and processing;
2. to ensure that age determination of animals is performed as required;
3. to ensure the removal of all specified risk material (SRM), as defined by the USDA, from bovine; and
4. to enable verification of compliance with applicable requirements relating to BSE.

2.1.1.1 All establishments must comply with the provisions described in Chapter 4, particularly Annex N, of the Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures, with respect to age determination of cattle and hygienic removal of SRMs.

2.1.1.2 The FSIS list of SRM includes lingual tonsils for bovine of all ages. These should be removed during harvesting of the tongue by making a transverse cut caudal to (just behind) the last vallate papillae. See 11.6.3 for more information.

2.1.1.3 The registered establishment’s HACCP or Quality Assurance program must provide for controls relative to the removal of all SRM as defined by the USDA and compliance with specific USDA-APHIS standards as applicable to AMR.

2.1.1.4 Requirements for slaughtering operations:

Operators must have a written procedure in place that will ensure appropriate segregation between eligible and non-eligible products. If the operator intends to slaughter both animals aged under 30 months and aged 30 months and above, the slaughter of bovine aged 30 months and above must be done at the end of the production day, or on a separate day.

When using dentition criteria to determine the age of the animals during the slaughter of cattle deemed to be under 30 months of age, the operator may find that a small proportion of animals presented for slaughter as young fed cattle turn out to have a third permanent incisor when examined on the kill floor, and are therefore judged to be 30 months of age or older. This may be due to the range in age at which the permanent incisors erupt, resulting in cattle as young as 24-26 months having an erupted third permanent incisor.

Operators are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the carcasses of bovine aged 30 months and above, and to maintain the identity of these carcasses from the point at which the age is determined (See MOP, Chapter 4, Annex N for age determination criteria) until the products are packaged and appropriately labeled or the carcass is removed from the area/plant.  These procedures must include:

2.1.1.4.1 Application of a mark or device to clearly identify the head and carcass sides (and quarters or parts as needed) of all bovine determined to be aged 30 months or older.

2.1.1.4.2 Complete segregation¹ of the carcasses and parts of bovine aged 30 months or older during chilling.

2.1.1.4.3 Recording of the number of slaughtered bovine aged 30 months or older at the point where the age is determined, followed by reconciliation of the number of carcasses and parts entering and leaving the chiller, either to go for cutting/boning, packaging, or to depart the facility. In the latter case, the receiving plant must be notified of the number of intact carcasses/sides or parts to be expected.

2.1.1.4.4 Labelling of packages containing carcasses/sides or parts derived from bovine aged 30 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from packages containing meat derived from bovine under 30 months of age (see 2.1.2 and Annex Z-2).

2.1.1.4.5 Segregated storage and handling of boxes containing meat derived from cattle aged 30 months or older.

2.1.1.5 Requirements for cutting/boning operations:

Operators may choose to cut/bone only carcasses from animals under 30 months. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures insuring only carcasses from animals under 30 months are processed. Receiving procedures must be developed and implemented and must include monitoring, verification and record keeping activities, deviation procedures and be auditable and effective. All carcasses from animals 30 months and above or carcasses for which there is a doubt as to the age must be refused and immediately shipped out of the cutting/deboning area/plant.

Operators may also choose to cut/bone both carcasses from animals aged under 30 months and 30 months and above. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the carcasses and cuts of bovine aged 30 months or older and to maintain the identity of the product derived from these carcasses. These procedures must include:

2.1.1.5.1 Complete segregation¹ of the carcasses of bovine aged 30 months or above at reception, where applicable

2.1.1.5.2 Recording the number of carcasses/sides processed that are derived from animals aged 30 months or older.

2.1.1.5.3 Cutting/boning of carcasses of bovine aged 30 months or above at the end of the production day, on a separate day or, subject to controls acceptable to the inspector, on a separate line with separate equipment.

2.1.1.5.4 Labelling of boxes containing meat derived from bovine aged 30 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from boxes containing meat derived from bovine under 30 months of age (see 2.1.2 and Annex Z-2).

2.1.1.5.5 Segregated storage and handling of boxes containing meat derived from bovine aged 30 months or above.

2.1.1.6 Requirements for other processing operations:

Operators may choose to process only meat derived from animals under 30 months. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures insuring only boxes or meat from animals under 30 months are processed. Receiving procedures must be developed and implemented and must include monitoring, verification and record keeping activities, deviation procedures and be auditable and effective. All boxes of meat from animals 30 months and above or boxes for which there is a doubt as to the age must be refused and immediately shipped out of the processing area/plant.

Operators may also choose to process both meat from bovine animals aged under 30 months and 30 months and above. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the meat from bovine aged 30 months or older, to prevent commingling with eligible product and to maintain the identity of the product issued from these carcasses. These procedures must include:

2.1.1.6.1 Complete segregation¹ of the boxes of bovine meat cuts or products aged 30 months or above.

2.1.1.6.2 Processing of bovine meat products from animals aged 30 months or above at the end of the production day, on a separate day or, subject to controls acceptable to the inspector, on a separate line with separate equipment.

2.1.1.6.3 Labelling of boxes containing meat products derived from bovine aged 30 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from boxes containing meat products derived from bovine under 30 months of age (see 2.1.2 and Annex Z-2).

2.1.1.6.4 Segregated storage and handling of boxes containing meat products derived from bovine aged 30 months or above.

2.1.2 Marking requirements

To facilitate the work of all parties involved, an identification mark has been agreed upon to identify products derived from animals aged 30 months or older. The identification mark (see Annex Z-2) should appear on the products in the case of unpackaged products or on the main panel of the shipping container in the case of packaged products. The size of the mark should be of at least 5 cm (sides in the case of the triangle and height in the case of the numeral), Operators of establishments where bovine meat products are manufactured are responsible for developing marking procedures, using one of the agreed upon identification marks, to the satisfaction of the CFIA to ensure that all products derived from animals aged 30 months and older are identified as required.

As a control measure at a receiving establishment, written confirmation from the operator of the supplying establishment endorsed by the CFIA inspector to the effect that the marking is conducted in a satisfactory manner should be retained on file and made available on request.

Meat products prepackaged for retail sale on the Canadian market and prepared meat products for sale in Canada do not need to bear the markings described above.

2.1.3 CFIA verification

CFIA inspection staff should routinely verify the accuracy and/or effectiveness of operator’s implementation of control measures designed to meet the additional USDA requirements:

2.1.3.1 Implementation of operator’s quality assurance program applicable to age determination.

2.1.3.2 Implementation of operator’s program applicable to the removal and disposal of SRM as defined by the USDA.

2.1.3.3 Implementation of operator’s quality assurance program applicable to the production of AMR to ensure compliance with USDA-FSIS requirements, when applicable.

2.1.3.4 Implementation of operator’s program applicable to segregation between eligible and non eligible products when both types of products are present on premises.

2.1.3.5 Implementation of operator’s program applicable to marking requirements, when applicable.

Only meat product derived from animals less than 12 months of age is eligible. Age determination is to be based on dentition. Ovine or caprine animals which have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum are considered to be 12 months of age or above and products derived therefrom are not eligible for export to the United States.

Annexe A-2 must be used.

The requirements described below are designed to meet the following objectives:

1. to prevent cross contamination between eligible and non eligible products during slaughter, cutting/boning and processing;
2. to ensure that age determination of animals is performed as required;
3. to enable verification of compliance with applicable requirements relating to BSE.

2.2.1.1 Requirements for slaughtering operations:

Operators must have a written procedure in place that will ensure appropriate segregation of eligible and non-eligible products. If the operator intends to slaughter both animals aged under 12 months and 12 months and above, the slaughter operations of ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above must be done at the end of the production day or on a separate day.

Operators are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the carcasses of ovine or caprine aged 12 months and above, and to maintain the identity of these carcasses from the point at which the age is determined until the products are packaged and appropriately labeled or the carcass is removed from the area/plant. These procedures must include:

2.2.1.1.1 Examination of the incisor teeth of each carcass at or before the head inspection station.

2.2.1.1.2 Application of a mark or device to clearly identify the head and carcass sides (and quarters or parts as needed) of all ovine or caprine determined to be aged 12 months or older based on the examination of the dentition.

2.2.1.1.3 Complete segregation² of the carcasses and parts of ovine or caprine aged 12 months or older during chilling.

2.2.1.1.4 Recording of the number of slaughtered ovine or caprine aged 12 months or older at the point where the age is determined, followed by reconciliation of the number of carcasses and parts entering and leaving the chiller, either to go for cutting/boning, packaging, or to depart the facility. In the latter case, the receiving plant must be notified of the number of intact carcasses/sides or parts to be expected.

2.2.1.1.5 Labelling of packages containing carcasses/sides or parts derived from ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from packages containing meat derived from ovine or caprine under 12 months of age.

2.2.1.2 Requirements for cutting/boning operations:

Operators may choose to cut/bone only carcasses from animals under 12 months. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written receiving procedures insuring only carcasses from animals under 12 months are received and processed. All carcasses from animals 12 months and above or carcasses for which there is a doubt as to the age must be refused and immediately shipped out of the cutting/deboning area/plant.

Operators may also choose to cut/bone both carcasses from animals aged under 12 months and 12 months and above. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the carcasses and cuts of ovine or caprine aged 12 months or older and to maintain the identity of the product issued from these carcasses. These procedures must include:

2.2.1.2.1 Complete segregation¹ of the carcasses of ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above at reception.

2.2.1.2.2 Cutting/boning of carcasses of ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above at the end of the production day, on a separate day or, subject to controls acceptable to the inspector, on a separate line with separate equipment

2.2.1.2.3 Labelling of boxes containing meat derived from ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from boxes containing meat derived from ovine or caprine under 12 months of age.

2.2.1.2.4 Segregated storage and handling of boxes containing meat derived from ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above.

2.2.1.3 Requirements for other processing operations:

Operators may choose to process only meat derived from animals under 12 months. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written receiving procedures insuring only boxes or meat from animals under 12 months are received and processed. All boxes of meat from animals 12 months and above or boxes for which there is a doubt as to the age must be refused and immediately shipped out of the processing area/plant.

Operators may also choose to process both meat from ovine or caprine animals aged under 12 months and 12 months and above. In this case, they are required to develop and implement written procedures to identify the meat of ovine or caprine aged 12 months or older and to maintain the identity of the product issued from these carcasses. These procedures must include:

2.2.1.3.1 Complete segregation¹ of the boxes of ovine or caprine meat cuts or products aged 12 months or above at reception.

2.2.1.3.2 Processing of ovine or caprine meat products from animals aged 12 months or above at the end of the production day, on a separate day or, subject to controls acceptable to the inspector, on a separate line with separate equipment.

2.2.1.3.3 Labelling of boxes containing meat products derived from ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above in a manner that will easily distinguish them from boxes containing meat products derived from ovine or caprine under 12 months of age.

2.2.1.3.4 Segregated storage and handling of boxes containing meat products derived from ovine or caprine aged 12 months or above.

2.2.2 CFIA verification

CFIA inspection staff should routinely verify the accuracy and/or effectiveness of operator’s implementation of control measures designed to meet the additional USDA requirements:

2.2.2.1 Implementation of operator’s quality assurance program applicable to the prevention of cross-contamination and the required segregation between eligible and non eligible product.

2.2.2.2 Implementation of operator’s quality assurance program applicable to age determination.

2.3 Edible tallow

Tallow is eligible for export subject to meeting the following conditions. (See Annex A-3)

1. The tallow is derived from bovine that were less than 30 months of age when slaughtered.
2. The tallow was processed in a CFIA inspected establishment which operates in compliance with an approved CFIA program to prevent commingling of bovine products eligible for export to the United States with ineligible ruminant products.
3. The tallow must be derived from bovines that have not been in countries listed in Annex A-3;
4. The tallow is composed of less than 0.15% insoluble impurities; and
5. After processing, the tallow was not exposed to or commingled with any other material of animal origin.

Or

The US importer has a valid import permit from the USDA-APHIS that outlines all conditions applicable to the importation of products derived from animals aged 30 months and over.

In that case, no additional attestation is required from the CFIA except that the permit number must be included in the "Remarks" section of the export from CFIA-ACIA 4546.

2.4 Ruminant casings (derived from sheep exclusively)

These products can be exported with Annex C if they meet the specified requirements. Please note that age requirements outlined in 2.2 above apply to casings.

2.5 Imported meat products derived from bovine, ovine, caprine animals

Products imported from the USA or other countries eligible to export to Canada can be used in the manufacturing of products destined to the USA. See annex Q for applicable FSIS requirements.

The operator must develop and implement written procedures to identify and maintain the identity of the eligible imported meat products. These procedures include:

1. Segregation procedures between eligible and non eligible product during receiving, cutting/boning, other processing, packaging and labelling.
2. Appropriate record-keeping to ensure traceability between eligible imported products and exported products.

The annex corresponding to the exported product must be used.

CFIA inspection staff should routinely verify the accuracy and/or effectiveness of operator’s implementation of control measures designed to meet the additional USDA requirements:

2.5.1.1 Implementation of operator’s quality assurance program applicable to the prevention of commingling between eligible and non eligible product.

2.2.1.2 Implementation of operator’s quality assurance program applicable to the traceability of eligible product from receiving to shipping.

Definition of meat food products: Products destined for human consumption that contain bovine, ovine or caprine meat products and that are under the jurisdiction of FDA (e.g., food that contains less than 3% of raw meat or 2% of cooked meat such as soup mixes, open face sandwiches, etc).

These products can be exported with an Annex A-4. Form 1454 should also be issued for products marked with the meat inspection legend and shipped from a registered establishment. The U.S. export certificate (CFIA 4546) must not be issued for these products.

Note: At this time, only meat food products derived from bovine may be exported.

2.7 Cervid meat for human consumption

There are no special BSE-related APHIS requirements for these products.

(Note: this type of product falls under the jurisdiction of the FSIS when the product (e.g., ground cervid meat) contains 2% or more of pork).

2.8 Products not for human consumption derived from bovine, ovine, caprine and cervid

Bovine, ovine and caprine offals are subject to the same requirements as meat products destined for human consumption. Products imported from eligible countries can also be exported. Annex A-5 (bovine) and Annex A-6 (ovine and caprine) must be used.

Cervid offals must meet the requirements stated in Annex A-7.

Forms 1454 or 4546 must not be issued for these products.

2.9 Transit of bovine, ovine or caprine meat products

Bovine, ovine or caprine meat products must meet all U.S. eligibility requirements for export to the United States. See requirements on applicable annex.

Annex A-8 must be used.

These requirements described below concern over-land transit in the USA of meat products derived from ruminants:

1. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) have established conditions under which meat products derived from ruminants, will be allowed to transit through the USA.
2. The products that will be allowed to transit are those that would be accepted for import into the United States. These products will require a Transit Permit issued by APHIS to a United States entity.
3. The National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) will accept applications for Transit Permits for products that are currently permitted for entry into the United States. The shipment will not be required to go to an Import Establishment or I-House.
4. (i) The shipment must be exported from the USA within 7 days of its entry;

   (ii) The commodities are not transloaded while in the USA;

   (iii) A copy of the import permit required is presented to the inspector at the port of arrival and the port of export in the USA.

5. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will verify the following:

   The shipment comes from a Canadian facility that is approved by USDA/Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to export to the United States. (Any shipper that is listed on a Veterinary Import Permit would meet this condition).

   The Permittee or their agent presents the Import Permit, the corresponding supplementary attestation required by APHIS from the Canadian Government and other applicable documents to CBP.

   If the Permittee or their agent is requesting "transportation and exportation" "(T&E)" of the shipment to a foreign country and has met all requirements of CBP for such movement then the shipment will be allowed to transit the United States without inspection at the FSIS I-House.