Department of Agriculture
Chapter 603
Division 28
MEAT PRODUCTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS
603-028-0605
Sanitation, Maintenance, and Construction by Licensees
(1) Stationary Custom Establishments are subject to the General Requirements outlined in OAR 603-025-0020 and 603-025-0150. In addition a stationary custom slaughtering establishment shall comply with the following:
(a) Provide a holding pen of sufficient size to hold the number of meat animals comprising an average day’s slaughter. It shall have a concrete floor sloped to a drain meeting the Oregon State Plumbing Code. The pen interior shall be free of projecting nails or other hazards to the penned animals. The chute from the holding pen to the knocking box shall also have a concrete floor;
(b) Provide a knocking box having a concrete floor curbed at its outside and forward edges, and sloped so as to drain to the kill floor (unless sloped to a dry landing area thereof). Doors or gates to the knocking box shall be hinged or pivoted and of metal or metal-covered material. Walls shall be of masonry or metal material;
(c) Provide a kill room having a concrete floor sloped to a drain meeting the Oregon State Plumbing Code. Walls and ceilings shall be of smooth, impervious material, with the junctions of floors and walls to be covered and tight. It shall have hot and cold water supplies with overhead and wall outlets;
(d) Provide an inedible offal room of sufficient size to hold the offal from the largest day’s slaughter. It shall have an exterior, screened and ventilated, and hot and cold water supplies. Doors from the kill room and through which the offal is removed shall be of metal or metal-covered material, and the latter door shall be self-closing. It shall not contain any wooden structure or equipment except in the ceiling area;
(e) Special purpose rooms (for offal separating, hide storage, freezer, etc.) may also be a part of the establishment if designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Department relating to its intended use. If inedible offal is to stored for longer than 18 hours, refrigeration shall be provided in the storage area.
(2) Mobile Custom Slaughtering Establishments are subject to the applicable provisions of OAR 603-025-0020. In addition it shall be constructed and equipped in accordance with the following:
(a) It shall have a van-type body enclosing and covering the unit, excluding the driver’s cab and hoist, and surfaces constructed from non-rusting metal or sheet metal painted with smooth enamel or lacquer. Wood may only be used as internal framing or spacing materials between double non-wooden walls. It shall be designed and constructed so as to prevent the entry of contaminants (dirt, dust, insects, etc.) and to allow the exterior and interior to be easily cleanable and sanitized;
(b) It shall have a metal interior lining, or other material approved by the department, with the junctions of facing surfaces to be smoothly welded or soldered (or rolled and soldered) and spatter removed. All interior corners shall be rounded. Caulking compounds shall not be substituted for welding or soldering. The interior facing surfaces shall not be required to be painted if they are made of stainless or galvanized steel in good condition. The minimum metal gauges for interior facing surfaces are 14 for aluminum, 16 for sheet metal, and 17 for stainless steel. Fiberglass reinforced resin or aluminum alloys are permitted upon approval by the Department. Insulation shall be non-absorbent;
(c) It shall have the following minimum interior dimensions (excluding space for tanks and other affixed or mounted equipment):
(A) Height of six feet;
(B) Length of six feet;
(C) Width of four feet for single center hanging rail, or six feet for double hanging rails.
(d) It shall have affixed a metal hoist of not less than 1-1/2 tons capacity, capable of lifting carcasses to above 12 inches from the ground (for purposes of bleeding and evisceration). Such hoist shall be situated so that carcasses suspended therefrom do not contact the truck or trailer body, and shall be equipped with a metal beef spreader;
(e) It shall contain a sanitizing tank of rust resistant metal and of sufficient size to immerse all tools (knives, cleavers, saws, hooks, etc.) and pans used in slaughter operations. It shall be filled with potable water of at least 180°F during all of the slaughter operations. This requirement does not preclude any other sanitization process approved by the Department;
(f) It shall contain a water tank of rust resistant metal, with at least a 100 gallon capacity, and with at least one spigot (for handwashing and general water supply), and at least one hose with nozzle (for washing of carcasses). It shall contain at least 50 gallons of potable water, under at least 60 pounds per square inch pressure, prior to commencing the slaughter operations. Such pressure shall be maintained during all of the slaughter operations;
(g) A smaller mobile custom slaughtering establishment may be used solely for the slaughter of animals of 400 lbs. or less live weight with the following exceptions from the above requirements:
(A) The interior dimensions of the vehicle may be five feet in height and four feet in width with a single center hanging rail;
(B) It may have affixed a metal hoist of not less than 3/4 ton capacity;
(C) It shall have a water tank of rust resistant metal with at least a 60 gallon capacity which shall contain at least 30 gallons of potable water.
[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 561, 616 & 619
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 603.085, 619.031 & 619.046
History:
AD 21-1990, f. & cert. ef. 11-27-90
AD 1004(18-73), f. 12-5-73, ef. 12-25-73