WSR 24-17-084
EXPEDITED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Filed August 19, 2024, 8:33 a.m.]
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 16-19 WAC, Custom farm slaughterers, custom slaughtering establishments, and custom meat facilities.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: In response to a petition for rule making, the department of agriculture (department) is proposing to clarify current rule language by replacing all gender-specific pronouns with modern gender-inclusive pronouns.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW 43.01.160 requires state agencies to use gender-neutral terms in rules unless a specification of gender is intended. Replacing gender-specific terminology supports the department's commitment to integrate inclusive policies and procedures as outlined in the department's 22-25 strategic plan.
Gender-inclusive pronouns are pronouns that are not specifically gendered and can be utilized when referring to each other in the third person. They are linguistic tools that we use to refer to people. Using gender-neutral pronouns can help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment and show respect for people's gender identities.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.01.160, 16.49.680.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 16.49 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Skye Theriot, private.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Gloriann Robinson, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA, 360-902-1802.
This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:
Corrects typographical errors, makes address or name changes, or clarifies language of a rule without changing its effect.
Explanation of the Reason the Agency Believes the Expedited Rule-Making Process is Appropriate: The amendments in this proposal meet the criteria for expedited rule making specified in RCW 34.05.353 (1)(c) by clarifying the rule, without changing its effect, by replacing gender-specific pronouns with gender-inclusive pronouns.
NOTICE
THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Gloriann Robinson, Rules Coordinator, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone 360-902-1802, fax 360-902-2092, email wsdarulescomments@agr.wa.gov, AND RECEIVED BY October 22, 2024.
August 19, 2024
Jason Ferrante
Deputy Director
OTS-5729.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-12-021, filed 5/24/99, effective 6/24/99)
WAC 16-19-100Additional requirements for sanitary operations of custom farm slaughtering.
Mobile custom farm slaughtering units must have:
(1) A van body completely covering the unit, but which may exclude the driver's cab and the hoist. The van body must be made of material that is nonporous and impervious to moisture. Wood may be used only as internal framing or spacing material between double nonwooden walls. The van body must be constructed so that it excludes dust, dirt and insects. The construction must be smooth, durable and easily cleanable inside and out.
(a) All vans must have the joints at junctions of internal facing surfaces and panels sealed and waterproof. Metal joints must be smooth and splatter free. If metal is used, only stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum in good condition or other materials approved by the director may be used. Any insulation used must be of a type that does not absorb water.
(b) Minimum interior dimensions of the van, exclusive of room taken up by tanks and other mounted equipment must be:
(i) Height - Six feet.
(ii) Length - Six feet.
(iii) Width - (When using single center rail for hanging carcass) four feet.
(iv) Width - (When using two rails for hanging carcasses) six feet.
(2) A hoist of 2,000 pound capacity, capable of lifting a beef carcass to a height that enables the carcass to clear the ground for bleeding and evisceration. This hoist must extend outward from the truck body. If a beef spreader is included as part of the equipment it must be of suitable construction.
(3) A sterilizing tank constructed of smooth, cleanable, impervious and durable material, large enough to allow complete sanitizing of tools used in the slaughter operation. This sterilizing unit must be filled during all slaughter operations, with potable water maintained at a temperature of at least 180°F. An approved cold sterilant may be used if sufficient hot water is available for preliminary cleaning of contaminated equipment prior to sterilizing.
(4) A water tank built into the vehicle constructed of smooth, cleanable, impervious and durable material with a minimum capacity of ((forty))40 gallons. No slaughtering operation may be commenced unless at least ((twenty))20 gallons is available. Water must be delivered to the outlets at a pressure of at least ((forty))40 pounds per square inch. One hose connection from tank and hose with nozzle must be provided to wash down carcasses. The water system must be maintained to a sanitary condition and be used only for potable water.
(5) Soap and paper towels must be available for washing hands and equipment.
(6) Outer garments worn by persons handling meat must be clean.
(7) All tools and equipment must be thoroughly washed and sanitized after each day's operation. They must be washed and sanitized if contaminated with viscera contents, abscesses, or foreign material during slaughtering operations.
(8) Meat food animals or meat food bird carcasses must not be transported in the mobile slaughter unit unless each carcass is hung so that it does not touch the floor except for beef carcasses that are dressed with the hide on and are to be delivered to a processing plant within two hours for completion of the dressing procedure. Carcasses with the hide on must be secured and placed in the mobile unit in a manner that prevents contact of hide with bare meat surfaces. Surfaces of the mobile unit that have been contaminated by contact with the hide must be cleaned and sanitized before subsequent carcasses are hauled.
(9) Edible offal must be transported in clean, covered, properly identified containers constructed of approved materials.
(10) No animals other than scalded and dehaired hogs, and defeathered meat food birds, and carcasses exempted under subsection (8) of this section may be dressed and transported with the hide on.
(11) Viscera of all meat food animals and meat food birds must be separated from the carcass at the time of slaughter on the premises where the animal is slaughtered. Feet must be removed from all meat food animals, except hogs, when scalded, and the head shall be removed from beef on the premises where it is slaughtered. Feet and metatarsus must be removed from meat food birds.
(12) All material produced through the slaughter activity, such as inedible offal and hide that may cause the slaughter area to become insanitary, must immediately upon completion of actual slaughter of the animal, be removed from the slaughtering area and disposed of in a sanitary manner. This is the licensee's responsibility.
(13) Meat food birds may be slaughtered by a custom farm slaughterer or custom slaughter establishment but not by a licensed custom poultry processor without prior approval by the director.
(14) Inedible offal may be only transported by a mobile custom slaughtering establishment under the following conditions:
(a) In a covered, watertight trailer constructed of smooth, cleanable, nonpervious material and maintained in a sanitary condition at all times; or
(b) In approved sanitary containers, in a separate compartment, in the van body. The compartment must be metal lined. There must be no openings from this compartment to the portion of the van used to transport edible products. All inedible offal containers, such as barrels or tubs, must be tightly covered and made of smooth, cleanable and nonpervious materials.
(15) A custom farm slaughterer may slaughter ((his or her))their own animal for ((his or her))their own consumption on any premises, farm or ranch, owned, rented or in any way controlled by ((him or her))themselves. No other animal may be slaughtered by the licensee on the premises, farm or ranch, owned, rented or in any way controlled by ((him or her))themselves or by members of ((his or her))their immediate family. Licensees under this section may slaughter more than one animal only if the animals have been in ((his or her))their possession more than ((sixty))60 days.
(16) Whenever a licensee has reason to believe that a meat food animal or meat food product is unwholesome as defined in these rules, ((he or she))they must require an examination and declaration of wholesomeness by a licensed veterinarian before proceeding with slaughter or with processing of the carcass.
(17) Meat food birds must be slaughtered in a custom farm slaughterer mobile unit unless they are delivered to a custom slaughtering establishment.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-12-021, filed 5/24/99, effective 6/24/99)
WAC 16-19-210Requirements for assignment, stamping, recordkeeping and condemnation of meat.
The operator of any custom slaughtering establishment must have in ((his or her))their possession certificates of permit or other satisfactory proof of ownership of carcasses or parts thereof in ((his))their establishment. Such proof of ownership must be kept on file for a period of six months after receipt of the carcass or part of the carcass.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-12-021, filed 5/24/99, effective 6/24/99)
WAC 16-19-310Proof of ownership of uninspected carcasses or parts of carcasses.
(1) The operator of any custom meat facility must have in ((his or her))their possession certificates of permit as provided by chapter ((16-620))16-610 WAC (((Brand))Livestock Inspection) or other satisfactory proof of ownership of all uninspected carcasses or parts of carcasses received in ((his or her))their establishment. Such proof of ownership must be kept on file for six months after receipt of such carcass or part of carcass.
(2) While in possession of the operator all uninspected cattle carcasses or parts of carcasses must be identified by a department-approved tagging device describing the name and address of the owner, name and address of the slaughterer, if not the owner, the slaughter date and brand, if the animal was branded, while in the possession of the operator. Such identification must conform to the requirements of chapter 16.57 RCW (Livestock identification).
(3) All uninspected meat food animal carcasses or parts of carcasses other than cattle must be identified on a tag available from the department as to name and address of owner, name and address of the slaughterer if different from the owner, and the slaughter date while in possession of the operator.
(4) The operator must give each owner of uninspected carcasses, parts of carcasses, or meat food products delivered to a custom meat facility for preparation a written record stating the gross weight received for preparation. The operator must maintain a duplicate copy of this record at ((his or her))their principal place of business for six months.
(5) Operators making sales of prepackaged inspected meat to other than household users must maintain written records of all such transactions, including the buyer, type of product sold and total net weight of each exchange.