Mississippi Slaughterhouses

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Southern Quality Meats 266 W 8th Street Pontotoc, MS 38863

Address: 266 W 8th Street Pontotoc, MS 38863
Establishment No.: M17322

USDA Enforcement Reports:

Enforcement Report: July 19, 2013

NOTICE of DEFERRAL:

On July 10, 2013, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued to your establishment, Southern Quality Meats, Est. 17322M, a “Notice of Intended Enforcement (NOIE).” This notice was based on your establishment’s failure to handle livestock humanely according to 9 CFR Part 313.

Following the NOIE action on July 10, 2013, you provided FSIS with written corrective and preventative actions in an effort to meet to meet the requirements of the Humane Slaughter Act. The responses received on July 15, 2013 and July 16,2013 did not meet the requirements of the Humane Slaughter Act. Specifically, the first response failed to properly address all aspects of Humane Handling as related to the NOIE action in that it only detailed the immediate corrective actions and did not stipulate in adequate details what your future planned actions and preventive measure would include. The second response failed to match up with the physical realities of your slaughter processes, in that if referenced ritual exempt slaughter practices that you would be employing and did not clearly describe how the prod would be used. Therefore, the NOIE remained in effect.

On July 18, 2013, you submitted a third response with written corrective and preventative actions in an effort to meet the requirements of the Humane Slaughter Act. This response adequately defined corrective actions taken, preventive measures implemented, and future planned actions to be taken. It stipulated that humane handling training of all live animal handlers had been completed, that a new stunning “knock box” would be installed no later than August 5, 2013, that only judicious use of electric prods would be tolerated, that such use would be verified by Management, that monthly audits of the animal welfare program would be performed, and semi-annual animal welfare training would be ongoing, and a complete update of the written animal welfare handling plan utilized by your facility. FSIS analyzed the corrective and preventive measures you provided. The analyis revealed that your submissions were adequately supported and that compliance with the Humane Handling regulations would be achieved by the implementation of your submissions. Therefore, FSIS will defer a decision on any further Enforcement Action pending assessment and verification of your corrective action plan’s implementation by FSIS inspection personnel to determine regulatory compliance.

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Enforcement Report: July 18, 2013

NOTICE of SUSPENSION HELD in ABEYANCE:

On July 10, 2013, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued to your Establishment, Southern Quality Meats, Est. 17322M, a “Notice of Suspension Letter.” This notice was based on your establishment’s failure to handle livestock humanely according to 9 CFR Part 313.

Following the suspension action on Jul 10, 2013, you provided FSIS with writeen corrective and preventative actions in an effort to meet the requirements of the Humane Slaughter Act. The responses received on July 15, 2013 and July 16, 2013 did not meet the requirements of the Humane Slaughter Act. Specifically, the first response failed to properly address all aspects of Humane Handling as related to the Suspension action in that it only detailed the immediate corrective actions and did not stipulate in adequate details what your future planned actions and preventive measure would include. The second response failed to match up with the physical realities of your slaughter processes, in that it referenced ritual exempt slaughter practices that you would be employing and also contained conflicting prod use information. Therefore, the Suspension remained in effect.

On July 18, 2013, you submitted a third response with written corrective and preventative actions in an effort to meet the requirements of the Humane Salughter Act. This response adequately defined corrective actions taken, preventive measures implemented, and future planned actions to be taken. It stipulated that humane handling training of all live animal handlers had been completed, that a new stunning “knock box” would be installed no later than August 5, 2013, that only judicious use of electric prods would be tolerated, that such use would be verified by Management, that monthly audits of the animal welfare program would be performed, and semi-annual animal welfare training would be ongoing, among other actions stated to include but not limited to a complete update of the written animal welfare handling plan utilized by your facility. On July 18, 2013 Deputy District Manager Dr. David Thompson informed you via teleconference that FSIS was holding the Suspension inAbeyance.

The suspension of inspection at your establishment will remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS that your proposed corrective and preventive measures have been implemented and are effective in ensuring future regulatory compliance and preventing the inhumane treatment of animals. Agency personnel will begin immediate verification of your corrective and preventive actions.