[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 9, Volume 2]

[Revised as of January 1, 2007]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 9CFR381.11]



[Page 441]

 

                  TITLE 9--ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS

 

     CHAPTER III--FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 

                               AGRICULTURE

 

PART 381_POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION REGULATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                          Subpart C_Exemptions

 

Sec. 381.11  Exemptions based on religious dietary laws.



    (a) Any person who slaughters, processes, or otherwise handles 

poultry or poultry products which have been or are to be processed as 

required by recognized religious dietary laws may apply for exemption 

from specific provisions of the Act or regulations which are in conflict 

with such religious dietary laws. Any person desiring such an exemption 

shall apply in writing to the Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, Food 

Safety and Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 

20250, setting forth the specific provisions of the Act and the 

regulations from which exemption is sought and setting forth the 

provisions of the religious dietary laws in support of the requested 

exemption. In addition, the applicant for such an exemption shall submit 

a statement from the clerical official having jurisdiction over the 

enforcement of the religious dietary laws with respect to the poultry or 

poultry products involved, which identifies the requirements of such 

laws pertaining to the slaughter of the poultry and the processing or 

other handling of the poultry products involved, and certifies that such 

requirements are in conflict with specific provisions of the Act and 

regulations from which the exemption is sought.

    (b) The Administrator, upon a determination that an exemption should 

be granted, will grant such exemption to the extent necessary to avoid 

conflict with the religious requirements while still effectuating the 

purposes of the Act. He may impose such conditions as to sanitary 

standards, practices, and procedures in granting such exemption as he 

deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Act. Any person who 

processes poultry or poultry products under exemption from certain 

requirements as provided in this section shall be subject to all of the 

other applicable provisions of the Act and the regulations. Processing 

plants shall meet the sanitary requirements set forth in this part and 

unless exempted from inspection under the provisions of this subpart, 

shall be required to qualify for inspection and operate as official 

establishments. Slaughtered poultry which is prepared under an exemption 

authorizing the sale of noneviscerated poultry in commerce shall be 

individually identified with a label approved by the Administrator which 

identifies the clerical official under whose supervision the poultry was 

slaughtered.