[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 9, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 9CFR381.11]

[Page 442]
 
                  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.