
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 21USC603]

 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
                       CHAPTER 12--MEAT INSPECTION
 
   SUBCHAPTER I--INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS; ADULTERATION AND MISBRANDING
 
Sec. 603. Inspection of meat and meat food products


(a) Examination of animals before slaughtering; diseased animals 
        slaughtered separately and carcasses examined

    For the purpose of preventing the use in commerce of meat and meat 
food products which are adulterated, the Secretary shall cause to be 
made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and 
inspection of all cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other 
equines before they shall be allowed to enter into any slaughtering, 
packing, meat-canning, rendering, or similar establishment, in which 
they are to be slaughtered and the meat and meat food products thereof 
are to be used in commerce; and all cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, 
mules, and other equines found on such inspection to show symptoms of 
disease shall be set apart and slaughtered separately from all other 
cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, and when 
so slaughtered the carcasses of said cattle, sheep, swine, goats, 
horses, mules, or other equines shall be subject to a careful 
examination and inspection, all as provided by the rules and regulations 
to be prescribed by the Secretary, as provided for in this subchapter.

(b) Humane methods of slaughter

    For the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of 
livestock, the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed 
for that purpose, an examination and inspection of the method by which 
cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines are 
slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in the slaughtering 
establishments inspected under this chapter. The Secretary may refuse to 
provide inspection to a new slaughtering establishment or may cause 
inspection to be temporarily suspended at a slaughtering establishment 
if the Secretary finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, 
mules, or other equines have been slaughtered or handled in connection 
with slaughter at such establishment by any method not in accordance 
with the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 862; 7 U.S.C. 1901-1906) until 
the establishment furnishes assurances satisfactory to the Secretary 
that all slaughtering and handling in connection with slaughter of 
livestock shall be in accordance with such a method.

(Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, Sec. 3, formerly 1st par., 34 Stat. 
1260; renumbered Sec. 3 and amended Pub. L. 90-201, Secs. 1, 3, 12(a), 
(b), Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592; Pub. L. 95-445, Sec. 2, Oct. 
10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1069.)

                       References in Text

    Act of August 27, 1958, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 85-
765, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 862, as amended, which is classified 
generally to chapter 48 (Sec. 1901 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For 
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
    Sections 1903 and 1905 of Title 7, included within reference to Act 
of August 27, 1958, were repealed by Pub. L. 95-445, Sec. 5(b), Oct. 10, 
1978, 92 Stat. 1069, effective as set forth in section 7 of Pub. L. 95-
445, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note below.

                          Codification

    Section was formerly classified to section 71 of this title.


                               Amendments

    1978--Pub. L. 95-445 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) 
and added subsec. (b).
    1967--Pub. L. 90-201, Secs. 3, 12(a), (b), struck out ``interstate 
or foreign'' before ``commerce'' in two places, substituted ``Secretary 
shall'' for ``Secretary, at his discretion, may'', and struck out ``of 
Agriculture'' after ``Secretary'', included horses, mules, and other 
equines, and horses, mules, or other equines in the list of animals, and 
substituted ``adulterated'' for ``unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or 
otherwise unfit for human food'', respectively.


                    Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

    Section 7 of Pub. L. 95-445 provided that: ``The provisions of this 
Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 601 of 
this title] shall become effective one year after the date of enactment 
[Oct. 10, 1978]. However, such provisions shall not apply to a person, 
firm, or corporation for such additional period of time, not to exceed 
eighteen months, as may be determined by the Secretary, if the 
Secretary, upon application, finds that compliance with the provisions 
of this Act on its effective date would cause undue hardship on such 
person, firm, or corporation.''


                    Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 90-201 effective Dec. 15, 1967, except that 
with respect to equines (other than horses) and their carcasses and 
parts thereof, meat, and meat food products thereof, amendment effective 
upon expiration of sixty days after Dec. 15, 1967, see section 20(b) of 
Pub. L. 90-201, set out as an Effective Date note under section 601 of 
this title.


                   Religious Freedom; Ritual Slaughter

    Section 6 of Pub. L. 95-445 provided that: ``Nothing in this Act 
[see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 601 of 
this title] shall be construed to prohibit, abridge, or in any way 
hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this Act, in order to protect freedom of religion, 
ritual slaughter and the handling or other preparation of livestock for 
ritual slaughter are exempted from the terms of this Act. For the 
purposes of this section the term `ritual slaughter' means slaughter in 
accordance with section 2(b) of the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 
862; 7 U.S.C. 1902(b)).''
