[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 9, Volume 2, Parts 200 to end]
[Revised as of January 1, 2000]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 9CFR308.3]
 
[Page 102-103]
 
                  TITLE 9--ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
 
                      CHAPTER III--FOOD SAFETY AND
                           INSPECTION SERVICE,
                        DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 308--Sanitation--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 308.3  Establishments; sanitary conditions; requirements.
 
    (a) Official establishments shall be maintained in sanitary 
condition, and to this end the requirements of this section shall be 
complied with. The provisions of part 416 of this chapter apply to all 
establishments, Starttime Saturday, February 05, 2000 09:51:42except 
establishments that are exempt in accordance with Sec. 303.1 of this 
chapter.
    (b) There shall be abundant light, of good quality and well 
distributed, and sufficient ventilation for all rooms and compartments 
to insure sanitary condition.
    (c) There shall be an efficient drainage and plumbing system for the 
establishment and premises, and all drains and gutters shall be properly 
installed with traps and vents approved by the circuit supervisor.
    (d)(1) The water supply shall be ample, clean, and potable, with 
adequate facilities for its distribution in the plant and its protection 
against contamination and pollution. Every establishment shall make 
known and, whenever required by the circuit supervisor, shall afford 
opportunity for inspection of the source of its water supply, the 
storage facilities, and the distribution system. Equipment using potable 
water shall be so installed as to prevent back-siphonage into the 
potable water system. Nonpotable water is permitted only in those parts 
of official establishments where no edible product is handled or 
prepared, and then only for limited purposes such as on ammonia 
condensors not connected with the potable water supply, in vapor lines 
serving inedible product rendering tanks, in connection with equipment 
used for hashing and washing inedible products preparatory to tanking, 
and in sewer lines for moving heavy solids in the sewage. Nonpotable 
water is not permitted for washing floors, areas, or equipment involved 
in trucking materials to and from edible product departments nor is it 
permitted in hog scalding vats, dehairing machines, or vapor lines 
serving edible product rendering equipment, or for cleanup of shackling 
pens, bleeding areas, or runways within the slaughtering department. In 
all cases, nonpotable waterlines shall be clearly identified and shall 
not be cross-connected with the potable water supply unless this is 
necessary for fire protection and such connection is of a type with an 
adequate break to assure against accidental contamination, and is 
approved by local authorities and by the circuit supervisor.
    (2) The circuit supervisor may permit the reuse of water in vapor 
lines leading from deodorizers used in the prepartion of lard and 
similar edible product and in equipment where such water is used to 
thermally process canned product packed in heremetically sealed 
containers, provided:
    (i) The reuse is for the identical original purpose.
    (ii) All pipelines, reservoirs, tanks, cooling towers, and like 
equipment employed in handling the reused water are so constructed and 
installed so they can be cleaned and drained, and are kept clean.
    (3) Approval for the reuse of water other than specified in 
paragraph (d)(2) of this section or in Sec. 318.305(h) shall be obtained 
from the Administrator in specific cases.
    (4) An ample supply of water at not less than 180 deg. F. shall be 
furnished and used for the cleaning of inspection equipment, floors, and 
walls which are
 
[[Page 103]]
 
subject to contamination by the dressing or handling of diseased 
carcasses, their viscera, and other parts. Whenever necessary to 
determine compliance with this requirement, conveniently located 
thermometers shall be installed by the operator of the official 
establishment to show the temperature of the water at the point of use.
    (5) Hot water for cleaning rooms and equipment other than those 
mentioned in paragraph (d)(4) of this section shall be delivered under 
pressure to sufficient convenient outlets and shall be of such 
temperature as to accomplish a thorough cleanup.
    (e) The floors, walls, ceilings, partitions, posts, doors, and other 
parts of all structures shall be made of such materials, construction, 
and finish as will make them susceptible of being readily and thoroughly 
cleaned. The floors will be kept watertight. The rooms and compartments 
used for edible product shall be separate and distinct from those used 
for inedible product.
    (f) Rails should be located and passageway space provided so that 
exposed product does not come in contact with posts, walls, and other 
fixed parts of the building, or with barrels, boxes, and other 
containers trafficked through holding and operating areas. Exposed 
product shall not be placed or stored beneath carcasses in coolers or 
holding areas.
    (g) The rooms and compartments in which any product is prepared or 
handled shall be free from dust and from odors from dressing and toilet 
rooms, catch basins, hide cellars, casing rooms, inedible tank and 
fertilizer rooms and livestock pens.
    (h) Every practicable precaution shall be taken to exclude flies, 
rats, mice, and other vermin from official establishments. The use of 
poisons for any purpose in rooms or compartments where any unpacked 
product is stored or handled is forbidden, except under such 
restrictions and precautions as are prescribed by the regulaions in this 
part or by the circuit supervisor in specific cases. The use of 
pesticides, rodenticides, and similar pest control substances in hide 
cellars, inedible product departments, outbuildings, or similar places, 
or in storerooms containing canned or tierced products is not forbidden 
but only those approved by the Administrator may be used.\1\ So called 
rat viruses shall not be used in any part of an establishment or the 
premises thereof.
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    \1\ A list of approved pest control substances is available upon 
request to the Scientific Services, Meat and Poultry Inspection, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, DC 20250.
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    (i) Dogs and cats shall be excluded from the interior of official 
establishments; however, dogs may be permitted on the outer premises for 
guard purposes.
 
[35 FR 15561, Oct. 3, 1970, as amended at 51 FR 45619, Dec. 19, 1986; 61 
FR 38864, July 25, 1996; 62 FR 26217, May 13, 1997]